Chris Mahony
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.
Questions raised over Glasgow equal pay claims
A documentary has questioned the tactics of the unions involved in the £548m equal pay claim settled by Glasgow City Council – and their deduction of 6.9% from each individual settlement to cover legal costs.
CQC: care Green Paper delay causing 'instability'
The care regulator has accused the Government of aggravating the funding pressures in adult social care by stalling on the long-awaited green paper for the sector.
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.
Government to intervene over 5G concerns
Ministers are reportedly set to write to planning authorities urging them not to block the introduction of 5G technology.
‘Raise benefits to aid homeless’
Campaigners are urging ministers to increase housing-related benefits and to support social housebuilding following the publication of several reports and datasets in the run-up to World Homeless Day today.
'Raise benefits to aid homeless'
Campaigners are urging ministers to increase housing-related benefits and to support social house-building following the publication of several reports and datasets on World Homeless Day today.
LGA calls for more cash to tackle air polution
The Local Government Association has responded coolly to a ministerial invitation for councils to bid for a slice of £2m through the Air Quality Grant Scheme.
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.
County treasurers urge London councils to hike council tax
Inner London councils should increase their band D council tax ‘closer to the national average’ to raise hundreds of millions of pounds, the Society of County Treasurers (SCT) has told ministers.
Council to bask in glow of solar farm cash
Warrington Council expects to generate an estimated operating surplus of £150m over 30 years after buying two UK solar farms.
Baby P fallout still having impact, committee hears
High turnover rates – and the ongoing risk aversion generated by the Baby P case – are exacerbating the funding crisis in children’s services, MPs have heard.
Charities find children's 'cuts hotspots'
Per capita funding for children’s services has fallen by more than 30% since 2010, with London boroughs suffering the most savage cuts, children’s charities have warned.
NLGN in fresh fiscal devolution call
Only full fiscal devolution with comprehensive tax-raising powers at a local level will deliver the change communities crave, a report by the NLGN think-tank has urged.
Three-year rates revaluation cycle to come to Scotland
The Scottish Government will introduce a three-year business rates revaluation cycle to ensure the system responds to changing economic conditions.
Pensions uncertainty could last until 2020
Uncertainty over the true value of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) could ‘rumble on into next year,’ a finance expert has warned.
MPs pile pressure on Government over business rates reform
MPs have urged ministers to assess specific proposals for reforming business rates by the autumn.
Rotherham scandal continues to hit council finances
The aftermath of Rotherham’s child exploitation scandal continues to hit council finances with an overspend of nearly £16m in its children and young people’s directorate.
LGA in low income household call
The Spending Review must restore councils’ ability to support low income households, Smith Square has urged.
Haringey officers in reserves warning
Officers in Haringey LBC have warned that the Labour administration’s use of £5.5m of reserves to increase funding for children’s and adults social care is unsustainable.