Dan Peters
Rates pilots fuelling fears of two-speed ‘unfair’ approach
The County Councils’ Network (CCN) has warned the Government’s approach to the business rates retention pilots risks fuelling fears of a ‘two-speed and unfair approach’.
MPs to examine impact of Brexit on sector
The role councils could play after Brexit will be examined by MPs on the Communities and Local Government Committee.
£20m for sector-led kids’ services
The Department for Education (DfE) has signalled a major policy shift with a £20m investment for a new programme of sector-led improvement for children’s services.
Labour may drop policy on care
Labour may ditch the name of its flagship National Care Service policy, the party’s shadow minister for social care has revealed.
Councils warned slow business rates revisions ‘unacceptable’
Fewer than half of all billing authorities in England have issued revised business rate bills following the introduction of a £300m discretionary relief package, government figures have shown.
Counter-fraud pilot successful
Councils are encouraged to sign up to a joint counter-fraud initiative with Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) investigators after a ‘successful pilot stage’.
Council chiefs ‘must be sector leaders’
The Association of Directors of Children’s Services’ (ADCS) president has insisted serving council chiefs should continue to perform such roles.
Adult care talks snubbed as tensions grow in sector
A sector offer to help build cross-party consensus on the way forward for adult social care has been snubbed by the two main political parties, The MJ can reveal.
Refuges 'not always right solution'
A top children’s services director has suggested refuges are ‘not always the right solution’ after research found a dramatic fall in spending by English councils.
Javid considers gradual introduction of 100% rates retention
The move to 100% business rates retention could happen gradually, communities secretary Sajid Javid has revealed.
Government backs sector-led improvement for children's services
The Department for Education (DfE) has signalled a major policy shift with a £20m investment for a new programme of sector-led improvement for children’s services.
Sutcliffe: CQC 'got some things wrong' in local systems reviews
The chief inspector of social care has admitted mistakes were made in the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) initial approach to local systems reviews.
Children in care figures hits record high
Some 90 children a day entered care last year, meaning a record number of youngsters are now in the care system, councils have revealed today.
Labour may ditch flagship National Care Service name
Labour may ditch the name of its flagship National Care Service policy, the party’s shadow minister for social care has revealed.
Narey: Foster carers should be paid better
Foster carers should be ‘treated as professionals and properly remunerated,’ the leader of a government-commissioned sector stocktake has said.
Health and care reform challenge 'greatest since welfare state creation'
Health and social care face the ‘greatest reform challenge since the creation of the welfare state,’ the chief executive of the NHS Confederation has said.
‘Talk less and invest more in infrastructure’
A former chairman of the Local Government Association has urged council pension funds to get off the sidelines and start investing in infrastructure.
Whitehall and authorities clash over review on deprivation
The Government and the sector could be on a collision course over the approach the fair funding review takes towards deprivation.
Funding review ‘a priority’
The local government fair funding review is a priority and could be implemented by 2020/21, Whitehall insiders have suggested.
Knowsley chief wins praise for turning around kids’ services
The independent chair of Knowsley MBC’s children’s services improvement board has praised the council’s chief executive for the turnaround achieved since an inadequate Ofsted rating.