The power of local systems to save lives
Councils and their partners could do even more to contain the spread of COVID-19 if properly funded to undertake a robust localised system of testing, tracking and tracing, argues Professor Donna Hall.
Union calls for Government to bring back spot safety inspections
26/05/2020 Local authorities should be allowed to carry out unannounced inspections of workplaces most at risk of spreading coronavirus, according to a trade union. |
New £50m fund to help councils open high streets safely
26/05/2020 Councils will have access to a £50m fund to help prepare for the safe reopening of high streets and other retail spaces. |
Plan to build 6,000 new homes to 'end rough sleeping'
26/05/2020 The Government has pledged to provide long-term homes for those people taken off the streets during the pandemic. |
Councils given £300m and key tracking role
22/05/2020 Councils in England will be handed £300m by the Government as they are given a key role in driving forward testing and tracing. |
Ensuring continuity of care in a time of crisis
22/05/2020 Julie Tyas discusses how tech is becoming the eyes and ears of social workers during the pandemic. |
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The power of local systems to save lives
22/05/2020 Councils and their partners could do even more to contain the spread of COVID-19 if properly funded to undertake a robust localised system of testing, tracking and tracing, argues Professor Donna Hall. |
No bail outs for commercial investments
22/05/2020 Plans to bail out councils struggling with their finances could vary between authorities - but they will not cover commercial investments, The MJ understands. |
‘Golden opportunity’ to end rough sleeping
22/05/2020 The Government has been urged to commit £100m to councils in a bid to end rough sleeping in England. |
Coronavirus bereavement scheme extended to social care workers
21/05/2020 The families of migrant care workers who have fallen victim to COVID-19 will be allowed to remain in the country indefinitely. |
Charities warn millions of people in council tax arrears due to Covid-19
21/05/2020 Over two million people have fallen behind on their council tax payments as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, debt charities have warned. |
'Red Wall' areas most at risk of economic scarring, think tank warns
21/05/2020 Red Wall communities areas are most vulnerable to permanent economic scarring as a result of coronavirus, new research has warned today. |
Councils urged to make bold changes to end homelessness
20/05/2020 Local authorities have been urged to take practical steps to ensure nobody is forced to sleep rough once the lockdown is over. |
More councils join call to delay schools reopening
20/05/2020 The Government is under increasing pressure to rethink its plans to open schools on 1 June after more councils highlighted safety concerns. |
Children 'cut adrift' due to four-year rise in poverty, campaigners warn
20/05/2020 Child poverty is ‘rising rapidly’ in Britain’s poorest communities, a report has warned today. |
No-deal Brexit planning would 'overwhelm' emergency response
19/05/2020 Planning for a no-deal Brexit at the end of this year would ‘overwhelm’ the country’s emergency response capacity, the Government has been warned in a leaked report. |
Rejection of coronavirus bonus a 'slap in the face'
19/05/2020 A top union official has branded English councils’ refusal to rally behind a campaign for a workers’ coronavirus bonus as a ‘slap in the face’. |
Funding boost brings 'hope' for councils, says NILGA
19/05/2020 A £20.3m funding boost to local authorities has given ‘hope’ to the councils and their partners, leaders have said. |
Most councils take action to help providers with temporary cost pressures
19/05/2020 Nearly all (97%) of councils are taking action to address temporary cost pressures being experienced by social care providers, a new survey has revealed. |
Councils decide against re-opening schools
19/05/2020 Hundreds of schools will not re-open next week as councils express concern over the safety of pupils and teachers. |
Government urged to create £1bn Jobs Guarantee for young people
19/05/2020 The Government has been urged to tackle the record rise in unemployment by creating a £1bn Youth Guarantee. |
Pan-London partnership for PPE launched
19/05/2020 A new pan-London partnership has been established to provide personal protective equipment or care homes and other frontline services. |
Care home on the brink of collapse
18/05/2020 Care homes in the North East have issued a legal warning to North Tyneside council, claiming they could collapse within days without further funding. |
Think tank warns of growing educational gap during lockdown
18/05/2020 Children from better-off families are spending more time on educational activities than those from the poorest households, a think tank has found. |
Survey highlights child abuse could go unreported during lockdown
18/05/2020 Child abuse could go unreported during lockdown as a quarter of adults do not know where to go for help, a survey has found. |
Cyber crisis management
18/05/2020 Richard Stephenson outlines cybersecurity issues to be aware of during the pandemic and how to minimize risk. |
Charities call for 'vital' early intervention funding to safeguard children
18/05/2020 Funding cuts to children's services have left councils unable to cope with the current crisis, charities have warned today. |
Councils call for £5bn 'income guarantee'
18/05/2020 England's largest councils are calling on the Government to provide a £5bn 'income guarantee to avoid them having to declare insolvency during the coronavirus pandemic. |
Covid-19 care homes deaths 51% higher than estimated
15/05/2020 The number of care home residents who have died from coronavirus is more than 50% higher than previously estimated, figures today have revealed. |
Young people's mental health more at risk during lockdown, research finds
15/05/2020 Young people are more likely to suffer from poor mental health under lockdown than older adults, research has revealed. |
Councils resist government's changed 'stay alert' message
15/05/2020 Areas with higher coronavirus rates have urged residents to stay at home amid fears the Government’s change of message to ‘stay alert’ was confusing. |
Councils call for power to close schools at higher risk of Covid-19
15/05/2020 Council leaders have called for the power to close schools or nurseries that have new clusters of Covid-19. |
Councils face £10bn funding 'black hole'
14/05/2020 Councils could be forced to cut billions from social care services due to £10bn 'coronavirus black hole', Labour has warned today. |
Campaigners warn children more exposed to secondhand smoke since lockdown
14/05/2020 More than one in ten smokers who live with children are smoking indoors more since lockdown, new research has revealed today. |
Council mows grass in two metre 'channels' to promote social distancing
14/05/2020 Birmingham City Council has come up with an unusual way to remind people to obey social distancing rules, by mowing two metre strips into its parks and green spaces. |
Johnson announces £600m for infection control in care homes
14/05/2020 Councils have welcomed the £600m extra funding for infection control within care homes. |
Accelerating change: Join BT experts and customers live on 21 May, in partnership with Cisco
13/05/2020 This free series of live-streamed events, in partnership with Cisco, will feature expert analysis from our key people, alongside stories from our customers. |
Most councils prepare to open household waste recycling centres
13/05/2020 Nearly all councils are planning on opening Household Waste Recycling Centres in the next two weeks, a survey has revealed. |
North West mayors call for regional data on Covid-19 infection rates
13/05/2020 Two mayors have called on the Government to publish a regional breakdown of the 'R' infection rate for coronavirus. |
Covid-19: Wirral Council workforce case study
13/05/2020 Wirral Council explains how it has managed to engage and support its workforce during the Covid-19 pandemic. |
Local Resilience Forums running out of PPE supplies, charity warns
13/05/2020 A charity has warned Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) are still struggling to supply enough personal protective equipment to social care providers. |
Jenrick launches plans to kickstart housing market
13/05/2020 Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has restarted the housing market as part of the Government’s plans to ease lockdown. |
Districts braced for lost income
13/05/2020 Woking, South Norfolk and Craven DCs are likely to be the hardest hit when it comes to lost income. |
Leeds chief takes on key contract tracing role
13/05/2020 Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan will take on a key role in the Government’s contact tracing programme in the battle against coronavirus. |
Burnham calls for more Covid-19 support for English regions
12/05/2020 The Government has been urged to provide extra support for cities outside London to deal with the cost of easing lockdown restrictions. |
Councils urge people to avoid tourist hotspots
12/05/2020 Council leaders and tourism bodies have warned that local residents could be put at risk if people flock to tourist hotspots now the lockdown restrictions have been eased. |
Protecting local businesses and economies
12/05/2020 Steve Bratt is calling on local government to engage in collaborative discussions to help resolve contractual disputes arising from the pandemic. |
Unite expected to urge council pay offer rejection
11/05/2020 Trade union Unite is expected to recommend that its members reject the employers ‘final’ 2.75% pay offer at a national committee meeting later this week. |
Labour's five-point plan to protect renters from eviction
11/05/2020 Labour has published a five-point plan to prevent renters from being evicted during the coronavirus crisis. |
Covid-19 death rates significantly higher for social care workers
11/05/2020 Men and women working in social care both have significantly raised rates of death involving COVID-19, according to new analysis from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). |
Councils call for access to data for effective contact tracing
11/05/2020 Crucial data must be shared with councils in order for effective contact tracing to take place, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said. |
Government announces £250m emergency active travel fund
11/05/2020 The Government has announced the largest ever funding boost to create a ‘new era’ for cycling and walking. |
Councils warn about surge in virus-related scams
11/05/2020 Council leaders have reported a 40% increase in reported scams since the start of the coronavirus crisis. |
Over one million food boxes delivered to clinically vulnerable
07/05/2020 Local authorities have helped deliver more than one million food boxes to the most clinically vulnerable. |
Colchester Borough Council to furlough staff
07/05/2020 A council in Essex is set to furlough some of its staff in order to limit the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic. |
Councils must continue recycling collections to avoid negative environmental impact
07/05/2020 Recycling collections must continue during lockdown or risk longer term damage to our environment says Tim Gent. |
'Too early to tell' if councils need more cash, says Jenrick
07/05/2020 It is ‘too early to tell’ if councils will need more cash to tackle coronavirus, communities secretary Robert Jenrick has said. |
Whitehall delays revaluation of business rates
06/05/2020 The Government has confirmed the planned revaluation of business rates will no longer take place next year due to coronavirus. |
Researchers propose a two-tier approach to ending lockdown
06/05/2020 The UK should adopt a twin approach to relaxing restrictions for lockdown in order to protect the most vulnerable, academics have said. |
Helping smokers to quit during Covid-19
06/05/2020 Alan Sutherland calls on councils to make use of more digital tools to help smokers quit during Covid-19 |
Only 22% of social care workers have been able to access Covid-19 testing
06/05/2020 Less than a quarter of social care workers have been able to access testing for Covid-19, a new survey has revealed. |
Councils warn leisure providers at 'crisis point'
05/05/2020 Leisure providers are at a ‘crisis point’ as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, English and Welsh councils have warned. |
Migrant women left unsupported during crisis, report warns
05/05/2020 Migrant women are at risk of being left without support during the Covid-19 crisis due to ‘hostile’ immigration rules, a new report has warned. |
New guidance to help councils deal with complaints during crisis
05/05/2020 Councils and care providers have been reminded to keep responding to complaints during the coronavirus pandemic. |
Construction contract clauses can prevent Covid-19 legal battles
05/05/2020 Adrian Hill explains what local authorities need to do to navigate the potential implications of Covid-19 to delays on project completions within NEC contracts agreements. |
Vulnerable people struggling to access food, watchdog warns
05/05/2020 Vulnerable people are still struggling to access food and basic supplies during the pandemic, a consumer watchdog has warned today. |
Council staff to test contact-tracing app on the Isle of Wight
05/05/2020 Council staff on the Isle of Wight will be the first to test a new contact tracing app to help control the spread of coronavirus. |
'High risk' staff are being forced back, claims Unison
04/05/2020 Unison is demanding Milton Keynes Council steps back from what it says is a ‘rogue local plan’ to order staff in high risk categories back to work. |
Around 300,000 quit smoking due to coronavirus
04/05/2020 Council leaders have welcomed figures that show around 300,000 people have quit smoking due to an increased risk from coronavirus. |
Keeping local government online in the fight against coronavirus
04/05/2020 Michael White and Simon Haston explain how BT’s core network, a key part of the nation’s infrastructure, is helping local authorities tackle the coronavirus. |
Investing in commercial property amidst Covid-19
04/05/2020 A new inquiry will explore investments in commercial property by councils. Lucy Woods explains what the inquiry is likely to look into, the implications for local authorities and what changes they may have to make. |
Welsh councils given funding to tackle cyber crime
04/05/2020 Each council in Wales will receive a £9,000 grant to tackle the increase in cyber crime during the coronavirus pandemic. |
Councils have supported 90% of rough sleepers during pandemic
04/05/2020 Councils have offered accommodation to 90% of known rough sleepers to keep them safe during the pandemic, the Government has confirmed. |
Councils receive extra £617m funding to support small businesses
04/05/2020 Local authorities will receive a 5% uplift in funding to help support local small businesses. |
Jenrick unveils £76m funding for ‘most vulnerable’
04/05/2020 The communities secretary has announced £76m funding to support the ‘most vulnerable’ in society during the pandemic. |
Deprived areas see twice as many deaths from Covid-19
01/05/2020 The most deprived areas have experienced twice as many deaths from Covid-19 than the least deprived, new figures show. |
Most London pavements too narrow for social distancing, researchers find
01/05/2020 Two-thirds of pavements in London are not wide enough for people to follow social distancing guidelines, new research has found. |
Food banks report record level of need
01/05/2020 Food banks have warned they have seen record levels of need as the coronavirus pandemic causes more financial hardship for vulnerable families. |
Government urged to fund council tax payment holidays for vulnerable households
01/05/2020 The Government should provide councils with extra funding to offer payment holidays for people struggling to pay their council bill, according to Citizens Advice. |
London boroughs call for urgent increase to rateable value threshold
29/04/2020 London Councils has called for the rateable value threshold to be increased to help more businesses survive the coronavirus pandemic. |
Government unveils improved daily report on Covid-19 deaths
29/04/2020 From today, the new daily count for deaths caused by Covid-19 will include those occurring in care homes for the first time. |
Charities call for frontline feedback
29/04/2020 Sam Royston calls on emergency support providers to provide feedback on how Covid-19 is affecting their services. |
Councils prepare to reopen recycling sites
29/04/2020 Councils have been asked to make reopening household waste recycling sites a priority by the Government. |
Districts win in latest allocations
28/04/2020 Districts have won a significantly higher share of funding in the latest allocations of government cash to help councils cope with coronavirus. |
Social landlords asked to only allow essential home moves
28/04/2020 Social housing landlords have been asked to pause any non-urgent house moves to help limit the spread of coronavirus. |
Counties call for clarity on how coronavirus cash will be allocated
28/04/2020 County councils have called for clarity on how the latest round of emergency cash to deal with the coronavirus crisis will be split. |
Councils must urgently allocate funding to social care providers, report warns
28/04/2020 Funding given to local authorities to deal with the coronavirus crisis must urgently get through to independent adult social care services, a new report has warned. |
Councils call for more clarity on special needs duties during pandemic
28/04/2020 Councils have warned they are struggling to deliver statutory support for children with special educational needs and disabilities due to dealing with the demands of coronavirus. |
MPs call for urgent action to deal with rise in domestic abuse
27/04/2020 The Government has been urged to take urgent action to prevent and address the rise in domestic abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic. |
Councils need another £12.8bn to cope with coronavirus - LGA
27/04/2020 Councils may need up to another £12.8bn from the Government to get through the coronavirus crisis, the chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA) has suggested. |
Warnings that vulnerable children 'hidden from sight' during lockdown
27/04/2020 New local area profiles will help councils identify how many vulnerable children are in their area. |
Making use of a force majeure provision
27/04/2020 Michelle Craven-Faulkner and William Occleston explain how local authorities can make use of a force majeure clause, and what options are available if there is no such clause in a contract. |
Extra funding to protect vulnerable children during Covid-19
27/04/2020 Projects that protect vulnerable children will share more than £12m to help keep them safe during the coronavirus outbreak. |
Councils praised for reopening hundreds of parks
27/04/2020 Councils have been praised for reopening around 340 parks and green spaces in the past week. |
Councils given power to reallocate free childcare funding
24/04/2020 Councils have been given the freedom to move government funding for free childcare entitlements to meet demand during the coronavirus outbreak. |
Coronavirus testing extended to frontline council staff
24/04/2020 Council staff with symptoms of Covid-19 will be able to get tested for the virus, the Government has announced. |
Councils urged to make cycling and walking safer during lockdown
24/04/2020 Councils have been urged to implement new measures to make it easier for cyclists to abide by social distancing rules during lockdown by Cycling UK. |
PPE supplies to 'run out within days'
24/04/2020 Dwindling supplies of vital life-saving personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline care workers will run out within days, the Local Government Association (LGA) warned today. |
Unpaid carers face 'burnout' during Covid-19 crisis
24/04/2020 Unpaid carers have warned they are feeling 'overwhelmed' after providing even more care during the coronavirus crisis. |
Report uncovers high debt levels in Northern England and Wales
23/04/2020 People living in large cities and towns in Northern England and Wales have the most debt and will be hit hardest by a post-Covid economic downturn, research has found. |
Government confirms extension to council accounts deadline
23/04/2020 Councils will be given more time to publish their audited accounts due to the increasing demands of dealing with Covid-19. |
This issue of Public Property examines how how flexible workspaces can lead the way in regeneration for local authorities, Why local authority intervention is key to successful urban regeneration schemes and if the Government’s challenge of embracing beauty is an opportunity for communities.
The March issue also takes a closer look at Blackburn with Darwen Council's first digital health hub to help people gain control over health and care services.
