Local Government Association
Jenrick warned of legal action over end to virtual meetings
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick has been served a pre-action letter warning of legal action to allow virtual council meetings to continue.
Public health commissioning move 'illogical'
A suggestion from the body representing NHS trusts that the commissioning of key public health services should be removed from local government is ‘illogical,’ councils have said.
Levelling Up Fund to feature rapid bid process
The £4bn cross-departmental Levelling Up Fund will feature a rapid bid process, with all projects having to be completed before the next General Election, The MJ understands.
LGA code of conduct 'unlikely to gain traction'
The Local Government Association’s model code of conduct is ‘unlikely to gain any traction across the sector’ because of the lack of sanctions breaches attract, council chief executives have warned Whitehall.
Calls to vaccinate election workers grow
Pressure is growing for key election workers to be prioritised in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout after the Government confirmed polls will take place in May.
Councils call for extra cash for expanded shielding list
Councils have called for more access to data and extra cash to deal with sharp spike in the number of people shielding from coronavirus.
EXCLUSIVE: Four senior Croydon officers suspended
Crisis-hit Croydon LBC has suspended a big chunk of its senior leadership in a bombshell move.
EXCLUSIVE: Pressure mounts on Jenrick over audit
Whitehall officials are putting communities secretary Robert Jenrick under pressure to change course after he failed to implement a key recommendation of the Redmond Review, The MJ understands.
Spelthorne told it must 'understand and manage risk'
A council that invested almost 40 times its budget in property must ‘understand and manage risk and its impact on future financial performance and sustainability,’ a Local Government Association (LGA) finance peer challenge has said.
Elderly in new campaign of civil disobedience
Up to two million older people in the UK denied the social care support they need could refuse to pay their council tax in protest.
Fresh calls for standards code sanctions
Fresh calls for meaningful sanctions on badly behaving councillors were made this week after the Local Government Association (LGA) unanimously approved a model code of conduct.
Councils told to return millions in business grants to Whitehall
Councils are being ordered to return millions of pounds in business grants to Whitehall even with firms shuttered in the middle of a national lockdown.
LGA pauses tourism levy calls
The Local Government Association (LGA) has agreed to pause its work gathering an evidence base for the introduction of a tourism levy.
Jenrick: I would love remote meetings to continue
Robert Jenrick has said he would ‘love’ councils to be able to continue holding remote meetings but there are no plans to change the law.
Extra scrutiny for council companies
Senior councillors will receive a confidential quarterly report on the performance of all Warrington Council companies after two external reviews into the authority’s commercial approach.
LGA to call in conspiracy theory experts
The Local Government Association (LGA) is to talk to university experts to help councils counter a rising tide of conspiracy theories.
Local leaders pile on vaccine pressure
Frustrated local government leaders have piled pressure on ministers and officials over the speed and secrecy surrounding the coronavirus vaccine rollout.
Warning over integrated care plan
Proposals to merge health bodies into larger regional integrated care systems (ICS) are ‘in danger of missing the real prize of collaborative place-based leadership,’ councils have warned.
Bah humbug!
Last year was tough and 2021 will no doubt still be a bit of a slog for councils recovering from COVID.
Sector frustration as tougher restrictions arrive
Council leaders have expressed frustration after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced tougher Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions across parts of the country the week before Christmas.
