Wales
Unions criticise 'unnecessary' pay offer delay
The three unions representing council workers today criticised ‘unnecessary delays’ after local government employers failed to make them a pay offer for 2020/21.
Brown calls for 'constitutional revolution'
Gordon Brown has called for a ‘constitutional revolution,’ with a series of citizens’ assemblies and a forum for mayors and regional leaders to shape change.
Minister warns austerity is not over
Welsh local government minister, Julie James, warned that austerity is not over as she announced the finance settlement.
NILGA in pre-election powers and resources call
Northern Ireland’s Parliamentary candidates have been urged to prioritise granting greater powers and resources to councils ahead of next week’s General Election.
Promising the earth, but are they fit for the future?
Heather Jameson says that as we approach 2020, we are greeted by election manifestos appealing more to voters harking back to history, rather than looking toward the future.
A vote for change
Local government calls for ‘radical change’ and ‘genuine devolution’ increased this week as political parties prepared to unveil their General Election manifestos.
Welsh teenagers to get the vote in local government ‘overhaul’
A new law to give 16- and 17-year-olds in Wales the vote in council elections has been unveiled by the Welsh Government.
‘Nuff said?
Diary’s attention was grabbed by a recent quote by chair of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn.
Western Gateway to become powerhouse for Severn estuary
A third ‘powerhouse’ has been launched by the Government today in an attempt to drive economic growth across south Wales and the west of England.
Improvement board formed for troubled council
The Welsh Government has formed an improvement board to oversee changes at Merthyr Tydfil CBC after a review into the troubled council.
Welsh councils warn of ‘financial tipping point’ due to cuts
Six Welsh council leaders have written to the Welsh government warning them that without a change to the way local government is funded there will be ‘substantial cuts’ to frontline services.
Jenrick excluded from daily Brexit committee
Concerns have been raised about Marsham Street’s influence on Brexit matters in Whitehall.
EXCLUSIVE: Charity Commission to intervene in £2.4bn rates dispute
Charity Commission experts will be called on to help the High Court settle the long-running legal dispute between councils and NHS trusts over rates relief.
Heseltine in call for new department for the regions
A new department for the regions should be established, former deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine has argued.
Leader of ‘fractious’ council seeks Government help
The leader of Merthyr Tydfil Council has asked the Welsh Government for help to overcome its ‘fractious’ position and financial challenges.
Quarter of council jobs lost in nine years
A quarter of local government jobs have been cut since 2010, new data from trade union Unison has found.
Welsh Government to simplify joint working between councils
A blueprint for joint working between councils is to be published by the Welsh Government.
Legal row could drag on for two years
A row between councils and supermarkets over business rates charged on cash machines could be tied up in costly litigation for up to two years, an expert has warned.
Redistribution call after imbalance findings
A think-tank has called for a redistribution of public investment from London to England’s poorer regions after latest figures showed a huge imbalance between levels of tax and public spending.
Fresh call for business rates avoidance action
The Local Government Association (LGA) has made a fresh call for ministers to tackle business rates avoidance – more than two years after commitments were first made.