William Eichler
Make social care ‘free at the point of need’
Social care should be ‘free at the point of need’ like the NHS, a bold new report into the health and care system has recommended.
Northern council chiefs call for devolution of powers to solve ‘railway fiasco’
A coalition of northern local government leaders has called for full powers governing the management of all rail infrastructure to be handed to the region.
Council signs joint venture agreement to deliver 500 homes
Hertfordshire CC has signed a joint venture agreement with developers Morgan Sindall Investments to deliver an estimated 500 new properties.
Councils spent £3.8bn on commercial property, study finds
Local authorities spent nearly £4bn on commercial property assets between 2013 and 2017, a new study has found.
Council uses £3m package to save factory
Luton Council has paid out more than £3m as part of a package to keep car manufacturing in the town.
Recycling scheme to tackle plastic bottle waste
Environment secretary Michael Gove today announced a new deposit return scheme to increase recycling rates and reduce waste.
Council employee exploited systems ‘failures’ to steal £1m
Failures in ‘fundamental controls’ within Dundee City Council’s financial systems allowed a former employee to steal £1m from the authority, auditors have concluded.
Poll reveals support for bringing public services in-house
The public wants to see services brought back in-house as well as an increase in central government spending on public services, a new survey has revealed.
Council leaders call for ‘minimum’ £30,000 fine for rogue landlords
Rogue landlords who commit serious housing offences should be fined a minimum of £30,000, council leaders have argued.
Ombudsman issues ‘rare’ second report criticising council
A council has received a rare second warning after failing to comply with recommendations made by the local government Ombudsman.
Westminster proposes ‘voluntary’ council tax scheme
Westminster City Council has proposed to freeze council tax and instead invite those in the most expensive properties to pay a voluntary contribution after a consultation found ‘strong support’ for the idea.
Care provider Four Seasons temporarily bailed out
The struggling care provider Four Seasons has today signed a deal with a hedge fund which will see £70m invested to enable it to keep operating.
Combined authority to work with housing association coaltion
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has agreed to work with a coalition of 15 housing associations to deliver up to 40,000 affordable homes.
Taxi licences granted to drivers with criminal convictions, campaigners warn
Taxi and private hire vehicle licences are being granted to drivers with criminal convictions because there are no national minimum standards to enforce sufficient safety checks, campaigners have said.
Stormont criticised for proposal to cut £20m in rates support
Northern Ireland local authority leaders have criticised an ‘anti-investment’ proposal to cut nearly £20m of support from Stormont.
Welsh Government proposes lowering voting age for council elections
The Welsh Government has laid out proposals for extending the right to vote in council elections to 16 and 17 year olds.
Essex to take lead over Barnet’s ‘inadequate’ children’s services
Essex CC has been appointed Barnet LBC’s improvement partner after the latter’s children’s services were rated inadequate by inspectors.
Watchdog warns of 'serious concerns' over Clackmannanshire's finances
Scotland's smallest mainland council must take ‘decisive action’ to find nearly £30m in savings over the next three years, auditors have said.
Rural elderly face ‘terrifying’ social care crisis
Elderly people living in rural parts of the country are facing a ‘terrifying’ social care crisis.
‘Fragmented’ approach to child health damaging nation, paediatricians say
The Government’s ‘fragmented’ approach to children's health is damaging the nation, paediatricians have warned.