William Eichler
Government pushes ahead with recycling plan
The Government today confirmed the next steps of its reforms to put an end to the ‘patchwork of different bin collections across England’.
Councils spend £45m on planning appeal advice
Councils spent £45m over the past three years on external legal advice relating to planning appeals, according to Freedom of Information Act requests.
Council debt up by £52bn since 2010
Local government debt has increased by 78% since 2010 as councils attempted to make up for cuts to Government funding, research has revealed.
Devon councillors back devolution bid
Devon County Council members have voted in favour of going ahead with plans that could see more power transferred from Whitehall to Devon and Torbay.
Thanet DC drops tourism tax plan
Thanet DC has decided to drop plans for a tourism tax because the Government has ‘no intention’ of giving the council the powers to implement one.
Wages below 2008 levels in two-thirds of council areas
Real wages are still below 2008 levels in nearly two-thirds of UK local authority areas, TUC analysis has revealed.
10,000 council staff on long-term sick leave
Nearly 10,000 staff members working in councils across England are currently on long-term sick leave, freedom of information requests have revealed.
DEFRA withholds £6m of air quality funding
Around £6m in funding promised to local authorities to help tackle air pollution will be withheld, a Government spokesperson has confirmed.
Public health directors call for better regulation of private rented sector
Public health directors have welcomed measures aimed at improving social housing but called for more action to tackle poor conditions in the private sector.
Public inquiry into Thurrock’s financial failure rejected
The Government has rejected a request for a public inquiry into Thurrock Council’s financial failure and levels of debt.
Finley Boden: Council apologises for ‘missed opportunities’
Derbyshire CC has apologised for the ‘missed opportunities’ to do more to safeguard 10-month-old Finley Boden who was murdered on Christmas Day in 2020.
'Victorian era' electoral registration failing voters, MPs warn
The electoral registration system is ‘neither effective nor efficient’ and is disenfranchising millions, MPs have warned.
PAC: Government has ‘no roadmap’ for fixing social care
The Government has ‘no roadmap’ for fixing the failing social care system and ‘nothing meaningful’ in place that might demonstrate progress, MPs have warned.
Court rules against police powers for West Midlands mayor
The High Court has ruled against the Government’s plans to merge the role of the West Midlands police and crime commissioner (PCC) with the regional mayor.
Pothole-riddled roads need £16bn investment, study finds
The condition of roads in England and Wales has continued to decline despite councils spending £144m filling in two million potholes this financial year.
Counter-extremism faces ‘unprecedented challenges’
The battle against radicalisation at the local level faces ‘unprecedented challenges’ due to a lack of funding, local authority leaders have warned.
LTNs popular and effective, leaked report says
Low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) are popular and effective, a leaked report from the Department for Transport (DfT) has found.
Budget: Household Support Fund extended
A scheme aimed at supporting the most vulnerable households will be extended for another six months, chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced in the Budget.
Combined authority criticised for ‘inconsistent’ Best Value approach
The Government has criticised the West of England Combined Authority for what it describes as ‘inconsistent action’ over flagged value for money concerns.
Levelling up requires ‘meaningful’ devolution, business group says
Business leaders have called for ‘meaningful decision-making powers’ to be devolved to local authorities to help boost left-behind regions.