Watch: Lessons from Brighton & Hove City Council in scaling AI
Brighton & Hove's Chris Wales talks to LocalGov about moving AI from pilot to production – and what other councils can learn from the journey.
Greater Manchester mayor backs new regeneration bodies
10/09/2026 Mayor Bev Craig has thrown her support behind plans to create mayoral development corporations covering Oldham, Bolton, Middleton, and Ashton and Stalybridge. |
North Northants launches consultation on town and parish council changes
30/07/2026 North Northants Council has launched the second stage of its community governance review, inviting residents to have their say on proposed changes. |
Council demands wind farm developer restart consultation over errors
15/06/2026 Calderdale Council has called on the developers of a proposed onshore wind farm to scrap their statutory consultation, citing serious flaws. |
Councils must be at heart of new mental health strategy, says LGA
15/05/2026 The Government has launched a call for evidence to inform a new Mental Health Strategy for England, with frontline workers invited to share their views. |
Government launches twin Sussex reorganisation consultations
13/05/2026 The Government has launched two separate consultations on modified proposals for local government reorganisation in Sussex. |
Call to overhaul community consultation within planning system
06/03/2026 Public engagement specialists have called on the Government to overhaul community consultation practices within the planning system. |
City of London paid £10,000 to Mandelson firm Global Counsel
19/02/2026 The City of London Corporation spent a five-figure sum last year with Global Counsel, the company founded by Peter Mandelson. |
Call for £100k consultants to investigate care home sell off
16/02/2026 Norfolk CC’s Labour opposition has called for consultants to be brought in to investigate how the council runs its arms-length companies. |
EXCLUSIVE: £1.6m bill for intervention support
10/02/2026 Councils under Government intervention have shelled out more than £1.6m on staff and consultants to support their commissioners and envoys, The MJ can reveal. |
Wokingham BC drives forward 20mph speed changes
20/01/2026 Wokingham Borough Council is to reduce speed limits despite a lack of support from residents. |
Warrington BC seeks local views on new political boundaries
07/01/2026 Warrington Borough Council has launched a public consultation to help decide on the boundaries for new council wards. |
Government launches reorganisation consultations
19/11/2025 The Government has today launched consultations on reorganisation proposals as it mulls which to take forward. |
Reform-led council care home consultation ‘rushed’
06/11/2025 A public consultation on proposals to close council-run care homes in Lancashire should not be ‘rushed’, opposition members say. |
Welsh Government launches consultation on local election rules
28/10/2025 The Welsh Government has opened a 12-week consultation on proposals to modernise local election rules ahead of the 2027 polls. |
Major consultation to reform council tax in Scotland launched
27/10/2025 The Scottish Government and COSLA have launched a major consultation on the future of council tax. |
Billions wasted on ‘chaotic’ asylum accommodation system
27/10/2025 The Home Affairs Committee has called for a major overhaul of the ‘failed, chaotic and expensive’ asylum accommodation system. |
Aberdeen City Council launches rent consultation
22/10/2025 Aberdeen City Council has initiated a consultation inviting tenants to provide feedback on proposed rent changes for the 2026/27 period. |
Devon’s district councils unveil reorganisation plan
21/10/2025 Devon’s district councils have published a new reorganisation blueprint to reshape how local government works across the county. |
Budget deficit warning over two unitary plan
13/10/2025 One of two unitary authorities proposed for Warwickshire amid local government reorganisation ‘would exist with a budget deficit from day one', report warns. |
Nottingham calls for boundary review under reorganisation plans
10/10/2025 Nottingham CC has confirmed it will submit a proposal to the Government for a boundary review as part of the local government reorganisation (LGR) programme. |
Notts councils clash over reorganisation report
02/10/2025 Two Nottinghamshire local authorities have accused neighbouring councils of ‘prematurely’ publishing a report on local government reorganisation (LGR). |
Council launches consultation on new town and parish councils
24/09/2025 Charnwood Borough Council has launched consultations on proposals to establish new town and parish councils. |
Cabinet members back Oxford congestion charge
11/09/2025 Oxford’s £5 congestion charge has been approved by the county council’s cabinet. |
Stoke-on-Trent invites feedback on housing plan
09/09/2025 Residents of Stoke-on-Trent have been invited to give their views on the city’s long-term vision to boost growth, employment and prosperity. |
Hampshire plans 'will save £63m'
04/09/2025 Twelve of Hampshire's 15 authorities have backed three different five-unitary reorganisation proposals which they claim would save more than £63m annually. |
Wrexham bin strike called off after deal reached
28/08/2025 A planned bin strike in Wrexham has been suspended after last-minute talks between Unite and Wrexham County Borough Council. |
Council leader dismisses ‘laughable’ criticism of solar farm skit
26/08/2025 A council leader has denied inciting violence after he made a video where he pretended to destroy a solar farm with a rocket launcher. |
'Quiet majority' favour local development
21/08/2025 Councils have been urged to consult more widely on planning applications after research found a majority of the population was in favour of local development. |
Nottingham explores expansion options amid reorganisation
06/08/2025 Nottingham City Council is exploring options to expand the city boundaries amid a local government reorganisation consultation. |
Residents reject solar farm scheme
04/08/2025 More than 50 residents have complained to a local authority about proposals for a solar farm development in Hampshire. |
Council planning blunder stalls Jamie Oliver bakery
01/08/2025 The plans of the celebrity chef Jamie Oliver to turn a former stable block at his historic home into a bakery have been delayed after a council blunder. |
Oxford congestion charge consultation goes live
24/06/2025 Oxfordshire County Council yesterday launched a six-week public consultation on temporary congestion charge proposals. |
Essex CC rejects combined authority plan ‘in its current form’
10/04/2025 Essex County Council has told the Government that it cannot support the proposal for devolution in Greater Essex ‘in its current form’. |
Consultation launched on Oxford Street pedestrianisation
03/03/2025 Mayor Sadiq Khan has launched a public consultation on what is billed as the ‘biggest transformation of Oxford Street in history’. |
South Cambs to consult on four-day week ‘at long last’
20/01/2025 South Cambridgeshire District Council will launch a consultation this month to ask residents about their experiences of its four-day week trial. |
Consultation on Right to Buy overhaul launched
21/11/2024 A consultation on the Government’s overhaul of the Right to Buy scheme has been launched. |
Time to axe ‘contradictory’ care laws, minister says
07/10/2024 It is ‘high time’ to axe outdated language and contradictory rules from laws on disabled children’s social care, the families minster has said. |
Council tax reform could hit thousands of households
03/10/2024 An estimated 13,500 households could be worse off under Leicester City Council’s plans to reform council tax support. |
Council faces court challenge over low-traffic neighbourhood
30/09/2024 Campaigners are taking Lambeth Council to court over a new low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme in West Dulwich. |
Council drops all-Gaelic school plan
26/09/2024 Argyll and Bute councillors have decided to drop plans for a Gaelic language and culture school following a close-run public consultation. |
Tewkesbury BC councillors vote in favour of name change
04/09/2024 Tewkesbury Borough Council has voted to change its name to North Gloucestershire Borough Council following consultation with residents. |
Tewkesbury consultation extended
09/07/2024 Tewkesbury BC has extended a consultation on its planned name change to North Gloucestershire BC, giving residents until the end of July to respond. |
Norfolk opposes 184km pylon scheme
14/06/2024 Councillors in Norfolk have objected to a National Grid proposal to construct an electricity transmission line across three counties. |
Stronger Things: 'Go deeper to deal with the age of division'
04/06/2024 Using community power to tackle polarisation requires ‘going deeper and deeper until some of the falsehoods clear out’, New Local’s Stronger Things has heard. |
North Yorkshire consults on new town councils
14/05/2024 Residents of Harrogate and Scarborough are being consulted on plans to create town councils for both areas. |
Council eyes cutting back rubbish collection
02/04/2024 A council could reduce how often it picks up household rubbish that cannot be recycled or composted to once a month despite Government proposals. |
Lincolnshire devolution deal approved
15/03/2024 Lincolnshire CC members have approved a devolution deal for the area which will see the establishment of the Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral Combined County. |
Basic efficiency savings all ‘long gone’, Chancellor told
05/03/2024 No more 'basic efficiencies' left to make, leaders tell Chancellor in response to reports he will call for consultants and diversity schemes to be cut. |
Government timetable could push councils to issue section 114s
16/02/2024 Government’s timeline for implementing changes to tackle risky borrowing by some councils could end up pushing councils into S114 territory, treasurers warn. |
Council apologises after Weetabix factory confusion
07/02/2024 North Northamptonshire Council apologises after confusion over the location of a Weetabix factory led to the planning department consulting the wrong street. |
Officer warning over street votes
06/02/2024 Council officers have issued a scathing response to plans for street-level planning votes – dismissing the idea as a costly ‘proliferation of polls’. |
Council consults on name change
29/01/2024 Tewkesbury Borough Council is considering changing its name after communities said the current title is not representative of the wider area. |
Nottingham proposes cutting 550 jobs
13/12/2023 Nottingham City Council has proposed cutting 554 full-time equivalent posts in an attempt to tackle its financial shortfall. |
Lincolnshire consults on devolution plan
05/12/2023 Residents across Greater Lincolnshire are being consulted on a devolution proposal for the region. |
28 Durham councillors lost in proposed boundary change
04/12/2023 Changes proposed by the Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC) would see the loss of 28 councillors in County Durham. |
PM promises to limit council tree felling
29/11/2023 Residents will have to be consulted before local authorities remove trees in their areas, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced. |
LGA seeks views on improvement framework
28/11/2023 The LGA has called on those working in or with local government to provide feedback on how the improvement and assurance framework can be improved. |
Wales consults on council tax reform
14/11/2023 The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on redesigning the country's council tax system. |
Council bosses raise concerns over refugee cap
23/10/2023 The Local Government Association (LGA) has raised concerns about plans to introduce a national cap on refugees that is informed by consultation with local authorities. |
Kensington & Chelsea launches standards drawn up with residents
28/09/2023 Kensington and Chelsea LBC has become the first council to publish service standards co-designed with residents as part of its continuing response to the Grenfell tragedy. |
London Councils signals hike in parking and traffic penalties
01/08/2023 Cross-party group London Councils is consulting on penalty charges for parking and traffic offences, and says current charges are not high enough. |
Newcastle to consult on bringing housing in-house
25/07/2023 Newcastle City Council will consult on bringing its housing services back in-house. |
Yorkshire councillors consider plans to create new town councils
29/06/2023 North Yorkshire Council members are set to consider plans to introduce town councils in Harrogate and Scarborough after householders show support. |
Councils call for more radical thinking on short-term lets
20/06/2023 Whitehall proposals to regulate short-term holiday lets fail to deliver what is needed to tackle housing shortages and ministers should think ‘more radically,’ councils have said. |
Mayor launches bus franchising consultation
15/05/2023 Mayor Steve Rotheram has launched a consultation on bus reform in the Liverpool City Region. |
Holyrood consults on 20-minute neighbourhoods
28/04/2023 People in Scotland are being asked for their views on how to improve the planning system. |
Air quality consultation launched
12/04/2023 The Government has launched a consultation on how councils in England can improve air quality. |
Campaigners resist plans to cut down trees for ‘eco homes’
11/04/2023 Residents of historic Bournville village in Birmingham have called on their local councillor to intervene over a plan to cut down trees and build ‘eco homes’. |
Cornwall devolution consultation delivers mixed results
31/03/2023 A consultation on whether Cornwall should have an elected mayor and a devolution deal has produced mixed results. |
How neurodiversity relates to planning and development
14/03/2023 James Sackley of Boyer argues that it is important to consider neurodiversity during the planning process. |
District chiefs welcome proposed planning fee boost
01/03/2023 District council leaders have welcomed a proposal that could see an increase in planning fees to help over-stretched local planning departments. |
BCP Council proposes barbeque ban
25/01/2023 BCP Council has launched a consultation on proposals to prohibit barbeques in public spaces and other ‘negative behaviours’. |
Districts' legal threat over devolution deal
17/01/2023 Four Norfolk districts have threatened to take legal action over the county’s handling of a devolution deal struck with Government. |
Unison members back pay offer
28/09/2022 Members of trade union Unison have voted by 63.5% to 36.5% to accept the national employers’ final pay offer for local government services employees. |
Council consults on powers to limit HMOs
28/09/2022 Coventry City Council has launched a consultation on plans to limit the number of residential houses being rented out to multiple occupants. |
Plan for asylum centre on ex-RAF base scrapped
10/08/2022 Hambleton District Council has cautiously welcomed the Government’s decision to scrap a planned asylum reception centre. |
Council tax revaluation announced for Wales
11/07/2022 The Welsh Government has announced it will revalue all 1.5 million properties in the country under bold plans to modernise the council tax system. |
Liverpool residents vote to keep elected mayor position
04/07/2022 Liverpool residents have voted to retain the position of directly elected city mayor. |
Unions demand 'substantial' pay increase
06/06/2022 Councils will be consulted this month after local government trade unions demanded a ‘substantial’ pay increase amid rising costs of food, fuel and household bills. |
Bristol City Council launches consultation on plans to build 1,500 houses
26/05/2022 Bristol residents are being asked to give their views on a development that promises to deliver 1,500 homes and employment space for over 500 jobs. |
Council launches consultation on £250m town centre plan
25/05/2022 Kirklees Council has launched a public consultation on the ‘cultural heart’ of its £250m, 10-year blueprint to transform Huddersfield town centre. |
Mayor Khan launches consultation on ULEZ expansion
23/05/2022 A consultation on plans to expand the ULEZ to cover most of London has been launched as part of the effort to improve air quality and reduce congestion. |
Nine ways to create a good design code
23/05/2022 Jane Dann outlines the nine steps that local authorities can take to get a good code in place. |
Residents will have to approve street names changes under new proposals
12/04/2022 Councils will be required to get approval from local residents to change street names under new proposals announced today. |
Consultation on replacing Vagrancy Act is launched
08/04/2022 The Government has launched a consultation on replacing an 'outdated' law that criminalises homeless people. |
Air quality consultations launched
29/03/2022 The Government has launched two consultations on proposals to make it easier for local authorities to tackle poor air quality in their areas. |
Consultation on end date for sale of new non-zero emission buses launched
29/03/2022 The Department for Transport has launched a consultation on setting an end date for the sale of new non-zero emission buses, coaches and minibuses. |
Liverpool residents to be consulted on city’s governance
11/03/2022 Liverpool residents are to be consulted on how they think the city should be governed from 2023. |
Social housing staff training review confirmed
18/01/2022 The Government today confirmed a review of the training of social housing staff after receiving thousands of complaints in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy. |
Developments expected to deliver 10% boost to biodiversity
11/01/2022 The Government has launched a consultation that aims to ensure wildlife can be better protected and enhanced in future developments. |
City council considers bringing in parking levy
21/12/2021 Leicester City Council has launched a consultation over a scheme that could see companies charged for car parking spaces. |
Council to in-source housing services
09/12/2021 Haringey Council has announced it is in-sourcing housing services after a consultation saw residents back the change. |
Unison warns of strike action over council pay
04/10/2021 Trade union Unison has warned of future strike action unless local government employers improve their pay offer. |
Consultation on mandatory COVID vaccines launched
09/09/2021 The Government has launched a consultation on plans for staff in health and care settings in England to be required to have COVID-19 and flu vaccines. |
Welsh Government looks at holiday home reforms
26/08/2021 Holiday home owners in Wales could be charged the full amount of business rates amid claims people are being priced out of their local area. |
Teachers tell Williamson to end ‘fixation’ with banning mobiles
17/08/2021 School and college leaders have called on the education secretary to end what they describe as his ‘fixation’ with banning mobile phones in classrooms. |
Consultation on plans to support natural areas launched
11/08/2021 The Government yesterday launched a consultation on plans to help local communities better support their natural areas. |
Consultation on Greater Manchester development plan launched
10/08/2021 Residents of Greater Manchester were yesterday urged to take part in an eight-week public consultation on a new joint development plan for homes and jobs. |
Treasury launches consultation for business rates revaluations every three years
30/06/2021 Business rates revaluations could take place more frequently to better reflect changing economic conditions under proposals unveiled by the Government. |
Vaccine may be made compulsory for care home staff
14/04/2021 Staff in English care homes with older adults may be required to have a COVID-19 vaccine in a bid to tackle hesitancy within the sector. |
