Whitehall
Place making and net-zero 'key tenets' in planning reforms
Place making, net-zero and good design will be priorities for the Government's planning reforms, a top mandarin has said.
Gove: My most exciting job yet
New communities secretary Michael Gove has argued that the renaming of his department is a ‘sign of confidence in local government’.
Gove: Planning reform not off the agenda
New housing secretary Michael Gove has warned councillors that the idea of reforming the planning system was ‘not at all’ of the agenda.
Councillors fear blame for looming tax rise
Senior councillors have expressed fears they will be blamed for raising council tax amid a false perception that the Government has sorted social care.
Watchdog calls for mandatory transfer scheme
Ofsted has joined calls for councils to be required to take in unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
Government appoints SEND commissioner at Birmingham
A former council chief executive has been appointed to oversee improvements to Birmingham City Council’s special educational needs and disability (SEND) service.
Call for ground-up approach to carbon reduction
The Government must ‘match the ambition of communities’ on reducing carbon emissions, a think-tank has said.
Pension funds urged to help achieve green economy switch
Parliamentarians have urged local government pension funds to play an active role in achieving a ‘just transition’ to a green economy.
EXCLUSIVE: Questions over taskforce purpose
Local government associations have called for ministers to define the purpose of a new taskforce ahead of April’s launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), The MJ understands.
EXCLUSIVE: Gove to be quizzed on councillor security
MPs are to question local government secretary Michael Gove on the security of councillors following last week’s fatal attack on MP David Amess.
Sunak warned of greater future costs without public service investment
Chancellor Rishi Sunak must swiftly invest in public services hit hardest by the pandemic or face much greater costs down the line, a report has warned.
Pressure rises on Gove to build social housing
Pressure was this week mounting on new housing secretary Michael Gove to ramp up the building of social homes amid predictions of growing homelessness.
Think-tank in call for wellbeing budgets
The Government should introduce ‘wellbeing budgets’ that look beyond gross domestic product (GDP) to reduce regional health inequalities, a think-tank has urged.
Government defeated over council involvement in skills plans
The Government has lost a House of Lords vote after peers demanded councils should be involved in drawing up local skills improvement plans.
EXCLUSIVE: Councils brace themselves for local government exit pay cap
Councils are bracing themselves for the return of exit pay cap proposals as Whitehall officials draw up plans specific to the sector.
District hopes of controlling £500m fund dashed
District hopes to be put in control of handing out the new £500m household support fund have been dashed after a ‘bizarre’ government decision.
Government moves towards all-in deposit return scheme
The Government is moving towards backing an all-in deposit return scheme (DRS) for all plastic bottles, glass bottles and aluminium drinks cans, The MJ understands.
EXCLUSIVE: Government admits Everyone In data gap
The Government has admitted it has no idea how many rough sleepers housed under Everyone In have returned to the streets.
Counties in council tax warning
County leaders have warned council tax bills would have to rise by a fifth over three years to get close to eliminating their deficits.
Westminster wins legal battle with Holyrood
The UK Government has blocked two Scottish Parliament Bills after winning the backing of the Supreme Court.
