LocalGov elections: Being vigilant ahead of the local elections
Ahead of the local elections next month, Owen Prendeville, Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), offers tips for protecting against cyber attacks.
Newcastle moves cycle barriers that blocked disabled access
04/04/2024 Newcastle City Council has agreed to move a set of barriers after a disabled cyclist raised concerns that the design constituted indirect discrimination. |
Ex-Conservative councillor faced discrimination by local party
18/03/2024 A former Conservative councillor faced discrimination on the basis of his Muslim faith or Pakistani background, a confidential report has revealed. |
Chiefs back ethnicity pay gap reporting
15/02/2024 Council chiefs have backed proposals that would place a duty on local authorities to collect data and report on staffing, pay and outcomes by ethnicity. |
Ombudsman calls for Royal Commission for social housing
23/01/2024 The Housing Ombudsman has called for the establishment of a Royal Commission to deliver a long-term plan for social housing that tackles social injustices. |
Maladministration findings ‘springboard’ to better services, Croydon told
16/01/2024 Croydon Council has been told by the Housing Ombudsman to use learning as a ‘springboard to deliver better services’ after severe maladministration findings. |
‘Illiberal’ bill banning boycotts of Israel passes Commons
11/01/2024 A bill aimed at banning local authorities from boycotting Israel has passed the Commons despite being branded as ‘illiberal and draconian’. |
Tribunal rules against council in discrimination case
10/01/2024 Westminster has apologised following ruling the borough had discriminated against social worker Rachel Meade after complaints about gender critical beliefs. |
Council accused of menopause ‘discrimination’
02/10/2023 Employment tribunal will today begin the first case in Britain where a worker will argue that menopause symptoms amount to a disability under the Equality Act. |
Tackling anti-GRT racism at the local level
12/09/2023 Dr Helen O'Nions, Nottingham Law School, looks at the role of local government in preventing discrimination against travelling communities. |
Government failing to protect disabled people
17/08/2023 The UK and Welsh governments are failing to protect disabled people from discrimination and the situation is worsening due to the cost-of-living crisis. |
Consultation on £1.8bn LGPS change launched
01/06/2023 The Government has launched a consultation seeking views on changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). |
Leicester City Council loses race discrimination case
13/04/2023 A social worker who claimed she suffered racial discrimination at work has won her case against Leicester City Council. |
Systemic sexism costs economy over £88bn a year
08/03/2023 Barriers faced by women wanting to work is costing the economy in England, Scotland and Wales £88.7bn every year, according to new research. |
Council chiefs call for ‘structural change’ to tackle racism
06/03/2023 Structural change is needed to reduce inequality in health affecting black, minority and ethnic communities, according to local government leaders. |
Autistic children face discrimination in care system
03/03/2023 Marginalised families with autistic children face serious problems in the health, care, and education systems, according to new research. |
Charity calls for ban on pavement parking to improve accessibility
09/02/2023 People with disabilities struggle to move around their communities due to ‘inadequate infrastructure’, a sustainable transport charity has found. |
Minorities hit hardest by cost-of-living crisis
06/10/2022 The cost-of-living crisis is having a disproportionate impact on Black and minority ethnic people, new research has revealed. |
Council’s ‘failings’ led to discrimination of disabled boy
06/10/2022 Hertfordshire County Council’s ‘failings’ led to the discrimination of a young boy with disabilities when it came to the provision of educational support. |
Equality regulator to monitor racist AI
01/09/2022 Equality regulator is set to start monitoring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by councils to ensure technologies are not discriminating against people. |
Traveller communities in Wales face ‘widespread racism’
11/08/2022 Members of the Senedd have called on councils to take ‘action’ to provide sites for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities who face widespread prejudice. |
Racism ‘off-putting’ for minorities seeking family support
30/06/2022 Family support services need to do more to meet the needs of minority ethnic families who researchers say often face racism when requesting support. |
Inquiry hears of bullying and racism in social care sector
10/06/2022 Lower-paid health and social care workers have experienced bullying, racism and harassment at work, an inquiry by Britain’s equality regulator has heard. |
GRT community face ‘shocking’ levels of discrimination
18/05/2022 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people’s experiences of public services including housing, health and education are marred by discrimination, peers say. |
Council chiefs call for action against ‘scourge’ of pavement parking
18/05/2022 Local authority leaders have called on the Government to give councils the freedom to ban pavement parking in their own areas. |
High Court rules no discrimination in legal protection for children in care
17/03/2022 High Court yesterday ruled that legislation allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to be placed in unregulated accommodation did not count as age-based discrimination. |
New funding to tackle racial inequality across Liverpool City Region
27/07/2021 New investment will see 22,000 local authority staff receive race equality training across Liverpool City Region. |
Combined authority first to be awarded RACE quality mark
26/07/2021 The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has become the first organisation in the UK to be awarded the RACE Equality Code. |
Calls to end 'unstable and discriminatory' housing system
26/05/2021 A third of adults are living in homes that are unaffordable, unfit or unstable, a homelessness charity has warned today. |
London boroughs vow to do more to tackle racial inequalities
09/12/2020 The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on ethnic minorities shows there’s ‘so much more to do’ to promote racial equality, London borough leaders have said. |
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Planning reforms present 'dangers' for disabled peopled, Lord Holmes warns
07/07/2020 The relaxation of planning rules poses 'serious dangers' for disabled people, Lord Holmes has warned. |
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Two councils join forces to address health inequalities
06/05/2020 Two councils have joined together to tackle health inequalities affecting Black African and Caribbean communities. |
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Older people face ‘litany of damaging stereotypes’, charity warns
20/03/2020 Older people in the UK are seen as incompetent, hostile or a burden on society, according to the findings of a new study into ageism. |
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Council demands end to ‘age-based pay discrimination’
31/01/2020 Gateshead Council has announced that it will be lobbying the Government to end age-based pay discrimination. |
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Court rules adoption service ‘discriminated against’ couple
09/12/2019 A court has awarded a couple £120,000 in damages after their local adoption service turned them away because of their Indian heritage. |
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A tale from Shakespeare Country – comedy or tragedy?
11/11/2019 Goings on in deepest Warwickshire suggest a hinterland of a dark and oppressive culture of sexism, says Mark Whitehead |
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Local leaders pledge to tackle ageism
01/10/2019 Mayors and council leaders have pledged to tackle discrimination on grounds of age. |
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One in 10 rental properties advertised as ‘no housing benefit’
08/11/2018 Around 10% of rental properties in England are likely to be advertised unlawfully by explicitly discriminating against people who rely on housing benefit. |
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Letting agents discriminate against tenants on benefits
22/08/2018 Several major letting agents are discriminating against tenants on housing benefit, according to campaigners. |
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Whitehall defends voter ID reform against accusations of ‘discrimination’
23/04/2018 The Government has defended its plans to require voters to produce ID when voting after watchdog warned reform may discriminate against ethnic minorities. |
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PM announces £90m to address ethnic inequalities in youth unemployment
19/03/2018 The prime minister today announced a £90m programme to address ethnic disparities in youth unemployment in the wake of the Government’s study of inequality within public services. |
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Javid latest MP to receive 'punish a Muslim' letter
16/03/2018 Local government secretary Sajid Javid has become the fifth politician to receive a hate-filled anti-Muslim letter. |
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Commissioners highlight problems for voters with disabilities
10/11/2017 Some people were unable to vote in the last general election because of their disabilities, according to the Electoral Commission. |
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Councils complicit in ‘human rights violations’, disability organisations say
21/08/2017 Deaf and disability organisations have accused the Government and local authorities of human rights violations due to policies which prevent disabled people living independent lives. |
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Council pays out £2000 after blind woman unable to vote
07/06/2017 A woman has won a legal challenge against her district council over voting access for the blind and partially sighted. |
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Disability access to council websites ‘ongoing challenge’
17/05/2017 The websites of nearly a third of councils failed an accessibility test for people with disabilities proving digital access is still ‘an ongoing challenge’. |
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Campaigners call for ‘failing’ Prevent duty to be scrapped after discrimination case
27/01/2017 A civil liberties group has demanded the ‘failing’ Prevent duty be scrapped after education authority admits discriminating against a child with a toy gun. |
Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.
Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.
Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.
