Dan Peters
Performance monitoring rap for Stirling
Stirling Council must have better processes for evaluating and reporting its performance so it can identify how to improve, a report by the Accounts Commission has said.
Further delay to devolution drive
The Government’s repeatedly-delayed devolution framework will not be published until after Brexit, minister Jake Berry has admitted.
Government misses self-imposed Easter reorganisation deadline
Preparations for local government reorganisation in Northamptonshire are moving ahead despite councils continuing to wait for a formal Government decision.
Hopes for legislative backing behind new code
An overhaul of financial management in councils could be enshrined in law, according to a consultation that stakeholders must respond to within days to influence.
EXCLUSIVE: LEPs challenge Government performance review
Frustrated local enterprise partnerships (LEP) have demanded changes to the Government’s annual performance review (APR) process.
EXCLUSIVE: Government to hear Brexit legal base fears
Continuing concerns around the future legal base of regulatory work after Brexit will be raised at the next EU exit local government delivery board, The MJ understands.
Elections staff left asking questions on EU poll payments
Elections staff remain in the dark over the payments they will receive if the EU polls are cancelled.
Government to push ahead with 75% rates retention in 2020/21
Whitehall will push ahead with plans to implement 75% business rates retention in 2020/21 despite calls for a one-year delay, The MJ understands.
Data demand over settled status bids
Councils have refused to give up after their request to access Home Office data on application rates for settled status was knocked back.
Government review to look at council audit response
The Government will use its planned review of a key law to look at how councils respond to issues identified by auditors, The MJ has learnt.
EXCLUSIVE: Concern over councils' ability to cope with polls
Council chiefs have raised concerns with Government about the sector’s capacity to run EU elections so close on the heels of local polls.
Making progress in Powys
An inspection revealing child protection processes at Powys CC were not good enough came as a ‘hard knock’, says leader Rosemarie Harris. She talks to Dan Peters about the council’s continuing improvement journey.
Council buys office to generate income
South Cambridgeshire DC has made a £13m investment in a high-quality office building to generate an initial net return of around 5.6%.
Kara: Financial sustainability about more than just money
The key ingredients of financial sustainability have been outlined by a senior sector figure speaking at The MJ’s Future Forum.
Social care precept 'avoided catastrophe'
The introduction of the social care precept ‘avoided catastrophe’ but the sector still faces a funding gap of at least £15bn, a senior figure told The MJ’s Future Forum today.
Treasury announces details of £95k exit payment cap
A £95,000 cap on local government exit payments will be implemented despite the sector being responsible for less than a tenth of public sector pay-outs.
Northamptonshire dithering could lead to reorganisation delay
A group of Northamptonshire MPs has urged the Government to sign off reorganisation plans for the county.
EXCLUSIVE: Call for inspection pause in case of Brexit hit
Council chiefs have urged Whitehall to be ready to ease pressures on the sector for up to six months if Brexit threatens to stretch capacity.
EXCLUSIVE: Fresh deadline for overlapping LEPs
Minister Jake Berry has laid down a fresh deadline for local enterprise partnerships (LEP) to remove overlapping boundaries in a desperate attempt to break the deadlock.
Row over devolution delay
Councils and the Government are at loggerheads over who is to blame for a 17-month delay for a decision on a devolution growth deal.