Whitehall
Government waters down devolution framework plans
Hopes are fading that the Government’s devolution framework will jump-start the agenda when it is finally published.
LGA research 'debunks' inefficient services myth
Wildly different spending levels in children’s services owe more to local demographic factors than to inefficiency or political decision, an independent report for the Local Government Association (LGA) has revealed today.
Another week, another warning
Will politicians, civil servants and policy-makers show the insight and bravery to think in generational terms or will short termism continue to triumph, asks Paul O'Brian.
Double standards?
When it comes to improving public services, what’s good for local government should be good for central government. Piali Das Gupta looks at why the latter can benefit from adopting the principles of the former
EXCLUSIVE: Doubts raised over local industrial strategies rollout
Concerns have been raised over the future of local industrial strategies, amid fears Whitehall will fail to push the policy further than just a few urban areas.
EXCLUSIVE: Councils could face ‘traffic light’ grading on finances
Every council could be publicly graded red, amber or green for financial resilience under plans by finance chiefs to avoid another financial collapse, The MJ has learnt.
Surrey has 'improved' since Parsons Green bomb
Surrey CC has insisted it has made improvements since the Parsons Green bomber partially exploded a device on a tube train, injuring 51 people.
Government told to return control to Rotherham
Rotherham MBC should be handed back full control of its services, ministers have been told.
Digital tax planned to balance 'antiquated' business rates
Calls by MPs to scrap business rates have been rejected by a Treasury minister.
Social care green paper delayed - again
The long-awaited social care green paper has been further delayed until the autumn after repeated Whitehall insistencies it was on track.
Fresh finance warning for Northamptonshire CC
Northamptonshire CC’s finance director has issued an early warning the county already risks missing key savings targets that enabled it to agree a legal budget.
Joined up policy? Leaf it out
As an architect of Brexit, Michael Gove has a knack for knowing when to exploit an opportunity – that woeful and failed leadership bid aside, obviously.
Districts resist council tax support pressure
Districts have hit back at Government pressure for them to pass on cash for local council tax support schemes (LCTS).
DWP under fire over Universal Credit
Auditors have heavily criticised the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for the design and implementation of Universal Credit.
Mayors renew skills call
England’s directly-elected regional mayors today renewed their call on the Government for greater devolution of powers and funding over skills.
LGA call amid appeals backlog
More than 133,000 firms are still awaiting appeals of their business rates valuation from 2010 to be resolved, council leaders have revealed.
Khan talks extremism with LGA
Britain’s commissioner for countering extremism met with senior sector figures yesterday to discuss concerns over long-term funding and the response to the far-right threat.
CIPFA hits back at Tesco rates attack
Finance directors have hit back at criticisms made by big companies that business rates are causing the collapse of retailers on the high street.
Dozens of migrant integration projects share in £19m fund
Almost £19m has been paid out to English councils to help ease pressures on services resulting from recent migration.
LGA in Right to Buy warning
Councils’ ability to replace homes sold under Right to Buy (RTB) will be effectively eliminated within five years, a new study for the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.