Policy
Think-tank in call for wellbeing budgets
The Government should introduce ‘wellbeing budgets’ that look beyond gross domestic product (GDP) to reduce regional health inequalities, a think-tank has urged.
Labour's Burnham praises Conservative Gove
Labour’s Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has praised new levelling up secretary Michael Gove and offered to help him ‘define and deliver’ the policy.
Future Forum: Reeves lays into levelling up
Coventry City Council’s chief executive Martin Reeves has launched a stinging attack on the rhetoric surrounding the levelling up agenda.
Hughes hints at multi-year funding settlement
Junior minister Eddie Hughes has attempted to reassure councils that a multi-year funding settlement may be approaching.
Pickles praises mayors during pandemic
Former local government secretary Eric Pickles has admitted he was a ‘late convert’ to the idea of metro mayors.
MHCLG housebuilding survey met with scepticism
A government survey designed to find out ‘any remaining barriers that may be stifling’ councils’ housebuilding plans has been met with scepticism by council chiefs.
Just when you thought it was safe
The first multi-year public finance settlement for many years might not answer every question, but could clear the decks for what lies beyond the deep blue sea of the next General Election, says Jonathan Werran.
Tough, uphill work lies ahead
We’ve had half a decade of strategic drift in local government policy, says Dr Jonathan Carr-West. The effect is that working in the sector ‘can feel like a particularly cruel Sisyphean punishment’ – but what can we do about it?
County areas chase devo dream
County areas are lining up to strike one of the first tranche of devolution deals.
Government threatens borrowing cap return
The Government has threatened to apply statutory borrowing caps on councils that continue to expose themselves to excessive risk.
Council cyber-attacks rocket
Cyber-attacks on UK council remote workers increased by 213% during the pandemic, Freedom of Information Act requests have found.
Johnson has flunked levelling up explanation chance, says MP
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ‘flunked’ his chance to explain what levelling up means, the chair of a parliamentary committee has claimed.
Johnson: Bring your devolution plans to me
Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for local leaders to take their devolution plans to him in a keynote speech from the West Midlands this morning.
Voter ID 'colossal waste of money,' says Labour
Proposals to introduce voter ID are a ‘colossal waste of money,’ Labour has argued.
Taking a risk
A new study warns of looming unfunded risks to the public finances from climate change to adult care which Michael Burton says should be heeded by the chancellor as he prepares the next Spending Review
Government insists Everyone In is 'continuing'
The Government has insisted the Everyone In programme is ‘continuing’ despite reportedly suggesting to some councils that they should close their hotels for rough sleepers.
Telling the whole place story
A Fabian pamphlet calls on Labour to commit to a new Place Audit Office (PAO) within the National Audit Office. John Tizard and David Walker explain
EXCLUSIVE: Councils push back over reserves raid threat
Council chiefs have pushed back as the Treasury eyes up the sector’s reserves in the run up to this year’s Spending Review, The MJ understands.
Reed accuses government of dropping devolution
Shadow communities secretary Steve Reed has accused the Government of dropping its commitment to devolution.
EXCLUSIVE: Jenrick's exit payment intervention
Communities secretary Robert Jenrick personally intervened to strengthen the Government’s proposed crackdown on councils’ use of exit payments, The MJ has learned.
