Heather Jameson
Heather Jameson is editor of the MJ
Ministers must stop flip-flopping over commercial deals
Heather Jameson says ministers should 'stop the policy flip-flop over commercialisation – choose a stance and stick with it'.
Northumberland issues s114 over unlawful finances
Northumberland Council has issued a section 114 notice for unlawful expenditure – including allowances paid to its chief executive Daljit Lally.
South Tyneside must tackle councillor behaviour, says peer team
South Tyneside MBC has improved but there is a long way to go on governance and councillor behaviour, a peer review has found.
MJ Housing: Sector speculates as Gove stands firm over housing
Despite bold pledges over the housing crisis, Michael Gove has accepted progress will not be as fast as originally planned. The levelling up secretary wants to build more homes – but only while involving local communities behind the developments, leading to some skepticism. Heather Jameson reports
Cost of living crisis loomed large at The MJ Forum
Heather Jameson says it was clear from The MJ Future Forum that the sector is facing a massive agenda. 'But what is perhaps more of a surprise is how little the Queen’s Speech addressed the main issues and captured the zeitgeist of the forum.
Likely rent rises are ‘ticking time bomb’
Social housing rents could rise by up to 10% next April as tenants face a battle to survive the cost of living crisis.
The first steps towards fixing a damaged system?
Local government will still be left to pick up the pieces of the cost of living crisis that the Queen’s Speech has failed to address, says Heather Jameson. There needs to be a new plan to make public services fit for purpose.
New Bill to put beauty at the heart of planning, says Gove
The Queen’s Speech is set to include a new bill to revamp planning and kick start housebuilding, levelling up secretary Michael Gove has revealed.
Count on culture not cash
With inflation outstripping planned wage increases, it will be the culture, working for an innovative authority, in a community – ultimately the job satisfaction – that will attract and keep good people in local government, says Heather Jameson.
Thurrock branded 'irresponsible' over protest publicity
A council has been accused of being ‘irresponsible and unjust’ after it published the full names and addresses of environmental protesters.
No major gains expected as local elections loom
Labour and the Conservatives are unlikely to make any huge wins at next week’s local elections, insiders have suggested.
Calculating the complex equation of local elections
If fear of failure at the local elections prompts action on the cost of living crisis, perhaps it is no bad thing – even if it doesn’t directly hand cash back to councils, says Heather Jameson.
Anderson no longer faces Operation Sheridan investigation
Former mayor of Liverpool City Council, Joe Anderson, is no longer under investigation by Lancashire Constabulary – but still faces a Merseyside police inquiry.
Rhythms and rhetoric do not a devolution make
There is still a long way to go before the Johnson Government’s devolution rhetoric feels like a reality, says Heather Jameson
DLUHC figures highlight disjointed funding regime
Government funding for the New Homes Bonus was £622.3m for 2021-22, according to figures released by local government minister Kemi Badenoch.
There is no more cash for COVID, Government confirms
There will be no more funding to help councils deal with outbreaks of COVID, the Government has confirmed.
Councils take up care precept to boost income
Almost all eligible councils are set to raise the adult social care precept on their council tax in 2022-23, the latest government figures have revealed.
Levelling up plans will fail, IfG report claims
The Government’s plans for levelling up will not cut regional inequality, a report from the influential Institute for Government (IfG) has claimed.
Delays to prosperity fund will hamper councils growth, say leaders
Delays to the allocations of the UK Shared prosperity (UKSPF) fund will hamper councils’ investment plans for the coming year, local government leaders have claimed.
The frenzy of policy must not lead to fragmented reforms
The MJ's first in-person Future Forum North since the pandemic focused attention on the endless list of issues facing local government that is starting to make a mockery of the word 'priority', says Heather Jameson.
