Chris Mahony
Ministers set to water down planning proposals
Speculation is growing that ministers are preparing to water down their proposed planning reforms.
Government fails to consult DPHs on winter plan
Public health directors have hit out at a lack of engagement by the government in developing its autumn/winter COVID-19 plan.
Levelling up too focused on infrastructure, claims report
Ministers’ ‘levelling up’ agenda is too focused on new infrastructure projects at the expense of improving key public services, councils representing English towns and cities have warned.
Councils call for 'honesty' on National Care Service costs
COSLA has said the funding should instead be invested in care services currently provided by councils.
Derbyshire to abandon collective leadership
The council is set to appoint a permanent managing director after four years in a management overhaul.
Angus may use COVID reserves to plug budget holes
Angus Council may use reserves put aside for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic to plug looming holes in its budget over the next two years.
Council leader warns of 'serious risks' over local plan withdrawal
Rutland CC’s decision to withdraw its local plan leaves it facing ‘serious risks,’ the authority’s own leader has warned.
Thorpe promoted to top job at North Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire Council has appointed its learning, skills and culture director, Pete Thorpe, to succeed chief executive Denise Hyde.
Scottish councils blindsided over social care reforms
Scottish Government proposals around children’s services, community justice and alcohol and drug treatment were smuggled into a consultation ‘at the very last minute,’ a council body has complained.
How critical is the census?
With the next census due to take place next year, just how crucial is it to local authorities’ abilities to plan services? Chris Mahony examines the issues.
Contract changes prompt strike threat
Unison members in Tower Hamlets LBC are to strike in protest at contract changes the union claims are being forced on workers.
City region deal to be signed
The Stirling and Clackmannanshire city region deal will be signed by council leaders and representatives of the UK and Scottish governments today.
Local belonging figures drop
The proportion of people who feel like they belong to their local area has dipped, research from the Office for National Statistics has suggested.
EXCLUSIVE: Rutland named strongest performer in adult social care index
Rutland CC has been named the strongest performer in adult social care using refined productivity metrics.
Social care 'tipping point in nine years'
Failings by councils and government mean the crisis in social care and specialist housing for older people will reach a tipping point in nine years, law firm Irwin Mitchell has warned.
EXCLUSIVE: Growth boards plan for non-mayor areas
County councils have suggested ministers should establish growth boards to coordinate economic development in areas that do not have elected mayors or combined authorities.
Further moves to bring troubled housing company in-house
The termination of a housing management contract spanning four local authorities in Kent has moved a step closer.
The sound of silence
Local agencies are often ‘woefully ill-equipped’ to stop child sexual abuse in the family environment, says a new joint report from four inspectorates including Ofsted. Why is multi-agency performance still so poor – and what needs to happen next? Chris Mahony reports.
Universal credit pushed back again
The Department for Work and Pensions has again shifted the date for full implementation of Universal Credit.
Ministers must heed local productivity gaps
Ministerial efforts to reduce the regional productivity gap must recognise the imbalances at local level within regions, government advisers have warned.
