Supporting evidence-based policymaking
Andrew Carter explains how new guidance will help councils decide what services should be prioritised in the wake of swinging cuts.
New law to make it quicker to install faster internet connections in flats
10/10/2019 A new law has been passed to make it possible to install faster internet connections in flats where landlords ignore requests for access from broadband firms. |
Councils ‘best placed’ to understand digital needs of local areas
18/09/2019 The Local Government Association says councils have a central role to play in making sure people in rural areas have access to the fastest broadband services. |
Full-fibre and 5G could boost council revenue by £10,000
13/09/2019 Investing in full-fibre and 5G could increase a local authority’s revenue intake by £10,000, new research suggests. |
Whitehall consults on plans to simplify planning rules for 5G roll-out
27/08/2019 The Government has launched a consultation on proposals to simplify planning rules for mobile infrastructure to support the roll-out of 5G across the country. |
How PSBA is connecting the public sector in Wales
09/08/2019 There are a number of benefits for a public sector organisation using PSBA’s services. |
Going the extra mile
08/08/2019 Paul Doe explains how local authorities can deliver value to citizens beyond connectivity. |
Council chiefs call for devolution to rural communities after Brexit
04/07/2019 Local authority leaders have called on the Government to devolve more powers to rural areas in the event that Britain leaves the European Union. |
Broadband for the future
20/06/2019 Salisbury is about to become the first full city to benefit from fibre-to-the-premise broadbroadband, opening up a host of possibilities for residents, businesses and public services. |
Whitehall announces £200m ‘rural broadband' programme
20/05/2019 The Government yesterday announced that it has started to rollout gigabit-capable full fibre broadband to rural areas across the country. |
Transforming rural economies
30/04/2019 Evan Wienburg argues that the transformation of our rural economies begins with infrastructure. |
How digitalisation is transforming Belfast into a leading economy
17/04/2019 Martin McFadyen explores how technical innovation and improved connectivity has helped Belfast and NI transform into a leading knowledge economy with global investment appeal. |
Consumer watchdog reveals broadband ‘black spots’
22/01/2019 Many local authority areas, including in London, still have broadband black spots, according to a consumer watchdog. |
Why homes should be digitally fit for purpose
31/10/2018 Evan Wienburg argues that all new houses being built - including social housing - must have a future-proof broadband connection built in. |
The overbuilding of the UK's infrastructure
03/08/2018 Evan Wienburg explains why the overbuilding the UK's infrastructure using taxpayers' money must stop. |
Full fibre broadband to be ‘mandatory’ for new builds, Gov says
24/07/2018 Local authority leaders have welcomed the Government’s proposal to make full fibre broadband for all new build homes mandatory. |
Go with Gigabit
03/05/2018 Richard Watts explains how local authorities can take the initiative to install Gigabit fibre and roll out high-speed services at a regional level. |
Why praying for a broadband miracle won’t work
18/04/2018 Evan Wienburg argues that instead of praying for a broadband miracle, local authorities need to change their attitude to how future-proof broadband is rolled out. |
Rural counties suffer from low broadband speeds
06/04/2018 A new study has revealed that over two-thirds of England’s counties have lower than average broadband speeds. |
Councils call for new 'Fibre to the Premises' Kitemark for new homes
03/04/2018 Housing developers must ensure all new builds have a digital connection ‘fit for the 21st century’, council chiefs say as they call for a Fibre to the Premises Kitemark. |
Stoke-on-Trent City Council launches Gigabit broadband
14/03/2018 Stoke-on-Trent City Council has partnered with a Swedish tech company to roll out Gigabit full fibre connectivity to residents and businesses. |
Technology and the public sector 2018
15/01/2018 Jos Creese outlines some key technology trends councils should focus on in 2018. |
One million homes without ‘decent’ broadband, regulator finds
18/12/2017 More than one million homes and offices are struggling to get ‘decent’ broadband, new Ofcom report finds. |
£190m Full Fibre networks fund launched
24/11/2017 Local authorities can now bid for funding from a new £190m programme designed to accelerate the rate at which Full Fibre networks are made available across the UK. |
BT offers to invest £600m to improve broadband speeds
31/07/2017 BT has offered to invest up to £600m to make sure the majority of UK households and businesses get broadband speeds of at least 10Mbps per second. |
Councils call for control of fines levied on mobile operators
10/07/2017 Councils have called for control over fines given to mobile operators for poor coverage and customer service to boost connectivity. |
Areas with slowest broadband revealed
27/06/2017 Councillors have stressed importance of digital connectivity after a report identified 11 places which get less than the minimum recommended broadband speed. |
Consultation launched to reform ‘misleading’ broadband speed claims
04/05/2017 Council leaders have welcomed the launch of a consultation aimed at creating tougher standards for advertising broadband speed claims. |
Millions of people report problems with bad broadband
05/04/2017 Local government leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to making sure people have access to broadband internet technology. |
Britain in ‘digital slow lane’, commission warns
14/12/2016 Local authorities should work with network providers to ensure the deployment of 5G across the country, commission says. |
Publish broadband speeds by address demand LGA
13/09/2016 Town hall leaders have called on broadband providers to let residents see what speeds are available direct to their home. |
Holyrood 'must do more' to roll-out broadband, auditors say
18/08/2016 The roll-out of high-speed broadband in Scotland is making ‘good progress’, but more needs to be done to extend coverage to rural areas, auditors say. |
Broadband speed advertising ‘misleading’, claim councils
10/08/2016 Advertised broadband speeds which are only available to 10% of customers are ‘misleading’, say council chiefs. |
Minimum download speed must be ‘enshrined in law’, says councils
05/08/2016 The Government must enshrine the national minimum standard of broadband speed in law because public services are becoming ‘digital by default’, council chiefs say. |
Council commits millions to superfast broadband plans
29/07/2016 North Yorkshire has agreed to multi-million pound superfast broadband plans in order to improve internet access across the county. |
Councils call for action on broadband speeds
27/07/2016 Town hall chiefs have called on Whitehall to re-affirm its commitment to minimum broadband speeds across the country. |
Rural areas at risk of entering ‘digital twilight zone', LGA warns
09/05/2016 A flexible national minimum standard of broadband speed is necessary to stop hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses from falling into a ‘digital twilight zone', councils say. |
New homes to get superfast broadband
08/02/2016 New homes will be ready-connected with superfast broadband under government plans agreed with telecoms provider BT. |
Council concerned over 'outdated' digital inclusion report
26/10/2015 Northumberland County Council has criticised the use of ‘outdated’ information published this week on levels of access to broadband in the county. |
In the digital club
21/09/2015 How can councils and housing associations help residents to begin their digital journey? |
Edinburgh extends fibre network in Gigabit City project
09/09/2015 A scheme to upgrade city-wide communications has taken a step forward in Edinburgh as part of the Gigabit City project. |
Edinburgh Council outsources ICT with £186m contract
25/08/2015 Edinburgh Council has outsourced its ICT services in a deal that is expected to save £45m and create more than 200 jobs and 60 apprenticeships. |
Councils prepare to extend superfast broadband scheme
12/08/2015 The government’s rollout of superfast broadband is on track to reach 95% of the UK by 2017, with new figures showing more than three million homes and businesses now have access to internet speeds greater than 24 Mbps. |
BT to return £129m broadband subsidies to local authorities
31/07/2015 BT will hand back £129m to local authorities to help roll-out superfast broadband coverage. |
Provider drops satellite broadband connection charges for partner councils
20/04/2015 Residents in certain local authority areas are being offered free installation and activation of satellite broadband. |
Kent awards six-year PSN contract
18/08/2014 A six-year contract to manage a shared network for public services across Kent has been awarded to Daisy Updata Communications Ltd (DUCL). |
Yorkshire borough signs dark fibre PSN upgrade deal
14/08/2014 Kirklees Council has selected a provider to upgrade its PSN network, in a move expected to significantly improve connectivity for local residents. |
UK broadband 'not up to speed', report warns
14/07/2014 UK broadband is not 'fit for purpose' and Government targets won't go far enough to boost connectivity, a report has found. |
Winning bids for £10m broadband fund announced
19/06/2014 The successful bids for a £10m fund to roll-out broadband in the hardest to reach places in the UK have been announced by the government. |
Extra £250m announced for superfast broadband
26/02/2014 Superfast broadband projects will receive additional funding from a £250m pot, culture secretary Maria Miller has revealed. |
Superfast broadband rollout accelerates, figures suggest
29/01/2014 Rollout of superfast broadband to rural communities almost tripled in speed over the last quarter of 2013, government reports reveal. |
Shropshire high-speed broadband rollout continues
23/01/2014 High-speed fibre broadband will reach a further 18 rural Shropshire communities, as part of a continuing £24.6m council partnership. |
More Scottish regions to receive high speed broadband
17/01/2014 Over 39,000 homes and businesses across Scotland are to receive fibre broadband, under further rounds of the Digital Scotland partnership. |
Superfast broadband for Wales scheme on schedule says minister
09/01/2014 The roll-out of superfast broadband in Wales is on schedule with more than 100,000 homes benefiting from the project, according to culture secretary, Maria Miller. |
Ten cities to share £100m funding for high speed broadband
09/12/2013 Small businesses will be able to benefit from a £100m pot of money to connect them to better quality, high speed broadband. |
This issue of Local Government News explores how councils can tackle modern slavery and trafficking in their supply chains, finds out more about Cambridge's first cohousing scheme and the launch of a new project to build a shared service pattern library for local government.
This issue also contains a special focus on children's services and how councils are protecting children following local safeguarding children boards being abolished.
