Tower Hamlets
Biggs: Westferry revelations have 'blown apart' confidence in planning system
The latest revelations about the controversial Westferry Printworks application have ‘blown apart’ confidence in the planning system under local government secretary Robert Jenrick, Tower Hamlets LBC’s mayor, John Biggs, has said.
Jenrick insists he followed rules in Westferry decision
Under-fire communities secretary Robert Jenrick has insisted his decision to approve a controversial planning application by Conservative donor Richard Desmond was taken ‘in good faith’.
Government stands firm after Pickles plea
The Government has said it ‘would not be appropriate’ to pay legal costs to whistleblowers in electoral fraud cases despite a former communities secretary revealing he fought for it to happen.
Council chief welcomes 'misleading' judgement
Tower Hamlets LBC’s chief executive has welcomed a judgement that found a Times article about a fostering case was misleading.
Minister defends voter ID trial
Cabinet Office minister Chloe Smith this week defended Government plans to trial new voter ID systems amid fresh claims the requirement could be discriminatory.
LGA strikes £20m improvement deal
Whitehall is looking to strengthen the sector-led improvement regime in its latest £20m deal with the Local Government Association (LGA), The MJ understands.
Further improvement needed at Tower Hamlets
Tower Hamlets LBC has sustained improvements to its children’s services but faces ‘significant challenges’ to achieve the good Ofsted rating it has targeted by 2019.
Rotherham wins back more control
Rotherham MBC has won back democratic control of all functions apart from children’s social care, the Government has confirmed.
Met heads fresh probe into Tower Hamlets
The Metropolitan Police has started a fresh investigation into allegations of electoral fraud and malpractice in the 2014 Tower Hamlets mayoral election.
Tower Hamlets handed back control
The Government has withdrawn its commissioners from Tower Hamlets LBC, handing full control back to the council.
Police accused of 'major failings' in Tower Hamlets probe
Members of the London Assembly have accused the police of ‘major failings’ in their investigation of electoral fraud in Tower Hamlets.
Committee to examine scrutiny concerns
An influential MP has urged councillors and officers to contact his select committee about any concerns they have over local government’s overview and scrutiny regime.
Javid returns grant powers to Tower Hamlets
Sajid Javid has returned the power to award grants to community groups to Tower Hamlets LBC.
Javid eyes up further hand back of powers to Tower Hamlets
Sajid Javid has announced plans to return certain powers back to Tower Hamlets LBC.
Intervention uncertainty 'could hamper scrutiny'
The Department for Communities and Local Government’s (DCLG) refusal to disclose how many councils are receiving ‘extra attention’ from Whitehall – short of an intervention – could hinder effective sector scrutiny, an influential MP has warned.
Whitehall has no plans for further interventions
The Government has insisted it has no plans to launch further interventions after sending in commissioners to Rotherham MBC and Tower Hamlets LBC.
Met ‘fails to tackle election fraud at Tower Hamlets’
Tower Hamlets commissioners have expressed their disappointment at the Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS) failure to tackle election fraud in the borough.
Calls for fundamental elections rethink
Electoral administrators have called for a ‘root and branch review’ of the system after back-to-back polls in May and June pushed them to the limit.
A towering challenge
Tower Hamlets is a borough of enormous wealth nestled next to extreme deprivation. Chief executive Will Tuckley tells Heather Jameson how he is navigating the council’s demanding needs and the government intervention
Councils must learn from interventions
Local authorities must learn from the imposition of commissioners in Tower Hamlets and Rotherham, a select committee has warned.
