Whitehall
Fears over Procurement Bill red tape
The Government has rejected concerns that new procurement rules will create more red tape for local authorities.
New roles to ‘bash heads’ in Whitehall
Levelling up directors will act as champions for local government in Whitehall, a minister has told peers.
Josephs apologises again for lockdown prosecco party
Sheffield City Council chief executive Kate Josephs has reiterated her apology after details of her lockdown-busting leaving party were detailed in a Whitehall report.
Ministers promise radical reform after child deaths review
Ministers have promised radical improvements to data sharing across children’s services after two critical reports this week identified problems that led to child deaths.
Lightly grilled mandarins
Dame Meg Hillier, who chairs the influential Public Accounts Committee, can regularly be found quizzing an array of MPs and Whitehall officials.
Safeguarding fears raised over Homes for Ukraine scheme
Senior council officials want greater powers to safeguard Ukrainian refugees amid fears revised national guidance still leaves some people vulnerable.
Government to strengthen community role in planning
The Government has made clear it intends to strengthen the role of communities in new planning legislation.
Extending audit deadline will 'distract finance teams'
Extending the deadline for publishing audited local authority accounts to the end of September for six years will ‘distract councils’ finance teams,’ the Government has been warned.
Inflation 'biggest worry' for pension schemes
Inflation is the biggest worry for six out of 10 local government pension scheme (LGPS) professionals in England and Wales, new research has found.
Social housing Bill 'imminent'
Housing minister Eddie Hughes this week insisted the Government would bring forward a social housing Bill ‘as quickly as possible’ as he apologised for delays.
Government dismisses union's payout view
New Government guidance attempting to limit special severance payments (SSPs) contradicts advice Whitehall received from senior council officials and may be ignored, insiders have warned.
Likely rent rises are ‘ticking time bomb’
Social housing rents could rise by up to 10% next April as tenants face a battle to survive the cost of living crisis.
Government crackdown on capital spending
Councils face fresh restraints on capital spending under Government plans to lessen borrowing risks.
Government provides support to troubled combined authority
The Government is providing support to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) after its chief executive quit amid a bullying probe into the mayor.
Future Forum: Go hyper-local to avoid 'grim' future
The Government needs to provide county deals quickly and councils need to simultaneously ‘go hyper-local’ to avoid a ‘grim’ future, according to the vice-chair of the Association of County Chief Executives (ACCE).
Future Forum: Funding gap could grow by up to £2bn
The funding gap facing the sector could grow by up to £2bn over the Spending Review period, the deputy chief executive of the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.
Future Forum: No end in sight for funding pots
Two local government finance experts have predicted Whitehall will continue doling out cash through competitive pots.
Future Forum: Government must do more to help those on lowest incomes
The Government has failed to do enough for those on the lowest incomes, a top economist has told The MJ’s Future Forum event.
Levelling up must go beyond 'big ticket' projects
Efforts to level up communities must be felt at a local level for the policy to be viewed as a success by the public, politicians have been told.
Queen's Speech unveils plans to 'drive growth'
The Government has unveiled a Queen’s Speech to boost the economy, with plans to reform business rates finally coming to Parliament.
