William Eichler
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.
Local authority business provision ‘lacks transparency’ - MSPs
Scottish MSPs have criticised a local authority scheme that aims to help businesses grow for lacking ‘transparency, accountability and alignment’.
Council denies ‘litany of failures’ in Shamima Begum case
Tower Hamlets LBC has denied claims it was responsible for a ‘litany of failures’ leading up to teenager Shamima Begum's decision to join Daesh.
Council leaders insist waste reforms must be ‘fully funded’
Local authority leaders have welcomed plans to ‘overhaul’ the waste system, but cautioned Whitehall that any reforms need to be fully funded.
Carers win right to appeal in £400m sleep-in shift battle
The Supreme Court has granted carers the right to appeal in the ongoing sleep-in shift legal battle.
Whitehall launches consultation on taxi licensing
Local authorities could soon be required to ensure that every prospective taxi driver undergoes enhanced criminal record and background checks.
Edinburgh votes in favour of tourism tax
Edinburgh city councillors have voted in favour of what could be the UK’s first tourism tax.
Planning system ‘underperforming’
The Government’s planning system is ‘underperforming’ and struggling to deliver on its aim of building 300,000 homes a year, auditors have found.
Hundreds of Birmingham refuse workers to strike weekly
More than 300 refuse workers have announced they will begin two days of strike action a week in an escalation of the ongoing industrial dispute with Birmingham City Council.
Scottish health and social care integration must ‘happen faster’ - report
The integration of health and social care needs to ‘happen faster,’ a report has concluded.
Brokenshire to intervene over ‘lamentable’ failures to publish local plans
Communities secretary James Brokenshire has written to Wirral MBC and Thanet DC warning them that Whitehall will intervene over their failure to put local plans in place.
Austerity undermines planners ability to ‘serve public interest’ - report
Government cuts have eroded the ability of planners to think strategically and to ‘serve the public interest,’ a report has claimed.
Crime prevention budgets slashed
Crime prevention budgets have been cut by more than a half since 2010, an analysis from Labour has revealed.
Newham to improve financial management after £9m fraud allegations
The mayor of Newham has announced plans to form a commission to advise the council on how to ‘become a beacon of good practice’ in its financial management.
Councils to save £90,000 by sharing top staff
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough councils have announced plans to share more of their top personnel in order to make efficiency savings.
Councils approve planning applications at ‘fastest rate’ in a decade
Local authorities are approving planning applications at their fastest rate in over a decade, a homelessness charity has revealed.
Leicestershire CC recovers £5m loan from struggling Northants
Leicestershire County Council has recovered its £5m loan to cash-strapped Northamptonshire after concerns the latter would not be able to repay the money.