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Articles by Neil Merrick
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...
Union raises alarm over bullying and harassment
By Neil Merrick | 08 June 2026
Social workers have raised the alarm over bullying and harassment as they struggle with funding s...
Council urged to communicate better with residents
By Neil Merrick | 05 June 2026
A Scottish council has been urged to communicate more effectively with residents over financial s...
Chiefs take charge
By By Neil Merrick | 04 June 2026
Uncertainty at several local authorities as recent elections leave chief executives presiding ove...
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