Local Government Association
EXCLUSIVE: LGA improvement cash could be slashed
Smith Square’s top-slice funding could be slashed under plans being considered by Whitehall over fears the sector-led improvement regime is not delivering good value.
Casey: Involve councils in sorting Universal Credit
Whitehall must use the expertise of councils to sort out Universal Credit (UC), a former senior Government adviser has told The MJ.
EXCLUSIVE: Peer review watered down under pressure
Liverpool City Council’s corporate peer review was significantly watered down before publication after pressure from the authority, The MJ has learned.
Hull City Council leadership praised in peer challenge report
Hull City Council has been told it is a ‘hugely ambitious’ organisation with top-quality leadership and a strong sense of place.
‘Tis the season
As conference season takes shape, LGA chair Lord Porter looks at the critical issues currently facing local government he is hoping will take centre stage
Integration progress 'slower than anticipated'
Progress on health and social care integration has been ‘much slower than anticipated,’ senior councillors have heard.
Capacity stretched at 'can do' council
Capacity at a ‘can do’ council is stretched and staff are under real pressure, a Local Government Association (LGA) peer review has found.
Whitehall demands in-year cuts to improvement programme
The sector’s ability to respond to crises such as a care provider failure could be hit after Whitehall demanded cuts to a key improvement programme, senior councillors have been warned.
LGA in New Homes Bonus warning
Government plans to raise the 0.4% threshold for the New Homes Bonus (NHB) in 2019/20 risks ‘putting the brakes on housebuilding schemes and growth-boosting projects,’ Smith Square has warned.
LGA in last-ditch warning over rule changes
Smith Square has warned that planned accounting rule changes could force councils to unnecessarily cut services or raise council tax.
Unions in Brexit funding plea
Councils should not bear the financial burden of registering 120,000 children who qualify for UK citizenship after Brexit, Britain’s trade union movement has warned.
Councillors welcome delay to Labour democracy review
Councillors have welcomed a Labour Party decision to postpone the local government side of its democracy review amid concerns that some proposals were ‘completely unworkable’.
LGA defends bonds agency support
The Local Government Association (LGA) has defended its support of the struggling UK Municipal Bonds Agency.
LEPs told to improve ahead of EU funding changes
Fresh concerns have emerged about local enterprise partnerships (LEP) as the Government considers whether to use them to funnel UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) cash.
SOLACE: Peer reviews should be made mandatory and transparent
Council chief executives have suggested that the Local Government Association’s (LGA) peer reviews should be made ‘mandatory and transparent as they were originally intended to be’.
EXCLUSIVE: Crunch time for municipal bonds
The struggling Municipal Bonds Agency has pleaded for councils to ‘pull behind us’ amid warnings it could run out of money before issuing a bond.
Brokenshire admits knowledge gap
James Brokenshire has admitted the Government does not know the councils that have not undergone a corporate peer challenge.
Whiteman urges STPs to set own agenda
Sustainability and transformation partnerships (STP) should seize the initiative to push forward with their own agenda, a senior sector figure has urged.
Extra tax revenue boosts public finances
The public finances had their biggest surplus in 18 years last month - up by £1bn to £2bn compared to the same time last year - thanks to extra tax revenue.
LGA to undertake comprehensive chiefs' survey for first time in nine years
Smith Square is to update its knowledge of chief executives and chief officers by organising a comprehensive survey for the first time in nine years.