Whitehall
Solace Summit: President in collaboration call
A call for collaboration has been made in a speech to the Solace Summit by president Martin Swales.
Government launches care recruitment drive
The Department of Health and Social Care is set to launch the second phase of its advertising campaign to help fill 122,000 vacancies in social care.
Queen's speech: Councils promised new powers to tackle pollution
The Queen’s Speech promised an Environment Bill which will establish a ‘world-leading’ independent regulator, the Office for Environmental Protection, and hand some new powers to councils.
Queen's speech: Devolution White Paper to set out 'structural reform'
An English devolution White Paper is planned by the Government, it has been confirmed in the Queen’s Speech.
Care services face five-day delays for medicines under no-deal Brexit
The Government’s report on readiness for a no-deal Brexit has warned adult care services to prepare for delays in receiving medical products.
Think tanks to produce ‘toolkit’ to improve governance
A project part-funded by Whitehall and the Local Government Association aims to produce ‘practical support’ and a toolkit to improve councils’ corporate governance by next summer.
New leadership role to boost place-based working
Local government’s sole representative on the new National Leadership Centre’s (NLC) board wants to use her role to boost place-based ways of working.
Devolution legislation planned for Queen's Speech
The Government is planning to launch the next round of devolution legislation in the Queen’s Speech, The MJ understands.
Call for new audit oversight body
A new type of oversight body for local audit that would take a strategic approach to addressing the sector’s sustainability challenges is needed, a top auditor has suggested.
Patel pledges £20m to 'roll up' County Lines
The home secretary’s announcement of a £20m package to tackle County Lines drugs gangs has received a mixed reaction.
Short notice for Brexit exercises
Various Brexit scenario exercises involving local government have been taking place at very short notice, The MJ understands.
Tory spending plans could be derailed by economic downturn - IFS
Multi-billion pound Conservative spending plans could be derailed by a further deterioration in the economy, a fiscal think-tank has warned.
Election and Brexit could hit peer review plans
A General Election before March would put the Local Government Association (LGA) at risk of failing to deliver the number of peer challenges demanded by Whitehall.
Croydon facing £9m asylum funding shortfall
Croydon LBC is heading for another financial hit this year as a result of a funding shortfall to support unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC).
Metro mayors call for place-based funding
England’s nine metro mayors have urged the Government to take a place-based approach to funding in the 2020 Spending Review.
EXCLUSIVE: Government silent on no-deal cloud risks
The Government has refused to reveal if all major providers of cloud-based services are aware of the risks a no-deal Brexit may bring.
EXCLUSIVE: Funding withheld from LEPs
Five local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) have had capacity funding withheld in 2019/20 because they have not resolved overlaps, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has confirmed.
Norfolk considers £16m new savings
Norfolk CC is considering new savings of £15.8m next year on top of already-agreed savings of £31.1m in 2020/21.
Older people face ‘significant barriers’ in applying for EU Settlement Scheme
The Government has been warned older EU nationals living in the UK could be shut out of public services or be put at risk of deportation.
EXCLUSIVE: Core Cities' £28bn Shared Prosperity Fund warning
The proposed UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) must be worth at least £28bn over seven years if the UK is to deliver its devolved policy objectives, a leading sector body has warned.