Laura Sharman
MPs call for review of local authority flood funding
The Government needs a better understanding on whether funding allocated to local authorities to prevent flooding is matching local risks, MPs have warned today.
Council pension funds invest nearly £10bn in fossil fuels
Nearly £10bn of local government pension funds are still invested in fossil fuels, new research has found.
MHCLG to open Wolverhampton base
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is to open a second headquarters in the Black Country as part of plans to shift civil servants away from the capital.
Women on the frontline are 'exhausted' survey warns
Women working in local government have warned the emotional, physical and financial impact of the pandemic is taking its toll, a new survey has revealed.
Unions call for 10% pay rise for council staff
Three local government unions have called for a wage increase of at least 10% for all council and school workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Ban on bailiff evictions in England extended by six weeks
A ban on bailiff evictions has been extended until the end of March to protect renters during the current lockdown restrictions.
Four councils strike capitalisation deals with government
Four English councils that were unable to balance their budgets will be allowed to borrow millions of pounds to boost their revenue accounts.
Spending watchdog raises concerns over integration joint boards
Councils in Scotland are having to prop up integration joint boards (IJBs), the spending watchdog has warned.
Government accused of hypocrisy over election campaigning
The Government has been accused of hypocrisy for ruling the local elections can go ahead, but restricting councillors’ ability to campaign.
Alliance calls for a greener rethink to planning reforms
The Government has been urged to rethink its ‘damaging’ reforms to the planning system and put people, climate and nature at its heart by a coalition of 18 organisations.
Review pledges to radically reform children's social care
Council leaders have welcomed the launch of an independent review into children’s social care.
Scottish councils call for fair funding to avoid 'damaging consequences'
Council leaders in Scotland have called for an end to small ring-fenced pots of funding and no cap on council tax in this year’s Budget.
Criminals publish stolen council data online
Data stolen from Hackney LBC in a cyber attack has been published online by the criminals responsible.
Government urged to bring back Everyone In programme
The Government has been urged to ensure all rough sleepers are housed during the third national lockdown.
New Year Honours awarded to local government workers
Figures across local government have been recognised for their response to the pandemic in the 2021 New Year Honours list.
Council backs calls for new national lockdown
Liverpool City Council has called on the Government to introduce a new national lockdown to stop the rapid spread of the new strain of coronavirus.
Urban councils' fears over debt recovery rules
Urban councils have voiced concern over new rules that could prevent them from recovering council tax debts.
Rough sleepers to get extra support for drug and alcohol dependency
Extra funding will be given to 43 areas across England to help rough sleepers recover from drug and alcohol misuse.
West Sussex to keep control of children’s services for at least a year
West Sussex CC will keep control of its children’s services for at least another year following improvements, the Department for Education (DfE) has said.
Thousands of councillors call for rethink on planning reforms
Over 2,000 councillors have called on the Government to rethink its planning proposals, warning the changes will lead to an ‘unacceptable loss’ of local democracy and scrutiny.
