Politics
Westminster turmoil piles on uncertainty for sector
Turmoil in Westminster has piled further uncertainty onto local government, as the sector awaits the provisional finance settlement and prepares for trips to the polls.
Future Forum North: Whiteman rages at removing finance directors from top team
Council chief executives that demote the finance director role from the top team were being ‘too clever by half,’ Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy boss Rob Whiteman has said.
More councils need to help drown out the voices of hatred
Many councils are leading the chorus which is starting to drown out the voices of hatred threatening local communities - but more need to join them, says Claire Kober.
Be wary of good intentions
New Year’s resolution: however nasty social media might get, don’t let’s lobby for even more powers for Facebook, Twitter or the Met Police to brand what is difficult as hate, argues Claire Fox
Northamptonshire recovery plan 'unachievable'
Leaders of the Labour opposition have expressed ‘serious fears’ that Northamptonshire CC will be unable to balance this year’s budget.
Gwynne: There's been no end to austerity
Opposition politicians have hit out at the Government’s record on funding the sector at the County Councils’ Network conference today.
Porter: My devolution regrets
Failing to do more devolution is Lord Porter’s biggest regret in his career as Local Government Association chairman so far, he told the County Councils' Network conference today.
Call for PPP 'reset'
A strong leadership role from local government is essential for ensuring the success of regeneration schemes involving the public and private sector, a new report has argued.
Ministers fail to budge on LEP overlaps
Local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) will have to remove overlaps if they want to qualify for cash from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), The MJ understands.
Tax experts dismiss local VAT call
Tax experts have dismissed the idea of local VAT despite calls from MPs and the London Finance Commission.
Hope for lessons from serious case review
A serious case review is underway after a child died while in the care of Swindon Council.
Labour hits out at housing cash shift
Labour has called for all areas to receive greater Government backing after Whitehall shifted the focus of its housing cash.
Auditor: Powys failing to improve
Embattled Powys CC is still failing to improve performance standards, an annual audit report has found.
EXCLUSIVE: Streeting calls for new Parliamentary campaign
Local Government Association vice-president Wes Streeting has called for a cross-party coalition of MPs to campaign for a major and urgent increase in council funding.
EXCLUSIVE: Councillors silenced on secret fiscal devolution report
Senior councillors have been warned not to talk about a secret Local Government Association (LGA) report that models what fiscal devolution might look like, The MJ has been told.
Box faces crisis of confidence
Labour councillors in Wakefield have warned they will lose confidence in their leader Peter Box if he fails to improve children’s services.
High staff turnover at 'inadequate' Gloucestershire
Too many Gloucestershire children are experiencing frequent changes of social worker more than a year after the county council was judged inadequate by Ofsted.
Almost 130 roles at risk at city council
Derby City Council could slash its workforce by 128 full-time positions as it tries to fill a £10m funding gap over the next four years, senior councillors have been told.
Minister embroiled in 'Oliver Twist' row
Welsh local authorities have called on the First Minister to consider sacking his colleague in charge of councils after he labelled councillors ‘Oliver Twists’.
EXCLUSIVE: Ministry moves on Brexit
Senior Marsham Street officials have stepped up their preparations for Brexit after complaints from frustrated councils that they were being shut out of the process.