Wales
Auditor: Powys failing to improve
Embattled Powys CC is still failing to improve performance standards, an annual audit report has found.
Budget 2018: Lifting of cap could lead to £15bn extra debt
The abolition of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) borrowing cap in this week’s Budget could enable councils to take on up to £15bn in extra debt, according to property adviser Savills.
Minister embroiled in 'Oliver Twist' row
Welsh local authorities have called on the First Minister to consider sacking his colleague in charge of councils after he labelled councillors ‘Oliver Twists’.
LGPS expenditure rises
The total expenditure of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in England and Wales was £12.7bn in 2017/18, newly-published statistics have shown.
Finance settlement has 'gravest implications'
Councils have dismissed today’s Welsh Government’s finance settlement as a ‘bread and butter budget’ in which town halls ‘get the crumbs again’.
Community councils should cover whole of Wales
Community councils should be extended to cover the whole of Wales, a study for the Welsh Assembly has concluded.
Conwy defends ‘monthly’ bins regime amid complaints
Conwy Council has defended its decision to move to monthly rubbish collections, amid claims a local trial led to increased fly-tipping and unsanitary streets.
Burnham: Devolution is our best hope
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has argued that devolution ‘offers the best hope of making Brexit work for the regions and uniting our uncertain nation’.
Unison calls for pensions fund merger
The largest trade union representing members of the Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme (SLGPS) has called for the 11 funds to be merged.
Council tax revaluation calls grow
Finance chiefs have said it is ‘untenable’ for local government to rely on the creaking council tax system without a politically-challenging revaluation of properties.
Southern England propping up rest of UK - ONS
Southern England continues to subsidise the rest of the UK by raising more in taxes than it spends on public services, according to latest analysis from the Office for National Statistics.
Powys CC chief executive to leave
Powys CC chief executive Jeremy Patterson is to leave the authority after almost 10 years in the role, the council has announced.
Davies takes forced mergers off table
Wales’ cabinet secretary for local government Alun Davies has taken forced council mergers off the table.
Tidal lagoon rejection ‘bitter pill’ for Wales
An urgent meeting with Welsh secretary Alun Cairns has been demanded by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) after Whitehall failed to back a major energy project.
Northern Irish councils' devolution call
The time is now right to extend the responsibilities of local government in Northern Ireland through greater devolution from Stormont, a new report said today.
Growth plans for Norse
Norse Group has laid out ambitious growth plans that could lead to it hitting £0.5bn turnover.
BASW members hold Welsh austerity march
Social workers are marching through Wales today in protest at austerity cuts.
Manzie made a Dame
The former interim chief executive of Birmingham City Council, Stella Manzie, has been made a Dame in the Queen’s birthday honours for services to local government.
On the road to reorganisation
After being met with opposition from local authorities in Wales, cabinet secretary for local government and public services, Alun Davies, makes the case for reorganisation.
Welsh reorganisation consultation deadline approaches
Time is running out to take part in a consultation over proposals to merge councils in Wales.