Martin Ford
Councils back out of voter ID trials
Three councils have withdrawn from the Government’s controversial voter ID trials.
Opposition members win vote to resurrect Victory Energy
Councillors have made a bid to rescue a council-owned energy company.
Highland budget targets £37.5m savings
Highland Council is targeting £37.5m of savings in a ‘budget for change’.
Spelthorne calls end to commercial investments
Spelthorne BC has announced an end to its controversial policy of commercial property investments.
Commission to look at decade of financial failings at Newham
Newham LBC is to press ahead with a commission to examine a litany of financial failures dating back 13 years.
Bailey set to take reins at Sutton
Helen Bailey is set to become the permanent chief executive of Sutton LBC.
Call for councils to fill Northern Ireland 'democratic deficit'
The Government has rebuffed a call by councils in Northern Ireland for more devolved powers.
International recognition for Doncaster mayor
The Mayor of Doncaster has been recognised with a global award
Calls to end Trafford-Amey joint venture following investigation
Trafford MBC has been urged to end its joint venture contract with Amey over ‘poor performance’.
Access all areas: the digital inclusion challenge
How can broadband access be spread to cover all areas, especially deprived sectors for whom access may be too expensive? This was one of the key questions posed to a round table hosted recently by The MJ and 6G Internet at The MJ Future Forum North.
NAO should oversee council spending - report
The remit of the National Audit Office (NAO) should be extended to cover local government, a new report has concluded.
Chiefs defend councils' role in SEND provision
Chief executives have defended councils’ roles in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision.
SOLACE recruits former Localis chief executive
Alex Thomson has been announced as head of policy at the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE).
Further devolution could unlock Manchester's potential
More devolution of powers is essential to realise Greater Manchester’s economic potential, a group of experts has said.
Edinburgh facing £30m health and care cuts
Health and social care services in Edinburgh would be ‘jeopardised’ by proposed funding shortfalls, it has been claimed.
Staff turnover holding back Gloucestershire’s ‘inadequate’ children’s services
Gloucestershire CC is ‘making insufficient progress’ in improving its children’s services, according to the latest inspection.
Budgeting in the midst of crisis
Northamptonshire CC chief executive Theresa Grant spoke to The MJ about how one goes about tackling the most challenging budget in local government.
Northamptonshire budget process a ‘rollercoaster’
The chief executive of Northamptonshire CC said the council’s budget was prepared with the speed of a rollercoaster.
Glasgow councillors back £500m payout to end dispute
Glasgow’s leader has declared its long-running equal pay dispute over today as a £500m compensation deal was formally approved.
Local government director general to leave ministry
The director general of local government Dr Jo Farrar is to leave the ministry later this year, it has been announced.