Michael Gove
MPs demand answers on Oflog independence
MPs have called for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to outline the degree of independence the Office for Local Government (Oflog) will have.
Devo’s the word – so what comes next?
Michael Gove’s appearance at the County Councils’ Network conference this week may have been ill-timed, but it was a masterclass in pure politics.
Gove hints at Autumn Statement gifts
Levelling up secretary Michael Gove hinted Christmas may come early for councils when Jeremy Hunt unveils his Autumn Statement this week.
Peer reviews: The heat is on
Is corporate peer review a robust enough way to predict the risks of a future section 114 or is it just one improvement tool in a system of assurance? Dan Peters examines the evidence.
Too many cuts could drain councils of their services
Heather Jameson says: ‘The question for ministers is not just ‘which councils face financial collapse’? It is also ‘which councils have cut so much that local services will suffer?’
Sector waits for Downing Street to clear devolution announcement
Councils are hoping No10 will sign off an expansion of level two and level three devolution deals in time for next week’s Autumn Statement, The MJ understands.
Housing minister among casualties of Sunak reshuffle
The UK will have its 16th housing minister in 12 years after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s sweeping reshuffle affected the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Councils are benched in the King’s Speech
It is disappointing to see nothing to resolve the woes of the sector in the King's Speech, says Heather Jameson – 'or to indicate councils may just provide some of the solutions for national issues'.
The next level begins
Last month saw the Levelling Up Act receive Royal Assent, but what will that actually mean for local authorities? Martin Ford takes a look.
Gove's pay plan dismissed as 'unnecessary gimmick'
Communities secretary Michael Gove’s embryonic plan to require full councils to approve top salaries has been dismissed as an ‘unnecessary gimmick’ by sector figures.
Calls to close extremism loopholes
Local authorities are currently ‘having to police thought’ in their counter-terrorism role, an expert has said.
EXCLUSIVE: Home Office accused of misleading council over asylum plans
The Home Office faces accusations in the High Court it misled a council over controversial plans for an asylum centre at a former military base.
Not for turning on the four-day week
Leader of South Cambridgeshire DC Cllr Bridget Smith sets out why the council is not backtracking on its trial of a four-day week in the face of Government opposition.
New assurance regime needs to be ‘far more useful’
According to the results of the Solace survey, no one thinks Oflog does the job and most think it should be scrapped, says Heather Jameson. 'When it comes to what would work, there is a clear answer. Make audit better', she adds.
Threat to councils' planning powers lifted
Nine councils have avoided being stripped of their planning decision-making powers after drastically improving their performance figures.
Gove attacks four-day week 'nonsense' in conference speech
Local government secretary Michael Gove delivered a speech to the Conservative Party Conference light on new policies and laden with election slogans.
Gove pledges to halt council four-day weeks
Michael Gove has pledged to stop local authorities from implementing a four-day week and he said councils could face budget cuts if they adopt one.
A call for Caller: but where is the next gen?
Heather Jameson asks is there no one on the new commissioners’ list considered good enough to rescue Birmingham?
Bumpy ride for Brum
Mark Conrad looks at what form intervention at Birmingham City Council is likely to take.
Gove announces five-year Brum intervention
Communities secretary Michael Gove today announced a five-year Government intervention at Birmingham, with sources claiming he rejected a role for a senior Labour figure.
