Reorganisation
New management structure to lead Luton’s 2020-2040 vision
Luton BC has restructured its top management team to focus on its flagship Luton 2020-2040 vision for eradicating poverty in the town.
Redrawing the map
Councils are the bodies to lead high street regeneration – but not without reform, argues Paul Swinney.
Councillors voice intervention fears
Members of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council have raised concerns the authority could face government intervention over the performance of its planning department.
Taking control of the devolution debate
Seb Lowe says that given the preference of government for unitary councils, failure by district councils to argue a solid alternative rationale ‘will lead to the very thing the majority are fighting to avoid’.
A letter to Santa from local government in England
It feels as if local government is on everyone’s ‘naughty list’ at present, says Colin Copus. Here, he writes to Santa with a long list of things all councils would like for Christmas.
Deadline day for reorganisation
Councils in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset face a nervous wait as the deadline passes for reorganisation proposals.
Let's grasp this opportunity to create One Somerset for outstanding public services
A single council for Somerset is the best option for the county, argues Cllr David Fothergill. 'On every test, it delivers over the alternative five organisation approach'.
Election delays considered for unitary bid councils
The Government would ‘carefully consider’ any requests to postpone elections from the three council areas vying for local government reorganisation, a minister said yesterday.
Tory mayor claims Whitehall blocking devolution
One of the biggest challenges to devolution comes from civil servants, the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, James Palmer, has claimed.
Preparing reorganisation is a pointless distraction
Only Somerset, North Yorkshire and Cumbria have been asked to submit unitary proposals. Steve Leach and Colin Copus say local authorities should reflect ‘real places, not artificial constructs, with which people have no affinity’.
A golden chance for reform
The leaders of Cumbria, Somerset, and North Yorkshire Cllrs Stewart Young, David Fothergill and Carl Les explain why they believe a single county unitary for each of their areas is the best option on the table.
Combined authority expansion halted by ‘party politics’
The expansion of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has stalled after leaders failed to reach an agreement.
In choppy waters, back districts to deliver
The debate on local government reform must end now, ‘so that all areas can focus on the crisis in their communities’, argues chair of the District Councils Network Cllr John Fuller.
Council grants managing director redundancy request
The managing director of Wellingborough BC is to leave ahead of the council ceasing to exist next year.
EXCLUSIVE: Shevlin suggests reorganisation alternative as rival bids threaten his council's future
A former chair of the District Councils’ Network chief executives’ group has suggested a radical alternative to reorganisation as battle lines are drawn around him.
Making Counties Count: Don’t they Already?
Steve Leach and Colin Copus argue a move to county-based unitaries would ‘draw local government away from recognisable communities and increase the drift to meaningless conglomerates’.
Reorganisation hopes renewed for counties
Ministers have given hope to counties pushing for local government reorganisation as they give mixed messages to the sector.
South east urged to find its voice
Councils in the south east of England have been urged to find a consensus on reorganisation by a local government expert.
Reorganisation battle lines drawn over think-tank report
The bitter war of words between counties and districts over reorganisation stepped up this week as battle lines were drawn around a new think-tank report.
Jenrick dashes county reorganisation hopes
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick has torpedoed plans for widespread reorganisation beyond the three areas he has invited to submit unitary proposals.
