Hiba Mahamadi
Councils could lose millions in utilities repayments after court ruling
Local authorities could be facing repayments worth millions of pounds to council tenants in excess water charges, after a High Court ruling last week.
East Riding top of recycling rates
East Riding of Yorkshire Council has topped the Government’s list of local authority recycling rates in England for 2018/2019.
Domestic abuse crime figures surge
The number of domestic abuse-related crimes recorded by the police has surged by 24% in the year ending March 2019, new figures show.
Fuelling the future
Hiba Mahamadi looks at how the two councils who have stepped in to the energy market have fared so far and at whether the future lies in striking up white label partnerships.
Pension pool to smash Osborne target
A local government pension pool has announced plans to accumulate more than £30bn of assets by the end of 2021, beating the Government’s original expectation.
Children's services, adult social care top list of complaints
Most complaints about councils received by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) in 2018/19 concerned education, children’s services and adult social care.
Report: Council of the North needed to drive growth
A Council of the North should be created to develop and implement an industrial strategy for the region, a new report has suggested.
Improvements for Worcestershire children's services
Worcestershire CC’s children’s services have improved since they were rated inadequate three years ago, with families better cared for now, Ofsted has said.
Boris Johnson backs local government devolution
Council leaders will be given 'greater powers' while cities, counties and towns will become 'more self-governing,' new Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged.
PAC: Government should intervene over local plans
The Government should use its ‘powers to intervene’ to ensure councils without local plans make them an urgent priority.
Councils to get £300,000 for obesity pilots
The Government has decided to award five local authorities £300,000 each to trial programmes to tackle childhood obesity.
Chief executives least likely to be privately educated
Council chief executives are among the least likely to have been privately educated compared to those working in government, media and sport, a new report has found.
Voter ID confidence drops
The proportion of people who think voter ID helps to prevent electoral fraud has dropped from 52% in 2016 to 35% in 2019, new research has found.
Court ruling defends council but warns others
A crucial Supreme Court judgment has dismissed a family’s claim against a council for housing them next to an abusive household, but stressed authorities may still have a duty of care in other circumstances.
Scottish pension fund highlights 'significant achievements'
A Scottish pension fund administered by Aberdeen City Council has posted a profit in excess of £300m over the last year.
£250bn and more devolution needed to tackle oncoming crisis
The Government needs to invest £250bn and commit to devolution if it is to tackle the jobs, housing and environmental pressures on the horizon, a group chaired by local government stalwart Lord Kerslake has argued.
Unchaining social value
A new report reveals some councils are building social value into their procurement – but that senior council decision makers must take more interest in securing broader benefits when commissioning services. Hiba Mahamadi investigates
Scottish councils need more power - think-tank
Scottish local government needs a ‘renewal,’ a think tank has urged, with directly elected mayors and complete control over council tax and business rates.
Social value should be compulsory, Lords suggest
Incorporating social value into financial decision-making should be compulsory for councils, it has been suggested in a House of Lords debate.
Chief executive and two deputies placed on 'special leave'
The chief executive and two deputy chief executives at a Lancashire authority have been asked to temporarily step down from their roles.