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Martin Ford

Martin Ford

Articles by Martin Ford

Labour calls for council powers to intervene in high streets

By Martin Ford | 25 February 2021

Proposals for councils to take over empty shops and a ‘wholesale reform’ of business rates have b...

Councils to receive £400m to tackle COVID-19

By Martin Ford | 25 February 2021

The Government has announced funding of £400m for English councils to support COVID-19 test, trac...

Councils defend 'misunderstood' commercial investments

By Martin Ford | 25 February 2021

The Government’s clampdown on commercial investments has come under fire from councils.

Northumberland 'concern' over company finances

By Martin Ford | 24 February 2021

Northumberland Council is looking to exert more control over its wholly-owned property firm after...

Children's services face £824m budget gap

By Martin Ford | 24 February 2021

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) has said the amount was required just ...

Easing the cash flow

By Martin Ford | 24 February 2021

Martin Ford looks at the reaction to the first set of capitalisation directions given to councils...

Delay in asking councils to track shielding people

By Martin Ford | 23 February 2021

The Government failed to ask councils for help contacting vulnerable shielding people for weeks a...

Fears of extra burdens from procurement proposals

By Martin Ford | 23 February 2021

New procurement rules could pile extra burdens onto councils, the Local Government Association (L...

Minister claims councils' financial issues due to investments

By Martin Ford | 23 February 2021

Commercial investments rather than a lack of central funding is at the root of councils’ financia...

Warwick to overhaul climate change plans

By Martin Ford | 22 February 2021

Warwick DC is to redraw its plans to tackle climate change after abandoning a green tax referendum.