Whitehall
Call for 'surge vaccine supplies' as Indian variant spreads
Local public health experts have asked the Government for ‘surge vaccine supplies’ amid anxiety over the spread of the Indian variant of coronavirus.
More than 100 leisure centres could go bust, DCN warns
More than 100 leisure centres in England could go bust due to the coronavirus crisis, district councils have warned.
Javid: Devolution crucial in levelling up
Former local government secretary Sajid Javid has stressed the importance of devolution in the drive towards levelling up the country.
Child protection to be ‘reset’
Child protection will not return to the pre-pandemic norm, a top Department for Education official has pledged.
PM dashes hopes for localism and devolution
All hopes that prime ministers forged through local politics would be localists, sympathetic to the plight of local government and devolving powers down seem to have been dashed by the Johnson Government, says Heather Jameson.
A level of uncertainty
A Levelling up White Paper will emerge later this year, to replace the long-promised legislative proposals for local recovery and devolution. What does this augur for the role of local government? Martin Ford reports.
Let's continue to open national politicians’ and civil servants’ eyes to the potential of local government
Writing in advance of the Queen's Speech, Graeme McDonald wondered if it would set up a new relationship between Whitehall and councils. or leave local government fighting for relevance within a Westminster-imposed straightjacket.
EXCLUSIVE: MHCLG pushes ahead with exit pay data demands
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is pushing ahead with demanding data on exit payments from councils despite criticism of the proposals.
EXCLUSIVE: High needs spending could 'bankrupt councils'
A senior finance director has warned that spending on high needs threatens to ‘bankrupt councils’ as local authorities queue up for a bail out.
Queen's Speech: Controversial voter ID plans roll forward
Voter ID is expected to be introduced by May 2023 after the Government pledged to introduce legislation to ‘ensure the integrity of elections’.
Government criticised over dragging feet on cladding after new fire
The Government has been accused of failing to force developers to take action after a fire broke out at a tower block with Grenfell-style cladding.
No accord on levelling up
An analysis by Localis calls the Government’s Plan for Growth ‘a centralist strategy’ in which ‘the question of devolution is not given much emphasis’. It's not surprising that confidence in the programme seems to be draining away, says Paul Marinko.
Will Zoom speed up reform?
As the Government plans a new round of public sector reform Michael Burton considers the impact of the Zoom revolution.
EXCLUSIVE: Cross-cutting regions project faces Whitehall downgrade
The scheme was designed to unite Whitehall departments and regions across the country.
Brum moves ahead with restructure
Birmingham City Council has made two more appointments as part of a wider restructure.
LGA removes criticised fire safety guidance from website
The Local Government Association (LGA) finally removed fire safety guidance hosted on its website that had been heavily criticised after the Grenfell Tower blaze.
Ministers back council hiring of marshals beyond June 21
Ministers have defended councils for recruiting new COVID marshals for the coming year despite government plans to lift remaining coronavirus restrictions on June 21.
ADSO vows to fight on in virtual meeting battle
Election experts have vowed to carry on fighting to give councils the choice to hold meetings virtually despite last week’s legal ruling.
Further delays for social care reform
Social care reform faces further delays after rumours that the chancellor and Prime Minister are concerned at the £5bn bill to fund more generous capping limits.
Devolution White Paper to be replaced by levelling up proposals
A levelling up White Paper will replace the long-awaited policy document on devolution and local recovery.
