Policy
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.
EXCLUSIVE: Two LEPs still do not have legal personality
Two local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) have been granted extensions due to ‘exceptional circumstances’ after failing to adopt legal personalities before the April deadline, The MJ has learnt.
Be bold with Boris
As a former mayor of London, Boris Johnson understands devolution. Bob Neill urges the sector not to waste the opportunity of a local government-savvy Prime Minister
Jenrick excluded from daily Brexit committee
Concerns have been raised about Marsham Street’s influence on Brexit matters in Whitehall.
Call for leaders to be given seat at top table
A council of UK civic leaders chaired by the Prime Minister and mayors on the Privy Council are among the calls from a think-tank.
Chiefs criticised over lack of leadership on abuse
Chief executives of Nottinghamshire CC and Nottingham City Council over several decades have been criticised after failing to prevent ‘widespread’ child sexual abuse.
Independent governance reviews for pension schemes
Regular independent reviews of governance in the local government pension scheme (LGPS) will be carried out to assess the effectiveness of administering authorities’ arrangements.
It’s up to councils to decide how they run their services
The old arguements about in-house or outsourced services have been reawakened by Labour's latest policy announcement but it should be a local decision, argues Michael Burton
LGA: Audit deadline should be pushed back
The July audit deadline should be pushed back to September 30 for future years, the Local Government Association (LGA) has told ministers.
'Nearly everyone' showed correct ID in voter trials
An independent evaluation of voter ID trials in May has found they were a success and ‘nearly everyone’ showed the correct identification.
Labour proposes outsourcing reversal
Labour’s plans to reverse outsourcing of council services have drawn a mixed reaction from the sector.
Universal Credit draining council resources
Universal Credit (UC) is draining resources from councils, a new survey has found.
MPs to examine devolution progress
Progress on devolution in England will be scrutinised by a new Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee inquiry.
ADCS conference: More councils improve Ofsted ratings after regime change
A greater number of councils are receiving better Ofsted ratings for their children’s services after the inspectorate introduced a ‘more proportionate’ regime.
ADCS conference: Children's services are in the red zone
Children’s services are in the ‘red zone’ and could be ‘overwhelmed’ next year in the event of a one-year Spending Review, a senior director has warned.
Kick-start devo deals, says Heseltine
Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine has called for power over housing, skills and jobs to be handed to metro mayors in order to kick-start the devolution agenda.
Combined strategy call to tackle homelessness
The Government should commit to a coherent combined housing and homelessness strategy, a report published today by a commission of experts has urged after a year-long investigation.
No new cash for Greater Manchester local industrial strategy
A former senior civil servant and council chief has questioned the impact of Greater Manchester’s local industrial strategy after it came with no new money.
It’s a good time to lobby
Dan Corry says that while the policy world is currently in something of a stasis lock, politically we’re seeing major realignments, with new battlefields – or at least new fronts – opening up everywhere.
Government bidding culture attacked
The growing trend of forcing councils to bid for small, policy-specific grants has been attacked as an ‘inefficient use of public resources’ by a think-tank.