Local Government Association
Frustration bubbles over wait for Brexit bonanza
The Government runs the risk of ‘levelling up everywhere at rock bottom’ as uncertainty continues to reign over funding for the regions months after Brexit.
Section 114 warning for troubled Thanet
The Section 151 officer of troubled Thanet DC has warned he may be forced to issue a Section 114 notice.
Sector surprise at COVID marshal scheme
Local government has been blindsided by Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement that an army of COVID marshals will enforce tough new rules.
LGA backs mandatory council role in migrant children scheme
Council leaders have backed a government suggestion that the national transfer scheme for unaccompanied migrant children should be compulsory for local authorities.
Stretched testing capacity to be scaled up
Brand new large-scale technology to increase the number of coronavirus tests that can be processed is being introduced as demand continues to rise.
York to scrap chief post after 'strong advice' from LGA
York City Council is scrapping its chief executive post in favour of a chief operating officer (COO) in a bid to save cash.
Councils to receive cyber probe
One in 10 councils will be offered ‘penetration testing’ of their cyber security arrangements to ‘identify and potentially remediate’ vulnerabilities.
Trying to switch off
The majority of the sector is currently on its summer holidays after a strenuous few months.
Hancock scraps Public Health England
Ministers have been accused of making Public Health England (PHE) a scapegoat by scrapping the body for alleged failures in the testing and tracing of coronavirus.
Birmingham improvement model could be used elsewhere
An improvement model that has helped turn around Birmingham City Council could be rolled out to other struggling local authorities.
Learning the lessons from interventions
Paul McDermott says the MHCLG’s analysis of corporate dysfunction is a must read, as it raises the question of what measures could be adopted to underpin good governance and avoid future interventions
Councils urge extension for grants support scheme
Fresh calls have been made for councils to be allowed to dole out to businesses the £1.6bn unspent from the Government’s small firms grant funds.
Government in attempted grants cash grab
Fresh calls have been made for councils to be allowed to dole out to businesses the £1.6bn unspent from the Government’s small firms grant funds.
'Small minority' of councils have still not had a corporate peer challenge, report finds
The Local Government Association (LGA) should consider what further action it could take to encourage increased participation in sector-led improvement (SLI), an independent report has urged.
Plan to hand social care to NHS is for ‘wrong reasons’
Plans to hand social care to the NHS are being mooted for ‘all the wrong reasons,’ local government finance expert Rob Whiteman has said.
EXCLUSIVE: Deficit puts councils on cliff edge
Many councils could be pushed over the ‘financial cliff edge’ if the £500m of high-needs deficit faced by the sector is not written off, the Government has been warned.
District criticises lack of data flow from county
The leader of a district council neighbouring the Leicester lockdown has criticised the lack of coronavirus testing data flowing from County Hall.
Better response to pandemic from European councils, says think-tank
Local government across Europe has been able to react to the coronavirus crisis with greater power and autonomy than in the UK, a report published today has found.
Riordan promises more testing data
The chief executive drafted in to sort out the Government’s test and trace programme has promised councils more data to help control coronavirus flare ups.
EXCLUSIVE: Legal advice increases doubts over council meeting resumption
Confidential legal advice obtained by the Local Government Association (LGA) has highlighted major issues that could prevent councils from resuming physical and hybrid public meetings, The MJ understands.
