Spending Review
Social care plan is quickly losing its sheen
The Government has a plan for asset protection but still does not have a proper plan for social care, says Richard Humphries. ‘No wonder so many involved in social care are so deeply disappointed.’
We need to pause the cheering on social care
The Government’s social care announcement deserves only two hurrahs, says Paul Najsarek. The knock on effect can only be substantially increased costs for local government, he adds.
HMJ: Disabled children’s conditions have worsened during COVID
Many services for disabled children and their families have been ‘slow to return’ since lockdown restrictions were lifted, according to the results of a new report.
Leisure and wellbeing services face a serious and immediate threat
The National Leisure Recovery Fund’s distribution of £100m was welcome, but must go further, argues Cllr Dan Humphreys.
Tackling the social care workforce crisis
When it comes to social care Solace believes we need a more strategic and sustainably funded approach to talent development specifically, and workforce, more generally, says Graeme McDonald.
Building on new-found respect
Solace has been working hard behind the scenes to extend its reach across Government and offer unique perspectives on how policies join up in a place and work on the ground, says Joanne Roney.
Government withholds core funding from LEPs
The Government is withholding the full year of core funding from local enterprise partnerships (LEP) as it strongly signals the organisations are facing major change.
Why we’re being levelled down
Levelling up should be about quality sustainable public services supporting those most in need, according to Sir Stephen Houghton. But, he points out, the deficit faced by SIGOMA member councils is more than £350m in this financial year.
Just when you thought it was safe
The first multi-year public finance settlement for many years might not answer every question, but could clear the decks for what lies beyond the deep blue sea of the next General Election, says Jonathan Werran.
Let’s bring a bold policy moment to life
It’s time to seize the opportunity of the Spending Review to level up support for children and families, says chief executive of the Early Intervention Foundation, Dr Jo Casebourne.
Calls for more funding as child abuse increases
Incidents involving death or serious harm to a child have risen in the past year, leading to calls for further funding.
EXCLUSIVE: Porter intervention in waste plans
A former Conservative chairman of the Local Government Association has angrily criticised the Environment Bill’s waste reform proposals.
Research finds long-lasting benefits from Sure Start
Sure Start centres prevented thousands of children from being hospitalised and cut health inequalities, according to new research.
Spending Review should provide ‘urgent investment’ in children's services
Family help, homes for children in care and mental health support should be priorities for ‘urgent investment’, according to the independent review of children’s social care.
Catching up with lost learning
There is no national strategy to help children recover lost learning and promote emotional health and wellbeing, writes Charlotte Ramsden from the Association of Directors of Children’s Services.
Capturing the Beveridge spirit
Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, has big plans to tackle the deep-rooted problems holding back our children – and she wants to work with local authorities to make them happen.
Raid on reserves will hit hard on council cash
As the Treasury threatens to raid reserves, Heather Jameson warns the 'snapshot' figures could have a long term impact on councils as we head for the spending review.
EXCLUSIVE: Councils push back over reserves raid threat
Council chiefs have pushed back as the Treasury eyes up the sector’s reserves in the run up to this year’s Spending Review, The MJ understands.
Prudential borrowing threat reduced
The threat of high levels of prudential borrowing by councils for commercial property investments has been downgraded by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
Is Slough the canary in the mine?
Heather Jameson says it’s hard to reconcile Robert Jenrick's vision of a ten to 20-year plan for local places with 'a system that sees councils’ finances lurch blindly from year to year, on a promise of a three-year deal that fails to materialise.'
