Local Government Association
LGA boosts finance help
Local authority leaders have laid out a raft of changes aimed at helping councils become more financially sustainable and resilient in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local government given partial self-isolation exemption
Local government has been included on a list of sectors that may be allowed to ignore COVID self-isolation rules, the Government has confirmed.
Wilkins to be replaced
Oldham MBC’s chief executive, Carolyn Wilkins, is to be replaced, with council leader Arooj Shah wanting a new person at the helm.
Getting back in the groove
As the country prepares to open up to gatherings again, Heather Jameson rounds up last week’s major annual virtual conferences – and finds an air of optimism within the sector despite the challenges ahead.
Reed accuses government of dropping devolution
Shadow communities secretary Steve Reed has accused the Government of dropping its commitment to devolution.
Jenrick to reduce competitive bidding
The communities secretary has pledged to reduce the number of funds councils have to compete for as part of plans to consolidate the sector’s funding.
Quarantine hotel consultation call
Council leaders have called for the Government to consult with local authorities before quarantine hotels are opened in their areas.
Social housing shortage blamed for rising bed and breakfast use
Rising numbers of people who are homeless are being placed in bed and breakfasts due to a severe shortage of social housing, council leaders have warned.
Municipal bonds agency faces uncertain future
The board of the loss-making UK Municipal Bonds Agency (MBA) has warned the company faces an uncertain future.
£1bn business grants still to be allocated
Nearly half of £2bn handed to local authorities for discretionary business grant funding has yet to be allocated, the Government has said.
Experts urge action on care on eve of PM's crunch meeting
Social care leaders have written to the Prime Minister, chancellor and health secretary, demanding a resolution to the adult social care crisis on the eve of a top level crunch meeting tomorrow.
Khan: Councils on the frontline of tackling extremism
Local authorities are on the ‘frontline’ of the battle against extremism, an adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.
Call for sector to 'resist' MPs' role in Levelling up Fund
A council leader has urged local government to ‘resist’ the role of MPs in the Levelling up Fund.
Councils can issue traffic fines from December
Powers to enforce moving traffic offences will not be extended to local authorities in England outside London until the end of the year, a Department for Transport (DfT) minister has said.
Government warned of 'soaring summer of homelessness'
The Government will fail to fulfil its manifesto commitment of ending rough sleeping for good by 2024 without a cross-Whitehall strategy for reducing homelessness, it has been warned.
LGA in 'unsustainable' warning after children's services overspend
Derbyshire CC, and Ealing and Croydon LBCs recorded the biggest children’s services overspends in the latest data available, analysis has found.
Jenrick piles pressure on over parkrun
Council leaders have insisted they are working hard to process requests to hold outdoor events after coming under pressure from the Government.
EXCLUSIVE: MHCLG pushes ahead with exit pay data demands
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is pushing ahead with demanding data on exit payments from councils despite criticism of the proposals.
Powell becomes shadow housing secretary in mini-reshuffle
Labour leader Keir Starmer has replaced his shadow housing secretary and brought in a high-flyer as shadow child poverty minister as part of a mini-reshuffle.
LGA removes criticised fire safety guidance from website
The Local Government Association (LGA) finally removed fire safety guidance hosted on its website that had been heavily criticised after the Grenfell Tower blaze.
