Laura Sharman
Council’s legal challenge to Dorset reorganisation to proceed to High Court
Christchurch BC has been given permission to take its case against local government reorganisation in Dorset to the High Court.
Half of council staff considering quitting their job, survey finds
Half of council employees are thinking of leaving their job for less stressful work, according to a new survey by trade union Unison.
Hospital admissions could have been avoided, say MPs
Nearly 1.5 million emergency hospital admissions could have been avoided if the right care had been in place, MPs have warned today.
Protect our social workers from violence
Social workers should be given the same protection from violence as emergency workers, according to sector bodies.
Gloucestershire leader blasts voter ID
Gloucestershire County Council's Labour group leader has branded voter ID a ‘calculated effort to disenfranchise millions’.
Government has 'underestimated' children's centre closures
As many as 1,000 Sure Start children’s centres could have closed in the last eight years - double the amount estimated by the Government - new research has found.
Older renters ignored by housing policy, charity claims
Older private renters are being overlooked by housing policy despite being more likely to report cold and damp in their homes, a charity has warned today.
Three councils face intervention over local plans
Three councils are facing government intervention over their failure to produce a local plan.
Ombudsman warns councils not to outsource responsibility
Councils have been urged by the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) to keep a ‘robust oversight’ of external contractors to ensure accountability is not lost.
Council chiefs 'pessimistic' about Brexit
More than six out of 10 council chief executives and leaders believe Brexit will be damaging to their local economy, a new survey has found.
Ethical standards in local government to be reviewed
A review into how local government is supporting ethical standards is to be conducted by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
Council offers voluntary redundancy to its staff
All non-teaching staff at Shropshire Council have been offered the chance to take voluntary redundancy in a bid to plug a funding gap of more than £59m.
Council agrees exit deal after Carillion collapse
Oxfordshire CC has formally terminated its contract with Carillion following the collapse of the company, bringing forward the end of its contract by four months.
Councils call for permitted development rules to be scrapped
Nearly one in 10 homes built over the last two years was converted from an office, new analysis has revealed today.
Boom in elderly population stretching counties to 'breaking point'
An 'unprecedented' rise in the number of elderly people in rural county areas is pushing counties to breaking point, council leaders have warned.
Five London councils commission programme to keep troubled youngsters out of care
Five London boroughs have jointly commissioned a new programme to help vulnerable young people stay out of care.
Newcastle to transfer 200 council workers to Northumberland under merger plans
Newcastle City Council has approved plans to transfer staff to Northumberland Council as part of plans to share transactional services.
Local authorities left with 'no choice' but to increase council tax
The Local Government Association (LGA) has insisted its members have been left with 'no choice' but to increase council tax after a pressure group found rates have risen by 57% over the past 20 years.
Child referred to social care every 49 seconds, figures reveal
Referrals to council children's services reached 646,120 last year, according to new figures from the Local Government Association (LGA).
Government relaunches housing agency
A rebranded national agency has been launched today by housing secretary Sajid Javid in a bid to boost housebuilding.