Reorganisation
Wheatley at 50 – plus ça change?
In 1969, the Wheatley review of Scottish local government said something was seriously wrong with the system. Fifty years on not much has changed and while we don’t need a review re-run it's a good starting point for reform, says Bill Howat.
How do you close down a council?
Two new unitaries – Dorset Council and BCP Council – came into being on 1 April this year. Mike Harries looks at how to successfully close down a council, focusing mainly on the journey taken by Dorset CC as it planned for its own demise
Final reflections
The MJ columnist Allen Graham has stood down as chief executive of Rushcliffe BC. He says the sector is ‘at a unique cross-roads where the dilemmas and challenges facing us must be met with creativity, transformation and collaboration’.
Brokenshire in unitary unanimity move
Future unitary bids will only be considered if they are ‘coalescing around a single option,’ the Government has confirmed.
Call for leader to quit after 'repeated failures'
Shadow local government secretary Andrew Gwynne has called for Northamptonshire CC leader, Matt Golby, to quit after ‘repeated failures’ in the council’s children’s services.
The biggest challenge in local government
Last week, James Brokenshire announced the reorganisation of Northamptonshire CC – a year later than was originally planned. Heather Jameson speaks to chief executive Theresa Grant and her commissioners on progress at the crisis-hit county.
'Diminishing' chief role to be axed
Aylesbury Vale DC (AVDC) will make the chief executive role redundant eight months before the council is abolished in a reorganisation.
Delay to Northamptonshire reorganisation welcomed
Council leaders have welcomed the year-long delay to plans to create two new unitaries in Northamptonshire.
The true threat emerges
In rural shire England, away from the big cities, an endangered and threatened species exists.
Two become none
Diary’s keen eye has spotted a trivial but telling error in an email from the Government to councils about this year’s disabled facilities grant.
Government misses self-imposed Easter reorganisation deadline
Preparations for local government reorganisation in Northamptonshire are moving ahead despite councils continuing to wait for a formal Government decision.
Oxfordshire councils to extend joint working arrangements
Two councils are considering extending their working partnership in a move they hope will trigger a ‘broader conversation’ on local government organisation.
How new Northamptonshire chief tackled 'perfect storm'
The chief executive of Northamptonshire CC has spoken of how she helped the council on its journey to recovery.
Northamptonshire dithering could lead to reorganisation delay
A group of Northamptonshire MPs has urged the Government to sign off reorganisation plans for the county.
Bucks districts drop legal battle over reorganisation
Chiltern and South Bucks DCs will not go ahead with their legal battle over local government reorganisation, they have announced.
Councillors meet to set up shadow Northants council
Councillors on the new Joint Committee for West Northamptonshire will meet for the first time this evening to discuss setting up one of the two new unitary authorities replacing the county council.
Councils to take legal advice after reorganisation review block
Two Buckinghamshire district councils are to take legal advice after their attempts to judicially review the reorganisation process was blocked.
'Much more to do' to improve quality of Northamptonshire CC services
There is ‘much more to do’ to improve the quality of Northamptonshire CC’s services, two Government-appointed commissioners have told Whitehall.
Cost of Dorset redundancies to be recovered in 20 months
Nine proposed senior officer redundancies made as part of the creation of new unitary Dorset Council will pay for themselves in 20 months, it has been announced.
Berry encourages more councils to back east Lancashire unitary
Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry has suggested east Lancashire unitary plans would stand a better chance of succeeding if they were backed by every council.