Martin Ford
Councils fear homelessness ‘tidal wave’
Local authorities are braced for a surge in the number of homeless people as protections put in place for the COVID-19 pandemic are allowed to lapse.
Hampshire to begin search for new chief executive
John Coughlan had delayed his retirement for a year to help tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
Council apologises over property investments
Kensington and Chelsea LBC has admitted putting income above community benefits in its past property deals.
Councils' loans legal action fails
Councils are considering whether to appeal after a High Court judge threw out a bid to sue Barclays over a number of loans.
Familiar face to take reins at Redbridge
Lesley Seary is to return to Redbridge LBC to serve as its interim chief executive following the departure of Andy Donald.
Labour calls for council powers to intervene in high streets
Proposals for councils to take over empty shops and a ‘wholesale reform’ of business rates have been put forward by Labour.
Councils to receive £400m to tackle COVID-19
The Government has announced funding of £400m for English councils to support COVID-19 test, trace and contain activity.
Councils defend 'misunderstood' commercial investments
The Government’s clampdown on commercial investments has come under fire from councils.
Northumberland 'concern' over company finances
Northumberland CC is looking to exert more control over its wholly-owned property firm after it posted losses of £30m.
Children’s services face £824m budget gap
The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) has said the amount was required just to enable their work to ‘stay still’ amid increasing demand.
Easing the cash flow
Martin Ford looks at the reaction to the first set of capitalisation directions given to councils struggling under the financial weight of COVID.
Delay in asking councils to track shielding people
The Government failed to ask councils for help contacting vulnerable shielding people for weeks after lockdown began, it has been claimed.
Fears of extra burdens from procurement proposals
New procurement rules could pile extra burdens onto councils, the Local Government Association (LGA) has privately warned.
Minister claims councils' financial issues due to investments
Commercial investments rather than a lack of central funding is at the root of councils’ financial woes, local government minister Luke Hall has claimed.
Warwick to overhaul climate change plans
Warwick DC is to redraw its plans to tackle climate change after abandoning a green tax referendum.
Oxford urged to halt property investment
The Labour administration has rejected calls to scrap £20m spending plans.
Surrey boroughs consider merger
Guildford and Waverley BCs are looking to combine management teams and services in a move driven by ‘brutal’ funding cuts.
Northampton accepts censure over loan
Northampton BC has accepted a public interest report that heavily criticised its financial governance but warned its response will be ‘limited’.
Scottish councils receive £275m COVID-19 boost
The Scottish Government has announced £275m of additional funding for local authorities to assist with financial pressures as a result of the pandemic.
Councils bail out airport
Local authorities are among the shareholders that have been asked to provide loans to Birmingham Airport as it suffers from COVID-19 restrictions.
