Paul Marinko
Hartlepool call for fairer funding
A cross-party demand for fairer council tax and local government funding has been sent to Secretary of State Robert Jenrick by Hartlepool BC.
Cumbria launches legal battle against reorganisation
Cumbria CC has launched a legal challenge to the Government’s plans to create two unitary authorities for the county.
Essex draws on reserves to fund legal dispute
Essex CC is drawing down £13m of reserves to fund an ongoing legal dispute over a failed waste scheme.
Cash-strapped council dumps LOBO loan
Cash-strapped Liverpool City Council is to swap £65m of loans for £107m of debt in order to cut interest payments.
Council exit payments halved
The Government has revealed exit payments by English councils have more than halved in the last seven years.
Council drive to tackle staff shortages
Dacorum BC has started retraining workers to drive waste lorry in a bid to tackle a national shortage of qualified drivers and the impact of the pandemic.
Unions urge pinged staff to isolate
Unions have urged waste and recycling staff to stay at home if ‘pinged’ by the COVID-19 app despite several councils having to reduce or suspend services.
Shropshire chief exit payment revealed
Shropshire Council has revealed its former chief executive received a severance payment of more than £124,000.
Environmental health risks being 'hollowed out'
More than half of English councils are not taking on environmental health trainees and apprentices due to funding and capacity issues, a survey has found.
EXCLUSIVE: Councils urged to 'sharpen commercial edge'
A new report has argued that allowing councils to sharpen their commercial edge will ‘unlock immense latent place potential’ and help ‘galvanise recovery’.
Redcar & Cleveland reduces cyber-attack cost estimate
Redcar & Cleveland BC has recalculated the cost of the cyber-attack it suffered down by £1.7m.
Cardiff boosts reserves in pandemic
Cardiff City Council’s reserves increased by £48m despite the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
Business leaders make planning plea
Business leaders have demanded ‘properly resourced and upskilled local planning departments’ so carbon reduction and nature can be at the heart of the planning system.
Unpicking the pilots
The Government’s quick reversal of its stay local guidance in new variant surge areas has led to calls for clear messaging from the centre, says Paul Marinko. He also looks at the rationale behind pilot initiatives to enhance self-isolation rates.
No accord on levelling up
An analysis by Localis calls the Government’s Plan for Growth ‘a centralist strategy’ in which ‘the question of devolution is not given much emphasis’. It's not surprising that confidence in the programme seems to be draining away, says Paul Marinko.
The risks of Sunak’s freeports
The freeports policy is poised to be a main plank of the levelling up agenda. But there are concerns they could become hotspots for organised crime – risks that could lead to significant extra burdens for councils. Paul Marinko reports.
Will the voices of the South be heard on devo?
Paul Marinko examines the prospects for devolution deals for the South of England – and concludes that if ministers are hoping for grand reorganisation plans for grabbing some of the ‘devolution cake’, they may be disappointed.
Councils' plea to support voluntary sector
A group of councils has written to the Government demanding action to protect community organisations during the coronavirus crisis.
Gateshead to look at bring housing back in-house
Gateshead MBC is to formally consult on proposals to bring its housing services back in-house.
Jenrick: Centres bring together public services in virus response
Strategic co-ordination centres are being formed across the country with the nation on an ‘emergency footing’ to tackle coronavirus.
