Delivering Regeneration: How collaborative contracts are transforming place-making
Discover how collaborative contracting is helping councils deliver regeneration more effectively with this free special report from LocalGov and NEC Contracts.
Green Party names leader of newly formed LGA group
6/4/2026 The Green Party has named Emily O’Brien as leader of its newly formed Local Government Association group. |
Reorganisation deadline 'tight and frankly unreasonable'
6/2/2026 A district council has branded the Government’s local government reorganisation deadline ‘tight and frankly unreasonable’. |
Brum Reform calls for English only meetings
5/29/2026 Brum Reform group has complained that the reading of an Islamic prayer in a council meeting was not ‘inclusive’ and called for English only meetings. |
Derby council defends ceremonial use of Dr Dre track
5/26/2026 Derby CC has defended the use of Dr Dre's 1999 hit ‘Still D.R.E.’ at its Mayor Making ceremony, after a councillor branded the choice 'highly inappropriate.' |
Cotswold councillor who became UK's youngest mayor resigns
5/26/2026 A Liberal Democrat councillor who was once one of the youngest elected politicians in England has resigned after 15 years in local government. |
New videos to help councils tackle deepfake threat launched
5/20/2026 The LGA has released a series of free videos to help councillors and council officers identify and respond to the threat posed by deepfakes. |
New Councils, Old Lessons: What the class of 2026 needs to know
5/15/2026 Colin Copus of De Montfort University reflects on the challenges ahead for new members, officers and the councils they must now run together. |
After the Votes: Why HR and OD are crucial to delivering new political mandates
5/15/2026 PPMA President Sandra Farquharson argues that HR and OD professionals have a pivotal role to play in turning new administrations' promises into outcomes. |
Your guide to making good decisions as a new councillor
5/8/2026 With new councillors taking their seats following the local elections, the LGA's guidance on effective decision-making offers a framework for getting it right. |
Reform UK ousts Derbyshire deputy council leader in secret ballot
5/8/2026 Derbyshire County Council's Reform UK group has removed its deputy leader following a secret ballot of the party's councillors. |
North Yorkshire Tory leadership vote abandoned after chaotic meeting
5/8/2026 A meeting to decide the future leadership of North Yorkshire Council's Conservative group ended without a vote after descending into disagreement and distress. |
Former council leader Dame Shirley Porter dies aged 95
5/6/2026 Former leader of Westminster City Council Dame Shirley Porter has died at the age of 95. |
Fresh request for remote council meeting legislation
5/6/2026 The Government has again been urged by local government groups to roll out legislation that allows remote council meetings. |
Council staff face abuse over flag removal policy
5/5/2026 A council is reporting a surge in abuse, harassment and intimidation directed at staff linked to the removal of unauthorised flags from street furniture. |
Late councillor commemorated by Essex authorities
4/23/2026 Local authorities have paid tribute to a councillor in Essex who has passed away unexpectedly at aged 80. |
Staying Safe in Local Elections: Challenges and support for candidates
4/14/2026 With local elections nearing, rising abuse fears are deterring candidates - this analysis explores risks, definitions, and new guidance to support safer campaigning. |
Report finds 'optimism bias' in council projections
3/30/2026 Brighton and Hove city councillors were guilty of ‘optimism bias’ in forecasting the popularity of the i360 seafront tower, a report has found. |
Warwickshire council leader faces no-confidence vote
3/10/2026 The leader of Warwickshire County Council is facing a vote of no confidence after opposition councillors tabled a motion questioning his conduct in office. |
Government should have 'leeway' to seek new council leaders' LGR views
3/4/2026 Government should have ‘leeway' to offer newly-elected council leaders the chance to put forward a formal view on reorganisation, think-tank chief says. |
Parish councillor honoured for ‘transformative’ local impact
2/26/2026 A parish councillor for North Cerney Parish Council has received a Councillor of the Year award. |
No agreement reached on Birmingham budget
2/26/2026 Members of Birmingham City Council have failed to reach agreement at the authority’s annual budget meeting. |
Deputy leader apologises for sharing violent post about MP
2/25/2026 The deputy leader of Lancashire County Council has apologised after sharing a Facebook post which said a Labour MP ‘should be shot’. |
Over 1,000 councillors sign ‘Pledge for Palestine’
2/23/2026 More than 1,000 local councillors across Britain have signed a ‘Pledge for Palestine’ ahead of key local elections in May, campaigners say. |
Salford loses ‘giant of local government’
2/19/2026 David Lancaster, a Salford councillor believed to have been the longest-serving councillor in England, has passed away. |
Auditors uncover 'significant weaknesses' at Wirral
2/17/2026 Wirral Council needs to ‘urgently' tackle ‘significant weaknesses' in its finances, governance and effective use of resources, auditors have warned. |
Peer suspended due to past contact with convicted councillor
2/11/2026 A peer has been suspended from Labour's parliamentary party due to his connections to a disgraced councillor. |
Councillors donate to crowdfunder supporting jailed colleague
12/9/2025 Councillors, including the leader of Somerset Council, have donated to a crowdfunder to help meet the legal costs of a colleague who has been jailed for taking part in a Just Stop Oil protest. |
Labour refuses to use devo Bill to protect councillors' addresses
11/13/2025 The Government has rejected a plea to use the devolution Bill to remove the requirement for councillors to publish their home addresses. |
Isle of Wight Council ‘dysfunctional’, report finds
11/12/2025 A new report has warned that Isle of Wight Council faces serious governance failings and risks Government intervention unless urgent reforms are made. |
‘Captain Chaos’: Row erupts over Kent fire authority
11/11/2025 A firefighters’ union has raised serious concerns about the governance of Kent and Medway Fire Authority, calling the body ‘in disarray’ after suspensions. |
Tougher sanctions to tackle town hall misconduct proposed
11/11/2025 Local authorities could be granted new powers to suspend councillors for serious misconduct, according to proposals to improve standards in local government. |
Reform UK councillors expelled after leaked video
10/28/2025 Two suspended Reform UK councillors from Kent have reportedly been expelled from the party due to misconduct allegations. |
Local Government Associations unite against abuse
10/21/2025 The UK's Local Government Associations have issued a statement reaffirming their commitment to protecting democratic participation and civility in public life. |
Councillors to reimburse £110,000 allowance overpayments
10/17/2025 Oldham councillors have been overpaid in allowances by more than £100,000, a report has revealed. |
City of York Council could remove Duchess’ honorary title
9/30/2025 The Duchess of York’s Freedom of the City of York title could reportedly be removed due to her association with Jeffrey Epstein. |
Council’s street reporting app subject to scrutiny
9/29/2025 A Lancaster City Council councillor has criticized a perceived ‘operational failure’ within the local authority’s issue reporting app. |
Norwich backs three-council model to boost ‘local prosperity’
9/25/2025 Norwich City Council has backed proposals for three unitary councils in Norfolk. |
Council leader resigns after embezzlement charge
9/23/2025 The leader of Perth and Kinross Council has stepped down after being charged with embezzlement. |
Reform fends off attempt to overturn flag policy
9/22/2025 An attempt to overturn Warwickshire CC’s controversial flag policy has fallen at the first hurdle. |
Leicester councillors say mayoral system should stay
9/22/2025 A motion to abandon the mayoral system has been opposed by Leicester councillors. |
Councillors condemn suspension of refugee family reunion scheme
9/22/2025 More than 150 local councillors have joined forces to condemn the Government’s suspension of the refugee family reunion scheme, urging an urgent reversal. |
Funding has ‘saved’ Birnbeck Pier restoration
9/19/2025 The restoration of Birnbeck pier is ‘full steam ahead’ after funding of over £5m is delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. |
Controversial comments prompt council leader’s exit
9/5/2025 The leader of Peterborough City Council has resigned following comments made about the Rotherham grooming victims. |
Green Party elects councillors as co-deputy leaders
9/5/2025 Two councillors have been elected as co-deputy leaders of the national Green Party. |
Council leadership shifts as four step down
9/4/2025 Four councillors have resigned from Rushmoor Borough Council, leaving Labour without a majority. |
Reform UK-controlled council’s deputy leader steps down
8/19/2025 The deputy leader of Reform UK-controlled Worcestershire County Council has resigned after just three months in the job. |
Reform UK deputy county council leader ousted
8/19/2025 The Reform UK deputy leader of Leicestershire County Council has been removed from the role after just three months. |
Councillor cleared of inciting violence
8/18/2025 A Labour councillor who said far-right activists should have their throats cut has been found not guilty of inciting violence. |
Hefin David: Tributes paid to ‘champion of the people’
8/13/2025 Local government leaders across Wales have paid tribute to Welsh Labour politician Hefin David who died suddenly on Tuesday. |
Teenage Reform councillor vows to tackle crime
8/12/2025 Eighteen-year-old Sienna Churcher has become one of the youngest councillors in the UK after winning a by-election for Reform UK. |
Why age alone shouldn’t define local government leadership
8/8/2025 Age should never define leadership in local government, says Graeme McDonald, Managing Director of Solace. Instead, councils should invest in inclusive, skills-based development for officers and councillors to deliver effective public services. |
Cheshire East backs safety protocol to protect councillors against abuse
8/7/2025 Cheshire East Council has voted in favour of implementing anti-abuse, intimidation and harassment measures following a councillor survey. |
Councillors fear pest issues amid discovery of colossal rat
8/5/2025 A vermin case involving a 22-inch rat found in a Normanby home has raised concerns about a council’s pest control management. |
Coventry councillor first to back Corbyn’s Your Party
8/4/2025 A Coventry councillor has announced she is resigning the Labour Party and will help with the set-up of a new left-wing party co-led by Jeremy Corbyn. |
Cambridge CC votes in favour of unitary council
7/29/2025 Cambridge City Council has approved proposals for a unitary council with majority support from councillors. |
BCP Council announces new pay structure
7/24/2025 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has approved proposals for a new ‘fair and transparent’ staff pay structure. |
Councils back three mainland unitaries
7/21/2025 Hampshire CC and East Hampshire DC have backed three unitary mainland councils, with the Isle of Wight remaining as a standalone authority. |
Council chiefs warn of ‘corrosive impact’ of fake news
6/30/2025 Councillors have warned of the ‘dangers to democracy’ posed by fake news, as more than half say they have had misinformation published about them. |
New councillors appointed after mass resignation
6/26/2025 Four councillors have been appointed to a town council after all of its members quit. |
Reorganisation could wipe out 90% of councillors
6/25/2025 Local government reorganisation could result in the loss of nine-in-10 councillors and threaten local democracy, according to the think tank Localis. |
Job listing creates discord amongst council leaders
6/12/2025 Gloucester City Council (GCC) is facing backlash for advertising a job role that allegedly sells a ‘political agenda’. |
Councillors vote in favour of work-life balance
5/21/2025 Redcar and Cleveland councillors have backed a motion calling for some committee meetings to be moved to the evenings on weekdays. |
Learning from the locals
5/6/2025 Jonathan Werran, chief executive of Localis, reflects on the results of the local elections. |
Reform takes six councils from Tories
5/3/2025 Nigel Farage's Reform UK party has taken six councils from the Conservatives and control of Durham so far in the local elections. |
Reform gains in English local elections
5/2/2025 Labour has held onto key mayoralties even though it looks like Nigel Farage's Reform UK will make significant gains in local elections across England. |
Councillor resigns after indecent exposure guilty plea
3/17/2025 Leader calls for councils to be empowered to remove politicians who commit crimes after resignation of a councillor who pleaded guilty to indecent exposure. |
McMahon hints over councillor suspension power
3/12/2025 Local government minister Jim McMahon has hinted he will push ahead with handing councils the power to suspend councillors before they have been convicted. |
Disgraced councillor told to resign
3/12/2025 Disgraced Redbridge councillor Sam Gould has been urged to resign after pleading guilty to indecently exposing himself to a 13-year-old girl. |
CCN: Planning legislation would ‘dilute’ local oversight
3/11/2025 Legislation aimed at speeding up planning decisions would ‘dilute’ the role of councillors on planning committees, warns the County Council Network (CCN). |
New rules at district after ‘inappropriate behaviour’
2/26/2025 Teignbridge District Council has agreed to adopt a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to swearing and abusive behaviour after auditors criticised the behaviour of some members. |
Council leader stands down to focus on LGA role
2/25/2025 Cllr Joe Harris, the leader of Cotswold District Council, has announced he is stepping down to focus on his Local Government Association (LGA) role. |
Councillor quits after tax arrears revealed
2/24/2025 A Lancashire councillor has resigned after it was revealed he owed almost £4,000 in council tax. |
Councillor barred from budget vote over unpaid tax
2/20/2025 A borough councillor in Lancashire owes almost £4,000 in council tax, making him unable to vote on the authority’s budget. |
First leader of North Northants to step down
2/20/2025 The first leader of North Northamptonshire Council has announced he is stepping down at the local elections in May to ‘transition into semi-retirement’. |
Staffordshire mayor dies after car crash
2/17/2025 The mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme has died following a road accident last Thursday. |
Investigation after ‘wrestling match’ at council meeting
2/14/2025 A hearing will be held at Darlington Borough Council next week after a heated row between two councillors descended into a ‘wrestling match’. |
Poor behaviour getting worse, survey finds
2/12/2025 Poor behaviour among councillors and officers is getting worse, according to a survey by senior officers' organisation Solace. |
Labour suspends 11 councillors over WhatsApp chat
2/12/2025 The Labour Party has suspended 11 councillors who had joined a WhatsApp chat at the centre of a scandal over offensive messages. |
Three Tameside councillors ‘step away’ over WhatsApp scandal
2/11/2025 Three councillors will ‘step away’ from their roles at Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council after they were caught up in a scandal over a leaked WhatsApp chat. |
Peer warning over councillor financial understanding
2/4/2025 Not all 39 councillors at a Nottinghamshire council are fully getting to grips with the financial challenges for the local authority, peer review has warned. |
Councillor jailed after ‘campaign of intimidating behaviour’
1/31/2025 A Torridge District Council member will face prison after he was found guilty of harassment. |
Pembrokeshire could lose 68 councillors
1/30/2025 The number of town and community councillors in Pembrokeshire could be cut by 10% following a review by Wales’ Democracy and Boundary Commission. |
Tory group leader quits party after police called to town hall
1/3/2025 The Conservative group leader of Oldham Council has resigned from the party after police were called amid a row at a town hall meeting. |
20 councillors in Nottinghamshire quit Labour
1/3/2025 Some 20 members of Broxtowe Borough Council, including the leader, have left the Labour Party in protest against Keir Starmer’s leadership. |
Deal reached after mayor launched legal case against own council
12/20/2024 Newham LBC has struck a £36,000 deal with its directly-elected executive mayor Rokhsana Fiaz after reaching an out-of-court settlement over race and sex discrimination claims. |
Police called amid row at town hall
12/19/2024 Police officers were called to Oldham Council on Wednesday after a meeting was suspended when a row broke out. |
Councils could get new powers to suspend members
12/19/2024 Councils could get new powers to suspend councillors found to have breached their code of conduct under new government proposals. |
Call to break up Scotland’s largest council
12/12/2024 Highland Council members have called for the local authority, Scotland’s largest by geographical area, to be broken up. |
Leader resigns after ‘inappropriate behaviour’ reported to police
12/9/2024 The City of Edinburgh Council’s leader has resigned after Police Scotland revealed it was investigating a report of ‘inappropriate behaviour’. |
Newcastle leader faces no confidence vote
12/3/2024 The leader of Newcastle City Council is facing a vote of no confidence after just two months running the authority. |
Notts leader steps down after ‘challenging’ year
11/7/2024 The leader of Nottinghamshire County Council has announced he is stepping down from the role after a ‘challenging’ year. |
Rayner: Bullying councillors could face suspension
10/24/2024 Councils could soon be able to suspend members who violate codes of conduct and will no longer be required to publish councillor addresses, Rayner says. |
Disgraced peer Hanningfield dies
10/22/2024 Former leader of Essex CC and peer Lord Hanningfield has died. |
One in five councillors threatened with violence
10/21/2024 More than a fifth of councillors in a new Local Government Association (LGA) survey said they had received a threat of violence in their role. |
Labour intervenes at Tameside
10/15/2024 The leader of Tameside MBC has resigned after Labour took steps to directly intervene over ‘unacceptable working practices' at the authority. |
Islington Council leader steps down
10/11/2024 The leader of Islington Council, Cllr Kaya Comer-Schwartz, has announced that she will be stepping down. |
Councillors accused of ‘not seriously considering’ recommendations
10/3/2024 Auditors have accused Dudley Council members of ‘not seriously considering’ the recommendations of officers when it came to the council’s financial position. |
Newcastle set for first female leader
10/2/2024 Newcastle City Council is set to appoint its first female leader, while calls have come for an inquiry into issues with the authority's political leadership. |
More than £2m needed to sort Welsh recycling scheme
9/30/2024 Senior Denbighshire CC members will be asked to plough more than £2m into a recycling scheme that has led to ‘unacceptable' numbers of missed collections. |
East Suffolk pledges to tackle abuse
9/27/2024 East Suffolk Council has committed to challenging the abuse or intimidation of its members and officers. |
