Policy
Storm brewing over exit payment data demands
Government demands for details of senior staff pay-offs have been branded ‘particularly pernicious’ and unfairly aimed at local government.
Sector urged not to give up on health devolution
The sector should not give up on securing future health devolution deals despite the Government’s ‘centralising tendency,’ experts have urged.
Councils to be given five years to spend Right to Buy receipts
Councils will be given five years to spend receipts from Right to Buy sales as part of an overhaul of the key housing policy, local government secretary Robert Jenrick has announced.
Hancock's half hour to ease sector concerns
Health and social care secretary Matt Hancock has attempted to ease local government concerns about far-reaching NHS legislation plans.
BUDGET 2021: New freeport sites confirmed
Chancellor Rishi Sunak closed his Budget speech today with a commitment to eight new freeport sites - international gateways that will enjoy a raft of tax breaks from later this year.
Think-tank launches levelling up Big Bang theory
The Government should launch a Northern Big Bang to ‘unleash a torrent of investment into the Northern economy’ says a report from a Conservative think-tank.
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.
Councils still hungry for cash despite winter grant scheme
Councils that want to use the new £170m COVID winter grant scheme to stop children going hungry during school holidays may need more cash, the Government has been told.
Healthy life expectancy target well off track, report finds
The Government is in danger of a lost decade with its target of increasing healthy life expectancy by five years by 2035 well off track, according to a report from right-of-centre think-tank Policy Exchange.
Crisis call for return of Everyone In
The chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis has called for ring-fenced funding for councils to provide COVID-safe accommodation for anyone at risk of rough sleeping.
EXCLUSIVE: Nine regional chiefs deliver Whitehall ultimatum
An ultimatum has been delivered by the nine regional chief executives working closely with the Government on the sector’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, The MJ has learnt.
Planning proposals will 'disempower' councils
The Lib Dems have used their autumn conference to warn that the Government’s planning proposals will ‘disempower’ councils.
ADASS issues stark warning as White Paper faces further delays
The social care system risks complete breakdown experts have warned as it emerged that the long-awaited White Paper has been delayed again until next year.
LEPs need capacity boost to improve delivery, research finds
Local enterprise partnerships (LEP) would be better at delivering large-scale capital projects if they had more capacity, independent research for the Government has found.
Leader of 'North Korea' council deposed
The leader of a scandal-hit council compared to North Korea has been deposed after a vote of no confidence at a fiery meeting.
IFS finds £2bn budget black hole
Councils face a budget black hole of £2bn this year due to unfunded coronavirus costs, a new study has found.
Government relaxes recovery plan demand
The Government has scrapped its requirement for all councils with a cumulative dedicated schools grant (DSG) deficit of more than 1% to submit a recovery plan.
Capping the pace of change
While one part of central government is local for reorganisation and modernisation, the other cuts exit payments and blocks a major way to drive the pace of change, says Graeme McDonald.
Battle for the top job
As the Liberal Democrats vote for their next leader, in this exclusive interview, Heather Jameson spoke to the two leadership candidates about what local government means to them
Council chief hails policy change
The chief executive of the council working to contain coronavirus within a vegetable farm in Herefordshire has hailed a national change of policy.
