Whitehall
Councils to make case for further Government flood funds
Local authorities are lobbying Government to provide support for flood-hit families and small businesses whose insurance does not cover the costs of their recovery.
Conservatives call for care consensus in cautious manifesto
The Conservatives are set to keep the council tax cap, seek cross-party consensus on social care reform and toughen powers to tackle illegal traveller encampments if they win the General Election.
Treasurer concern at isolation of audit reviews
Council treasurers have expressed concerns that two consultations on the future of audit are being carried out in isolation, The MJ understands.
Council spending powers to be restored to 2010 levels under Labour
Labour would ‘reverse the Tory decade of austerity for local government’ and aim to restore council spending powers to 2010 levels by 2024 if elected.
Party leaders told to 'stop talking, start doing’ on care reforms
The former head of a commission that recommended a cap on social care has said politicians have left responsibility to local government.
Dark and cold threat to winter poll
Election officials have complained after Scrooge-like officials told them they would need to explain their use of additional heating and lighting despite the winter poll.
Leaders seek huge rise in flood funding
Councils have approached the Government for financial assistance as costs mount for flood-hit communities.
Fielding suggests return to revenue support grant
The president of the Society of County Treasurers, Gary Fielding, has suggested local government should continue to be funded by a revenue support grant.
Sheffield blames austerity for planning proposals
Sheffield City Council has blamed austerity for proposals to cut the number of officers in its planning department.
EXCLUSIVE: Fears over 'watered down' committee replacement
Fears have been raised that the UK will be landed with a ‘watered-down replacement’ for the EU Committee of the Regions after Brexit.
Health leaders in fresh social care warning
Health leaders have warned that the persistent neglect of social care is damaging patient care across the NHS.
EXCLUSIVE: Ministers in fresh LEP overlap threat
Ministers have again threatened to withhold funding from local enterprise partnerships (LEP) that fail to remove overlapping boundaries, The MJ has learnt.
Employers delay response to 10% pay claim
Local government employers have told trade union leaders that they are unlikely to respond to their 10% pay claim before next year.
More cash needed to improve outcomes - report
More money on top of spending pledges made by the Government ahead of the General Election will be required to improve outcomes, public sector experts have warned.
Public spending still lower than pre-recession, says IFS
Planned hikes in public spending would still leave spending in 2020-21 3% lower than it was in 2010-11, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
McDonnell unveils a Northern manifesto
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell will today announce plans to shift the balance of power from Westminster to the North.
Corridors of Power
The Chancellor has a dream in which he really is announcing the November Budget:
General Election 'spending arms race' predicted
Parties making public spending pledges during the election campaign should look beyond the size of the state and consider its shape, a high-profile report from the Resolution Foundation has urged
EXCLUSIVE: MHCLG to assess Brexit preparations
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will use the General Election period to assess how it prepared for a slated October Brexit.
EXCLUSIVE: Failure to improve reporting and audit could prompt legislation
Whitehall officials have warned ministers ‘could seek to legislate’ if the transparency and quality of local authority financial reporting and external audit fails to improve.