Politics
Plan to hand social care to NHS is for ‘wrong reasons’
Plans to hand social care to the NHS are being mooted for ‘all the wrong reasons,’ local government finance expert Rob Whiteman has said.
Havering stands by investigation lead choice
Havering LBC has insisted the officer chosen to lead an investigation into gerrymandering and misconduct allegations will be able to carry out an impartial review.
Ministers deny Town's fund cronyism
Ministers have denied allegations that they favoured Conservative areas when they distributed money under the Town's Fund.
Clarke: Unitarisation vital first step in mayoral talks
Unitarisation of councils will be a ‘vital first step’ for negotiating a series of new mayors within the next decade, local government minister Simon Clarke has said.
Rugby kicks off unitary review
Rugby BC is expected to invite its neighbouring Warwickshire councils to jointly commission a review of future structures and powers in the county.
Riordan promises more testing data
The chief executive drafted in to sort out the Government’s test and trace programme has promised councils more data to help control coronavirus flare ups.
EXCLUSIVE: Police refuse to reveal sector probe costs
Police have refused to publish the costs of an investigation into four sector figures who remain on bail three years after they were arrested.
Sector faces 'battle royal' over reorganisation
Local government has been warned it faces a ‘battle royal’ with ministers appearing determined to force through reorganisation.
Minister admits care guidance was unclear
A minister has admitted that the Government’s guidance on transferring patients from hospitals to care homes was ‘not as clear as it could have been’.
Language locked down
As George Orwell famously highlighted in his classic book 1984, language has the power in politics to mask the truth and mislead the public.
North-east mayor back on agenda
Gateshead MBC’s leader has revived hopes of a north-east devolution deal by accepting that an elected mayor for the entire north-east region may be necessary.
Who are the losers?
At least in terms of public opinion, local government itself has come out of the pandemic crisis better than the civil service, says Ben Page – with 55% saying local authorities did a good job compared to 47% for the civil service.
Selbie hits back at PHE criticism
Public Health England’s (PHE) boss has hit back as ministers appear to shift blame onto the organisation for COVID-19 errors.
EXCLUSIVE: Labour support for bigger pay rise revealed
Labour has distanced itself from rival parties’ decision to block the Local Government Association (LGA) lobbying for a bigger pay rise for council workers.
Screening questions
Communities secretary Robert Jenrick came to this year’s Local Government Association (LGA) conference with his name in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Councils in local virus data call
Councils have called for the Government to go further after it finally started to publish more coronavirus testing data.
MPs refuse to back down on Westferry
MPs have refused to accept the Prime Minister’s attempts to close down questions over Robert Jenrick’s decision on the Westferry Printworks planning application.
Starmer to replace House of Lords with elected body
A Labour government will replace the House of Lords with an elected body of representatives from local and regional government, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told a virtual Local Government Association conference session.
Walking and cycling plea to avoid 'car-mageddon'
A senior councillor has warned against a ‘car-mageddon’ recovery post-lockdown as he urged the sector to invest in walking and cycling.
LGA shies away from reorganisation 'fight back'
The Local Government Association (LGA) has shied away from calls for it to launch a ‘fight back’ against reorganisation though senior members criticised any top-down approach.
