Mark Conrad
Police investigate children's homes after suspensions
Police are investigating the closure of two Doncaster-based children’s homes suspended by Ofsted amid safeguarding concerns, The MJ has learned.
Somerset MP urges county to up SEN spend
A Somerset MP has urged the county council to find £2.4m from existing coffers to settle a two-year dispute over SEN funding.
MPs reject call for army vet checks
Parliament has rejected calls for a duty on local public bodies to ask service users whether they are military veterans when accessing services.
Labour’s Liverpool review will ‘shake the tree’
The Labour Party has kick-started its inquiry into failings at Liverpool City Council.
Home secretary urges councils to house asylum seekers
Home secretary Priti Patel has urged local authorities to identify further accommodation to house asylum seekers following the closure of a controversial temporary site in Wales.
Unions reject Scots pay offer
Trade unions in Scotland have formally rejected employers’ pay offer of an £800 lower-rate pay rise for 2021, dismissing the sum as an unacceptably poor response to staff efforts during COVID-19.
Boarding home closures prompt council response
Councils have been called on to help accommodate children with special educational needs after two boarding homes had their registrations suspended following critical inspections.
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked report reveals council capacity fears
Local resilience forums (LRFs) dealt well with severe challenges over winter but Whitehall remains concerned fresh emergencies could place unmanageable strain on town halls, a report leaked to The MJ has found.
Pandemic hits LGA's graduate programme
The coronavirus pandemic undermined Smith Square’s plan to expand its National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP), councillors have heard.
Voter ID plans face fresh legal challenge
A former councillor has been given permission to legally challenge government Voter ID schemes at the Supreme Court.
Councils demand vaccine flexibility amid ethnic minority concerns
Councils called for greater flexibility over COVID-19 vaccine delivery after figures showed more than 40% of some ethnic minorities have not received a jab.
Councils to be given five years to spend Right to Buy receipts
Councils will be given five years to spend receipts from Right to Buy sales as part of an overhaul of the key housing policy, local government secretary Robert Jenrick has announced.
Roney warns against complacency after damning review
Manchester City Council’s chief executive has insisted the authority will not be complacent about child sexual exploitation after a damning review was published.
Government social care plans to be published this year - Johnson
Prime Minister Boris Johnson today vowed to publish the Government’s long-awaited social care plans this year.
Council on course to meet investment target
South Cambridgeshire DC has revealed it is on course to generate a quarter of cash spent on services through its own investments.
Councils urged to improve information sharing
Local authorities have been urged to improve information sharing following two serious case reviews (SCRs) into horrific child deaths.
Two senior officers implicated after 'bullying' claims
An investigation into alleged bullying and harassment found ‘substantial evidence’ to support some claims made against two senior Thanet DC officers, it has emerged.
More cash needed to improve outcomes - report
More money on top of spending pledges made by the Government ahead of the General Election will be required to improve outcomes, public sector experts have warned.
EXCLUSIVE: Core Cities' £28bn Shared Prosperity Fund warning
The proposed UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) must be worth at least £28bn over seven years if the UK is to deliver its devolved policy objectives, a leading sector body has warned.
London Boroughs adept at SEND, but with some disparity
London’s councils are generally adept at managing pupils with special educational needs (SEND), but there is significant disparity between the performance of some schools, a study has concluded.
