Policy
Judgment day
Kent and Home Office face growing pressure over asylum-seeking children.
Limited exemptions for empty homes powers
Councils will face only a limited number of exemptions from new powers allowing them to levy higher taxes on empty homes, ministers have confirmed.
Experts in fresh push for fiscal devolution
An independent group of experts is preparing to pile pressure on ministers to back fiscal devolution, The MJ understands.
Right to Buy lobbying fails as Treasury ends temporary boost
The Treasury has confirmed councils will no longer keep 100% of Right to Buy (RTB) receipts after the current financial year despite lobbying by the sector.
Craig's call for asylum change
Manchester City Council’s leader has urged Whitehall to implement ‘simple changes’ to asylum policy to ease huge pressures on major urban centres.
CIPFA pleads for Oflog costs to be kept down
It is ‘unrealistic’ to think the Office for Local Government (Oflog) will not pile fresh resource pressures on councils, finance experts have warned.
Home Office 'chaos' leaves thousands of illegal arrivals in 'perma-backlog'
The Government’s struggling asylum policy has heaped significant demand on cities’ housing services, experts have warned.
Fresh wave of devolution could reduce regional inequalities, says report
An overhaul of the local government system and a fresh wave of devolution have been put forward as solutions to regional inequalities in a report.
Lack of AI policies could have 'catastrophic consequences'
More than three out of four UK councils do not have usage policies for artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, according to data obtained using the Freedom of Information Act.
Government timetable could push councils to issue section 114s, treasurers warn
The Government’s proposed timeline for implementing changes to tackle risky borrowing by some councils could end up pushing local authorities into section 114 territory, district treasurers have warned.
Creating a Centre for Population Health
Professor Durka Dougall explains how the Centre for Population Health can support health and care leaders in prioritising a more equal future for everyone.
Call for greater children's services involvement in policy
Children’s services should be more involved in the policy that has led to police no longer attending non-emergency callouts, mental health experts have urged.
LGA moves towards performance support role
The Local Government Association (LGA) is to take a more proactive role as it seeks to do more to prevent Whitehall intervention in councils, The MJ understands.
Wales could drive agenda on council tax, report argues
Wales could have a chance to deal with unfairness in the council tax system and drive the agenda for other nations and regions to follow, a report from think-tank Centre for Cities has said.
Officer warning over street votes
Senior council officers have issued a scathing response to plans for street-level planning votes – dismissing the idea as a costly and complex ‘proliferation of polls’.
Health boost for Housing First residents, research finds
Housing First – under which homeless people are guaranteed a home while they access intensive long-term support – reduces demand on health and social care services, research published today has found.
LGA poised to shift position on Right to Buy
Smith Square is poised to amend its position on Right to Buy, The MJ has learned.
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.