Dan Peters
Future Forum North: May's Brexit deal will leave UK worse off economically
It is undeniable that the UK will be worse off economically under prime minister Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank has said.
Future Forum North: 'Government still doesn't think sector is efficient'
Whitehall remains unconvinced that local government is as efficient as it can be, Smith Square’s deputy chief executive, Sarah Pickup, has said.
Future Forum North: 'We're wasting data'
A rallying cry has been made for councils to make use of the reams of available untapped data.
Future Forum North: 'Get a grip on mysterious DCS role'
Local authority bosses should get a grip on the ‘mysterious’ director of children’s services [DCS] role, Wakefield City Council’s chief executive has urged.
Future Forum North: Authenticity key in chief role
A top local government recruiter has encouraged council chief executives to be authentic.
Future Forum North: AI 'will not reduce workforce size'
Artificial intelligence (AI) will not reduce the size of the local government workforce, a top private sector figure has predicted.
Brexit debates delay provisional finance settlement
Tomorrow’s provisional local government finance settlement has been delayed – just weeks after Whitehall agreed to bring it forward and fix a date.
Scrutiny can reduce Government intervention risk - Kerslake
Rishi Sunak has called for scrutiny to receive a ‘strong commitment from the top’ of councils amid warnings about the risk of further Whitehall intervention.
Reserves warning in face of predicted overspend
Hartlepool Council has warned it may have to dip into its reserves if it fails to make savings to reduce a £920,000 in-year overspend.
Denver tax 'demonstrates fiscal devolution need'
The introduction of a 0.25% sales tax in Denver is ‘further proof of the need for devolved political power in the UK,’ a local government finance expert has suggested.
Call for public expenditure presentation overhaul
Next year’s Spending Review should overhaul the presentation of public expenditure within the Government’s fiscal documents to bring it line with other countries, a new report has urged.
Northamptonshire recovery plan 'unachievable'
Leaders of the Labour opposition have expressed ‘serious fears’ that Northamptonshire CC will be unable to balance this year’s budget.
Devolution framework to kick-start 'neo-localist' agenda
The Government’s new devolution framework next month will ‘begin a new conversation about our emerging neo-localist agenda,’ communities secretary James Brokenshire has said.
Confidential applicant details published online
East Lindsey DC’s leader has apologised after the council published online the confidential details of people applying to be its new chief executive.
Business backs Edinburgh tourism tax
Seven out of 10 Edinburgh businesses back plans for a tourism tax in the city, a survey has found.
'Significant improvements but hard choices to come'
Dumfries & Galloway Council has a clear strategic direction, more effective leadership, and better systems for planning, monitoring and continuous improvement, the Accounts Commission has found.
EXCLUSIVE: The Bucks stops here
Local government secretary James Brokenshire will only invite new unitary proposals in the case of another Northamptonshire CC-type collapse, The MJ understands.
Sector faces £12m apprenticeship hit - every month
Local government could lose up to £12m per month from June after struggling to spend funds from the Apprenticeship Levy, initial estimates have suggested.
Welsh council leaders welcome cash injection
The Welsh Government has raised the funding floor from -1% to -0.5% to allow council leaders to address the most significant service pressures.
Social media: steering a path
Research by The MJ and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives shows approximately seven out of 10 council bosses use Twitter for work – but Dan Peters wonders if they are making the most of the ‘huge benefits’ social media can offer