Martin Ford
Former Cabinet minister laments lack of planning reform
A former housing secretary has said the Conservatives’ lack of action on planning to speed up housebuilding may cost the party in the General Election.
Slough chief to stand down
Slough BC’s chief executive Stephen Brown is to stand down, the authority has announced.
London borough chief to stand down
John Hooton has announced his departure after eight years as chief executive of Barnet LBC.
Levelling up project delays ‘astonishing’
Parliament’s spending watchdog has found ‘astonishing’ funding delays and blind optimism have blunted the impact of levelling up projects.
Northumberland has ‘further to go’
Northumberland CC has ‘further to go’ despite progress on its improvement journey, a report has found.
Children's services commissioner appointed at Tameside
A commissioner for children’s services has been appointed at Tameside MBC in the wake of a watchdog’s damning report.
Adult social care demand reaches unprecedented high
The King’s Fund’s annual social care report published today found adult care requests hit a record high of two million while costs for councils have outstripped inflation.
City council hit by Cyber attack
IT and phone systems at Leicester City Council remain shut down this week following a cyber incident
Care sector 'in the dark' over immigration clampdown
The public has been have been ‘left in the dark’ over the impact on social care following a clampdown on immigration rules, peers have said.
Deprivation of Liberty backlog 'may never be eradicated'
A report has called for councils to get more resources to tackle the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) backlog.
Woking and Thurrock failures 'embarrassing'
The local government watchdog’s chief executive has said the collapse of councils such as Woking and Thurrock should not have been allowed to happen.
Stockport chief set to take reins at Greater Manchester
Stockport MBC boss Caroline Simpson has been named as the preferred candidate to become group chief executive of Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
There is no quick fix
The announcement of £2.5bn of ‘exceptional financial support’ for councils will fail to fix local government’s finances, a senior sector figure has said.
Budget: Boost for preventative services
Funding for preventative services has been announced as part of the Budget in an attempt to relieve local government’s demand pressures.
Watchdog warning over Moray's funding gap
Moray Council must act quickly to shore up its finances, Audit Scotland has warned.
Council funding crisis ‘existential’
Local government’s funding crisis threatens to derail ambitions to level up the north of England, it has been claimed.
Rayner to go ‘further and faster’ on devolution
Shadow local government secretary Angela Rayner has promised to go ‘further and faster’ on devolution if elected to Government.
More areas get level four devolution powers
West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and the Liverpool city region will all receive level four devolved powers, local government secretary Michael Gove has announced.
Government agrees £2.5bn of capitalisation directions
A total of 19 councils have agreed in-principle capitalisation directions worth almost £2.5bn with the Government.
Government expected to grant £54m capitalisation direction to Havering
Havering LBC has staved off the threat of a section 114 notice after the Government said it was minded to grant its request for a £54m capitalisation direction.