Michael Burton
Michael Burton is editorial director of The MJ
Ex-ministers unite in health devolution call
Five former ministers from all three main parties have called for health and social care to be devolved and integrated within a single budget.
Planning for reset and recovery
Having emerged from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, local authorities are now busy dealing with reset and recovery before the feared resurgence of a second wave. In a virtual round table, The MJ and Serco looked at some of the key challenges facing councils. Michael Burton reports
Local government was poorly prepared for pandemic, report finds
A decade of spending cuts, staff shortages and poor contacts with Whitehall meant local government was poorly prepared to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, a report from the Institute for Government think-tank has said.
Government handling of social care during pandemic attacked
MPs have delivered a blistering attack on the Government’s handling of social care during coronavirus.
Ministers to extend Help to Buy
Ministers are drawing up plans to extend the Help to Buy scheme after housebuilders warned buyers could lose out due to delays caused by coronavirus.
MPs slate ministers over sector funding
MPs have slated ministers for failing to give local government sufficient funding and urged them to ensure a 'clear and timely financial settlement’ in readiness for the next phase of the pandemic.
NAO hits out at late accounts
A rise in late auditing of local government accounts has come under fire from the National Audit Office which it says is affecting the quality of Treasury public sector accounting.
Finalists announced in The MJ Awards
The MJ is delighted to announce the finalists of The MJ Local Government Achievement Awards 2020, with a full list of the luck shortlisted councils available at awards.themj.co.uk or in our ebook.
Business rate revaluation postponed for two years
Ministers have postponed a revaluation of business rates until April 2023 and issued consultation on the wider rating system.
New regs will not just hit tower blocks, say building chiefs
The biggest changes in building safety regulations in 25 years will not only affect local authorities with tower blocks but ‘impose wider responsibilities’ on all councils say building safety chiefs.
Two-thirds of patients discharged to care homes without tests
As many as two-thirds of elderly patients discharged from hospital into care homes at the height of the pandemic were not tested for coronavirus, according to freedom of information requests.
Dilnot brands care system a 'stain on the nation'
The social care system is a ‘stain on the nation’ says the architect of the review that in 2011 backed a £35,000 cap on care costs and a reform of means testing.
OBR issues warning on soaring care and council costs
Soaring costs for adult social care along with indebted local authorities struggling to balance their budgets post-virus are among the key risks to the Government's spending plans warns the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) today.
IFS issues warning over EU funding
Funding from Brussels for the UK’s poorest regions may have to roll over another year if the Government continues to prevaricate over its replacement post-Brexit, warns a report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Cost of Universal Credit set to soar, says watchdog
The cost of running Universal Credit is likely to be more expensive than the systems it replaces, is placing a huge burden on staff administering it and has the highest rate of overpayments for any benefit other than tax credits according to a National Audit Office report.
LGA gets improvement boost in a bid to aid recovery
Ministers have given a boost to sector led improvement by allowing it a key role in helping councils recover from the coronavirus.
Care chiefs reject Boris' COVID claims
Care chiefs have rejected claims by Prime Minister Boris Johnson that it was their lack of vigilance that led to a high number of coronavirus deaths in care homes.
Think tank calls for £200bn rescue package from Sunak
Chancellor Rishi Sunak should announce a targeted £200bn fiscal stimulus package in his statement tomorrow equal to 10% of GDP to aid the economic recovery says think-tank the Resolution Foundation.
Clarke vows to 'finish the job' on mayors and create more unitaries
Local government minister Simon Clarke has emphasised the Government’s commitment to introducing more elected mayors and unitary councils.
Ministers urged to create a 'green bank'
Ministers have been urged to create a Green Bank to fund climate change investment as part of the Government’s multi-billion pound infrastructure investment programme announced earlier this week.
