Martin Ford
Solace Summit: Birmingham steps up in race to prepare for Commonwealth Games
Birmingham City Council has been praised for its role in preparations for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Solace Summit: President in collaboration call
A call for collaboration has been made in a speech to the Solace Summit by president Martin Swales.
London trails East Midlands and South West in schools funding increases
The East Midlands and South West have emerged as the biggest winners from education budgets announced this week.
Cheltenham BC recruits chief from private sector
Gareth Edmundson has been announced as the new chief executive of Cheltenham BC.
Four Seasons care homes to be sold for £350m
A £350m sale of care homes has been agreed by administrators of the UK’s second-biggest operator.
Roll-out of mental health support for rough sleepers begins
A £12m scheme to provide mental health support for rough sleepers has been launched.
Queen's speech: Devolution White Paper to set out 'structural reform'
An English devolution White Paper is planned by the Government, it has been confirmed in the Queen’s Speech.
South Oxfordshire local plan withdrawal halted by Government
Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick has written to the council ahead of tonight's vote on scrapping its local plan.
Call for dedicated social care appeals
Fewer than one in five councils have a dedicated appeals process for social care, according to new research.
Ombudsman censures Bexley over response to complaint
Bexley LBC has come under heavy criticism from the Local Government Ombudsman after failing to make agreed improvements to school transport applications for disabled children.
Deadlock broken in Isle of Wight care fees dispute
A care provider has withdrawn 12 eviction notices issued following a dispute with Isle of Wight Council.
Care services face five-day delays for medicines under no-deal Brexit
The Government’s report on readiness for a no-deal Brexit has warned adult care services to prepare for delays in receiving medical products.
Living wage boost would benefit hundreds of thousands of council staff
Workers stand to gain from politicians' pledges to increase the National Living Wage.
Consultation opens on local government finance settlement
Consultation on the local government finance settlement for 2020/21 has been opened by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Louise Goldsmith quits as leader of West Sussex
She said her nine-year term in office had been ‘a huge honour, privilege, responsibility and commitment’.
Nine in 10 complaints about SEND provision upheld by Ombudsman
The Ombudsman is receiving more complaints about education, health and care plans (EHCP) than ever before – and the vast majority are being upheld.
Ikea-owned firm strikes deal with council to build ‘flat-pack’ housing
Bristol City Council has reached an agreement with a Scandinavian firm that will see 200 ‘flat-pack’ homes built in the city.
Suez begins €1bn cost cutting
Waste specialist Suez has announced it will make efficiency savings of €1bn as part of a company restructure.
Council energy supplier threatened with licence revocation
Nottingham City Council-owned Robin Hood Energy missed a deadline to pay watchdog Ofgem £9.4m.
Ministry grapples with planning performance
Ministry mandarins are attempting to work out how to measure councils’ planning performance before they agree to increase fees, The MJ understands.