Policy
Future Forum North: IFS boss praises 'sensible' Labour tax proposals
The director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies has urged whoever is elected next week to look at ‘sensible’ dividend and capital gains tax proposals.
Future Forum North: Call for towns and cities to make peace
The driving force behind the Greater Manchester devolution deal has urged towns and cities to make peace.
Council spending powers to be restored to 2010 levels under Labour
Labour would ‘reverse the Tory decade of austerity for local government’ and aim to restore council spending powers to 2010 levels by 2024 if elected.
EXCLUSIVE: Fears over 'watered down' committee replacement
Fears have been raised that the UK will be landed with a ‘watered-down replacement’ for the EU Committee of the Regions after Brexit.
Peer review proposal for pensions
The Local Government Association peer review programme could be expanded to include council pension schemes, a new report has suggested.
Devolution to 'level up' economic fortunes - report
A think-tank has called on ministers to further embrace local government devolution in order to level up the economic fortunes of the country.
Think-tank in widening age gap warning
The Resolution Foundation has warned of a widening age gap across council areas and called on Whitehall to reconsider its approach to local government finance.
COSLA conference: Ex-minister hints at council tax cap relaxation
A former SNP minister has suggested there could be a relaxation of the cap on council tax.
COSLA conference: 'Devolved powers have stopped at Holyrood'
It is a ‘sad paradox’ of devolution that powers handed to Scotland 20 years ago have stopped at Holyrood, the president of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has said.
Patel pledges £20m to 'roll up' County Lines
The home secretary’s announcement of a £20m package to tackle County Lines drugs gangs has received a mixed reaction.
Javid promises devo White Paper
A new White Paper to devolve more powers to local areas was announced in the Chancellor’s speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester today.
EXCLUSIVE: Core Cities' £28bn Shared Prosperity Fund warning
The proposed UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) must be worth at least £28bn over seven years if the UK is to deliver its devolved policy objectives, a leading sector body has warned.
Labour vows to make adult's social care free
Labour’s shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, has announced he will fund ‘personal care free at the point of use’ across England if the party wins the next general election.
Brexit guidance 'inadequate'
Guidance provided by the Government in relation to the potential impact of a no-deal Brexit on children’s services and education is ‘inadequate,’ a think-tank has claimed.
DfE defends value of key working group
The Department for Education (DfE) has insisted it values a key service working group despite it not routinely reporting back to ministers.
EXCLUSIVE: Fresh demand for place-based budgets
A fresh demand for place-based budgets has been made by the co-chair of an independent panel that first made the call five years ago.
Crime-fighting funds in scarce supply - survey
Three out of four UK council chief executives and leaders do not have access to enough funding to tackle rising levels of violent youth crime, a survey has found.
EXCLUSIVE: Brexit blow as councils miss MHCLG deadline
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick’s flagship Brexit policy has been dealt a blow after dozens of councils missed the deadline for nominating a lead officer.
LEP chairs still waiting for PM meeting
An overdue Prime Minister’s meeting of local enterprise partnership (LEP) chairs has not been scheduled, with Number 10 yet to commit to continuing the twice-yearly gatherings.
CIPFA index 'must be forward-looking'
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) must double down on efforts to include indicators that are forward-looking in its financial resilience index, a senior sector figure has suggested.