William Eichler
Hull commits £2m to improve ‘inadequate’ children’s services
Hull City Council has promised to ‘accelerate’ its improvement plans and invest an extra £2m into its children’s services after they were rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted.
Coventry ordered to implement clean air zone
Coventry City Council has accused the Government of using ‘heavy handed’ tactics after it was ordered to implement a clean air zone.
Council governance systems ‘inadequate’ for austerity era
The Government has not done enough to ensure that governance systems in local authorities are suitable for an ‘era of financial pressure and rapid change,' MPs have warned.
Debenhams’ CVA to cost councils £8.5m in rates
Local authorities are expected to lose millions of pounds worth of business rates due to Debenhams' financial difficulties, experts have said.
London council budgets slashed 17% over last decade
London’s local authority budgets have dropped by nearly a fifth – 17% – per head over the last eight years, a new study has revealed.
‘Smart bins’ and tax cuts could help increase recycling rates - report
Local authorities could use ‘smart bins’ and council tax cuts to help drive up recycling rates in their areas, a new study has suggested.
Government sidesteps homelessness emergency call
The Mayor of Greater Manchester has called on the Government to declare a ‘homelessness emergency’.
Whitehall launches £200m fund to replace unsafe cladding
The Government has launched a £200m fund to help remove and replace unsafe cladding on privately owned high-rise buildings.
Cuts to youth services factor in knife crime rise - MPs
The local areas that have experienced the largest cuts to their youth services budgets have reported some of the highest increases in knife crime, MPs have revealed.
Investment-based crowdfunding has ‘untapped potential’ for councils - study
Crowdfunding has ‘huge, untapped potential’ for council finances, a new study has concluded.
Sheffield City Council promotes trade with Beijing
Nine businesses from Sheffield have travelled to China as part of the local authority’s efforts to strengthen trade with Beijing.
Oxfordshire councils to extend joint working arrangements
Two councils are considering extending their working partnership in a move they hope will trigger a ‘broader conversation’ on local government organisation.
Special needs provision in schools cut by over £1bn
Children and young people who have special educational needs and disabilities have lost out on £1.2bn of Government funding over the last four years.
Council ‘significantly’ changing approach to Swansea Bay city deal
Neath Port Talbot Council will change its approach to the Swansea Bay city deal after reviews found progress was ‘unduly slow’.
Scottish councils lose more than £120m due to ‘weak’ financial controls
Systems to prevent public money being lost to mistakes and fraud in local government ‘may be under strain,’ a watchdog has warned.
Whitehall prepares for EU elections
The Government has written to the Electoral Commission confirming it will help local authorities prepare for possible European elections in May.
Council tax rises will not fix ‘chronically underfunded’ care system
Increases in council tax will fail to fix the ‘chronically underfunded’ social care system, local authority leaders have warned.
Glasgow bids to pilot asylum reforms
A Scottish council hopes to pilot a scheme enabling asylum seekers to work while their applications are processed.
Councils ‘failing’ children exploited by gangs, report reveals
The same mistakes that led to child sexual exploitation failings are being repeated with gangs, the children’s commissioner has warned.
Counties urge Whitehall to ‘look again’ at social care funding formula
County councils have voiced concerns over the Government’s proposed formula for funding adult social care.