Politics
Labour outlines housing policy
Labour would scrap right to buy, and give councils new borrowing freedoms and central funding in a bid to kick-start house building, the party said today.
Housing and Brexit: a toxic mix for the Tories on 3 May
Michael Burton asks whether local issues could help the Conservatives salvage some comfort from what could be a car crash election for them next month.
Sector to tackle peer challenge take-up
The number of councils that have not had a corporate peer challenge (CPC) since 2012 will be reduced by half in 2018/19, the sector’s Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) has agreed.
Windrush row could swing key council votes
Whitehall’s mistreatment of the Windrush generation could swing key council votes in areas with large immigrant populations, senior politicians have warned.
Corbyn backs One Yorkshire devolution
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has thrown his weight behind a devolution deal covering the whole of Yorkshire.
ADASS: Green paper to 'jump-start' care finance debate
This summer's social care green paper will 'jump-start' the debate on making the sector financially sustainable, minister Caroline Dinenage has pledged.
Top team support demand rising
Demand for top team support has been increasing and is expected to rise further after next month’s local government elections, The MJ has learned.
Support for independent Telford inquiry grows
Telford & Wrekin Council is poised to approve an independent inquiry into child sexual abuse in the area after the two main political parties backed a fresh proposal.
Making peace
While Lib Dem and Labour politicos don’t always see eye-to-eye, the parties’ spokespeople on local government have found common ground.
Gloria parks up at Marsham Street
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is not a great place for celeb spotters to lurk.
Minister ducks new formula guarantee
A minister has refused to guarantee no council will receive less money under the new funding formula as local authority finance dominated prime minister’s questions (PMQ).
Government bails out overspending Kingston
Kingston Upon Thames LBC has been handed £4.3m funding from the Department for Education (DfE) to help control large overspends on children with special educational needs (SENs).
Scrap 'outdated and regressive council tax,' says think-tank
Council tax is ‘outdated and regressive,’ and the Government should consider scrapping it in favour of a fairer system, according to a think-tank.
Robin Wales ousted as Newham Mayor
Sir Robin Wales has been deselected as the Mayoral candidate for Newham LBC.
Pushed by Putin
The circumstantial evidence against Russia over the attack on an ex-spy in Salisbury is pretty strong.
Saudi, I can't stop
What would you imagine British ministers would all be doing on International Women’s Day?
Borderline ridiculous
Diary hears reports that Westminster and Camden LBCs have denied a secret agreement to blockade border roads to make them impassable to Boris Johnson.
Tories oust leader as Northants signs off budget
Northamptonshire CC today signed off its redrafted budget – but the council’s leader has been ousted as head of the ruling Conservative group.
Senior Northamptonshire councillors approve deeper cuts
Northamptonshire CC’s dire financial position deteriorated further this week, with senior councillors today approving plans for even deeper cuts following a warning from auditors.
Labour in tourism tax call
Labour has urged the Scottish Government to bring forward plans for a tourist tax after council leaders backed the move.