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Neil Merrick

Articles by Neil Merrick

Warning for Burnham over 'rewiring' prospects

By Neil Merrick | 02 July 2026

Andy Burnham’s grand vision to ‘rewire’ Britain rests on shaky foundations, the Prime Minister in...

Suffolk CC to push on with LGR legal challenge

By William Eichler | 30 June 2026

Suffolk CC is pursuing its legal challenge to local government reorganisation (LGR) following rev...

Simpson to lead No.10 North

By Neil Merrick | 30 June 2026

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) chief executive Caroline Simpson is reportedly being...

EXCLUSIVE: Councillor behaviour takes toll on chiefs, survey finds

By Neil Merrick | 25 June 2026

Abusive and other inappropriate behaviour by councillors is taking its toll on senior staff, a su...

EXCLUSIVE: Second home owners paying up on council tax, leaders say

By Neil Merrick | 23 June 2026

Most second home owners who face double council tax are paying up rather than selling or converti...

Council urged to take immediate steps to cut costs

By Neil Merrick | 23 June 2026

A council has been warned it must take immediate steps to cut costs, including ‘reshaping’ its wo...

Moving on from political limbo: Dealing with no overall control in English councils

By Neil Merrick | 17 June 2026

With more than half the country’s councils now in no overall control, chief executives are having...

Legal threat to water firm over sewage spillages

By Neil Merrick | 10 June 2026

A county council has threatened to take legal action against its water firm over continued sewage...

Minister urges councils to hand services to residents

By Neil Merrick | 09 June 2026

Placing communities in charge of services will help cut costs and reduce the chance of council fa...

Call for fiscal devolution to be based on clear criteria

By Neil Merrick | 08 June 2026

Fiscal devolution must be based around local taxes or revenue rather than the existing grant syst...