Policy
Levelling up ambitions blighted by delays, says NAO
Ministers’ levelling up ambitions have been blighted by delays to key construction projects, with many deadlines unlikely to be met, the UK’s spending watchdog has warned.
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?’
Councils brace as Supreme Court outlaws Rwanda asylum plan
The Supreme Court has ruled the UK’s controversial proposal to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful – a decision likely to impact local government.
Cleverly comes under immediate asylum pressure
New home secretary James Cleverly has come under immediate pressure to ditch his predecessor’s controversial asylum centre in his constituency.
Wales struggles to spend UKSPF cash
Wales has topped the list of regions for the amount of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) cash unable to be spent in 2022-23.
NAO slams progress on adult social care reform
The Government’s progress on adult social care reform has been slammed in a damning report by the National Audit Office (NAO).
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.
Labour regeneration plans will fail 'without radical action'
An incoming Labour government’s regeneration plans will fail without radical action to devolve financial decision-making, researchers have warned.
EXCLUSIVE: Nightmare before Christmas?
The provisional local government finance settlement will be published just before Christmas, council chiefs have been told.
Councils need an unconditional cash injection
Jack Shaw looks at what the sector needs from next month’s Autumn Statement to avoid more section 114 notices and what it should expect the chancellor to deliver.
Councils 'vital' to social prescribing success
Children’s charity Barnardo’s has said local authorities are ‘vital’ to the success of social prescribing as it called for a national strategy.
LGA seeks assessment over mental health withdrawal cost
The Local Government Association (LGA) is seeking an assessment of how cash saved when police attend fewer mental health callouts could cover fresh social care demand.
Government announces 20mph review
The Government has announced plans to discourage English local authorities from bringing in 20mph limits and traffic reduction measures.
Screeching U-turn on waste proposals
The Government has claimed it is scrapping its ‘top-down approach’ on recycling while still ensuring ‘all homes in England recycle the same materials’.
Government accused of 'paralysing' councils on waste
The Government has been accused of leaving frustrated councils ‘paralysed’ by ‘painfully slow’ progress pushing through its waste strategy.
Little evaluation of mental health outcomes in police pilot, MPs told
Police failed to evaluate mental health outcomes after trialling a controversial new approach to attending incidents, MPs have learned.
EXCLUSIVE: Home Office threatens to ramp up pressure on asylum
Uncooperative councils could be strong-armed into taking greater numbers of asylum seekers, The MJ understands.
EXCLUSIVE: Home Office struggle to deliver Sunak's asylum backlog pledge
Home Office officials are struggling to deliver Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s promise to clear a huge backlog of legacy asylum cases this year, figures shared with councils have suggested.
Unequal divide piles pressure on the North
Valentine Quinio says the cost of living crisis has generally hit places in the North hardest and policy should be acting now to insulate these areas from further shocks
Local government funding system has 'broken down'
The funding system for local government has ‘broken down’ and what councils currently receive from Whitehall and council tax barely reflects need, a think-tank has warned.
