Unjust enrichment?
Housing authorities should take care when relying upon valuations that will feed into section 125 notices, says Amy Rogers, of the disputes team at Cripps.
Scottish councils ‘lack diversity’, report reveals
11/03/2019 Women and ethnic minorities are underrepresented at the local level in Scotland and many face harassment, an equalities study has revealed. |
Black Londoners ‘under-represented in local government’
05/03/2019 Black people are still under-represented in London's local councils, a new study has revealed. |
Brokenshire gets Brexit breakdown from chiefs
31/01/2019 Chief executives have told communities secretary James Brokenshire Whitehall needs to be more joined up between departments and in its communications with councils over Brexit. |
Holyrood urged to promote gender equality in education
25/01/2019 The Scottish government is being urged to establish a new commission to promote equality for girls and women in education. |
Newcastle named best council for LGBT staff
21/01/2019 Newcastle City Council is the best local authority for LGBT staff inclusion, according to Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers 2018. |
Glasgow CC offers ‘olive branch’ in equal pay row
25/10/2018 Talks were taking place today in a bid to settle the equal pay row that led to a two-day strike by more than 8,000 women in Glasgow this week. |
Council staff to strike over equal pay claims
22/10/2018 Thousands of women at one of the UK's biggest councils are set to walk out on strike for two days this week over equal pay. |
Damning report on leadership diversity
11/10/2018 ‘Little progress’ is being made in increasing the diversity of senior leadership in local authorities, a report published today has found. |
Council chiefs to launch campaign to recruit female councillors
12/09/2018 Local government leaders are set to launch a campaign to recruit more women as councillors. |
Overcoming the gender gap in local government
12/09/2018 The decision by the Local Government Association to launch a campaign to recruit women councillors is a timely move. |
Local government still male dominated, analysis reveals
10/09/2018 There has been 'virtually no progress' in women's representation in local government with nearly all councils being dominated by men, a damning new report has revealed. |
Appointment panels hold unconscious bias
23/08/2018 Ian Thomas demands proportionate positive action to increase diversity in leadership positions. |
Council facing £5m equal pay bill
26/06/2018 Fife Council has been warned it could face a £5m bill from a new round of equal pay claims. |
Data on racial inequalities ‘inconsistent’, MPs say
11/06/2018 The collection of data regarding racial inequalities in public services is ‘inconsistent’, MPs have found. |
Gender pay gap: what next for councils?
05/06/2018 Mark Whitehead finds out why two London councils have signed up to a new scheme to help women climb the career ladder. |
Disabled people 'trapped' in unsuitable homes
11/05/2018 The equality commission has called for a national strategy to ensure disabled people have access to suitable housing as survey reveals only 7% of England’s housing stock meets minimum standards. |
Funding for new peer reviews of children's services
01/05/2018 The Government has announced a £8.5m programme to help councils work together to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children. |
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. |
Inequality holding back growth potential of places warns report
19/04/2018 Inequality is holding back the full growth potential of places, according to the results of the annual Vibrant Economy Index. |
Projects training women to be community leaders awarded £600,000
11/04/2018 Over £600,000 has been awarded by the Government to eight schemes, including projects that train women to become leaders in their communities. |
Gender pay gap data - treat with caution
10/04/2018 Mark Whitehead explains why the new gender pay gap figures reveal a somewhat more mixed picture of what is actually going on. |
Political parties must report ‘gender gap’, campaigners say
05/04/2018 Campaigners are calling on the Government to enact legislation to force political parties to report their 'gender gap' when it comes to election candidates. |
The gender pay gap: local government's national perspective
05/04/2018 Why do some councils have a gender pay gap and how are they going to address it? Mark Whitehead investigates. |
Councils praised for narrowing the gender pay gap
04/04/2018 Local government leaders have pointed to the high proportion of women in in lower-paid part-time jobs as the main reason for the differences in average rates compared to men. |
Early figures suggest men earn 6% more than women in local government
28/03/2018 Men in local government earn on average 6% per hour more than women according to the latest data being collected by the Government. |
Children should be at ‘the heart’ of the Northern Powerhouse, commissioner says
26/03/2018 Children should be placed at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse, commissioner says as report reveals wide inequalities between children depending on where they are born. |
Building a future: women in construction
26/03/2018 Women working in the construction industry are very much in the minority, but they could be a valuable source of much-needed skills. Mark Whitehead attended a round table discussion focusing on the issue and considering some solutions. |
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. |
Research highlights lack of male staff in council nurseries
15/03/2018 New figures have revealed that only 5% of staff in the Early Years sector are male, leading to calls to 'widen the talent pool'. |
North Ayrshire settles 500 equal pay claims
06/03/2018 North Ayrshire Council has settled hundreds of outstanding equal pay claims after months of delay. |
A benchmark for website accessibility
20/02/2018 Bryn Anderson explains why all council websites and apps must meet minimum accessibility standards from this September. |
Key factors for making local area ‘thrive’ revealed
19/02/2018 A Bristol-based charity launched a new report today into the key factors that make up a ‘thriving’ local area - and it goes beyond a narrow focus on gross domestic product. |
Council faces legal action over outstanding equal pay awards
13/02/2018 Fife Council is facing fresh legal proceedings over the non-payment of equal pay awards, a trade union has warned. |
LGBT - Routes to inclusion in local authorities
06/02/2018 How did Newcastle become the best council for LGBT staff to work for? Mark Whitehead finds out more. |
Report calls for investment in education and skills to boost Northern Powerhouse
01/02/2018 A new report has called for a £300m increase in Government funding for disadvantaged areas across the North to ensure every child is school ready by the age of five. |
Newcastle named best council for LGBT staff
01/02/2018 Newcastle City Council is the best council for LGBT employees to work for, according to the latest results of Stonewall’s annual review. |
Council to review policy of charging disabled people £3,300 to park near home
25/01/2018 Cornwall Council has confirmed it will ‘urgently review’ its policy to charge people with disabilities over £3,000 for disabled parking spaces near their homes. |
Centenary of women’s suffrage should see push for gender equality, campaigners say
17/01/2018 The centenary of women’s suffrage will be a ‘missed opportunity’ unless barriers to political participation are removed, say campaigners. |
Ethnic minorities ‘under-represented’ in public sector leadership roles, PM says
10/10/2017 Ethnic minorities are under-represented at senior levels across the public sector, a fact the Prime Minister says society needs to ‘explain or change’. |
CEOs at top unitary authorities are 100% white, research reveals
05/10/2017 Not a single CEO at the top 50 unitary authorities comes from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background, new research has revealed today. |
Local government is too white
28/09/2017 The lack of non-white chief executives and senior managers in local government is embarrassing. Atif Shafique calls for radical action to redress the balance. |
All-male Liverpool City Region cabinet told to nominate a woman
11/09/2017 A group of civil society leaders have come together to demand the all-male Liverpool City Region (LCR) cabinet includes one woman among their number. |
Gov 'lacks ambition' in tackling gender inequality in councils
08/09/2017 Whitehall has been accused of a ‘complete lack of ambition’ after it rejected calls to ensure 45% of local government candidates are female through the use of fines and new laws. |
Muslims face ‘greatest economic disadvantages’ of any faith group, report finds
07/09/2017 Muslims experience the greatest economic disadvantages of any faith group in UK society, a social mobility commission report warns. |
A third of equal pay claims still not settled by Scottish councils
07/09/2017 Councils in Scotland have spent £750m settling equal pay claims since 2004, with 27,000 claims still outstanding, a public spending watchdog has revealed. |
Disabilities in a time of austerity
06/09/2017 Are councils really complicit in the humans rights violation of disabled people? William Eichler investigates. |
Thousands of council staff in Glasgow win equal pay ruling
22/08/2017 Glasgow City Council will look into making payments to potentially thousands of women workers after a court ruling suggested that the council might have been paying them less than their male colleagues. |
New reforms to help sight impaired people to vote
21/08/2017 Local authorities will now be allowed to use records to help ensure people with a vision impairment receive accessible voting information. |
Local government reforms undermined by ‘depressing’ lack of female representation, report finds
21/08/2017 Council chiefs say progress in achieving gender balance in local government should be made at a ‘faster pace’ after think tank warns of a lack of women in top jobs. |
Report reveals rise in premature deaths among Northern young adults
08/08/2017 A new report has revealed an ‘alarming rise’ in the number of people dying before their time in the North. |
Report warns of living standard gaps among ethnic groups
07/08/2017 Large gaps in living standards still exist between various ethnic groups in Britain, a think tank has warned. |
Local government ‘going backwards’ on equality, report reveals
13/07/2017 Local government is ‘not fit for the future’ due to outdated practices and attitudes that hold back gender equality, shocking new report reveals. |
Help to Buy benefits ‘better-off' buyers, report says
03/07/2017 Many of the Government’s flagship schemes to help first-time buyers onto the housing ladder are most likely to benefit better-off buyers, commission says. |
Young people ‘pessimistic’ about social mobility
16/06/2017 More than half of young people believe social background dictates how you get on in life, according to the results of a new survey. |
Glasgow CC faces accusations of discrimination in equal pay case
31/05/2017 Thousands of low paid women are set to make equal pay claims against Glasgow City Council after winning a court victory. |
Lib Dems call for mandatory reporting on ethnicity pay gap
10/05/2017 The Liberal Democrats have announced plans to introduce mandatory reporting on the ethnicity pay gap for organisations with 250 employees or more if elected. |
Sexism is ‘commonplace’ in local government finds research
26/04/2017 Nearly four in ten female councillors have experienced sexist comments from council colleagues, with 10% being victims of sexual harassment, a new report has revealed. |
Combined authorities risk being 'preserve of men' finds report
18/04/2017 Nearly all (93%) of senior positions in the new combined authorities will be appointed to white men, new research has revealed. |
Council adopts gender neutral terminology for job titles
10/04/2017 An Essex council has agreed to abolish the word ‘man’ from important job titles in a bid to tackle gender inequality. |
Councils to be required to publish gender pay gap figures
06/04/2017 The Government yesterday announced that all employers with 250 or more employees will be required to publish their gender pay gap figures. |
Thousands of schools ‘segregated’, charity says
23/03/2017 Thousands of schools across England are segregated along ethnic and socio-economic lines, research reveals. |
The danger of digital exclusion
22/03/2017 Phil Brunkard reports from the recent 'Smart Essex' event, examining how services can move online without leaving anyone behind. |
Report highlights lack of diversity in top council jobs
08/03/2017 Only 9% of council leaders and 14% of local authority chief executives in Wales are female, a new report has found. |
Charity warns deprivation linked to high suicide rates
07/03/2017 Council staff should be trained in suicide prevention a charity has argued, after a new report revealed inequalities are increasing the risk of people taking their own lives. |
Senior councilor resigns following hijab row
03/03/2017 A council equality chief has stepped down from his role after being criticised for claiming a school had contravened the Equalities Act by banning pupils from wearing hijab headscarves. |
Poor pupils falling behind affluent peers in secondary school, research reveals
27/02/2017 Progress made by poor pupils in primary school is ‘all but wiped out’ at the secondary level, new research into social mobility reveals. |
Closing the gender pay gap
24/01/2017 With the recent warning it could take 170 years to close the gender pay gap, what can councils do to tackle this inequality? Jawaid Rehman reports. |
Sandwell backs ‘fairer’ pension motion for women born in the 1950s
20/01/2017 Sandwell councillors have backed a motion calling for a fairer deal for women born in the 1950s who have been affected by an increase in the state pension age. |
Leicestershire top council for LGBT staff finds index
19/01/2017 Leicestershire County Council is the best local government employee for lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff, according to the results of Stonewall’s annual index. |
Parties warned to increase women councillors and MPs to 45%
10/01/2017 Political parties should ensure 45% of all MPs and councillors are female by 2030 or face financial penalties, a report has argued today. |
Project aims to bridge the North-South divide
06/12/2016 A new project to find out why some children in the North are falling behind their counterparts in the South has been launched today by the Children’s Commissioner. |
Children in care suffer ‘educational gap’ in primary school
01/12/2016 Children in care are falling ‘well behind’ children in the general population before they even get to primary school, new research reveals - and this gap widens throughout their schooling. |
Children in ‘social mobility coldspots’ behind wealthier peers
22/11/2016 New research on social mobility has revealed children from disadvantaged backgrounds are more than 20 months behind their wealthier peers. |
Council accused of ‘dragging its feet’ over equal pay claim
17/10/2016 More than 60 women are challenging Reading Council in court today, arguing they are owed more than £1.5m in equal pay claims. |
£60m of Whitehall funding to improve social mobility
05/10/2016 Six new opportunity areas will receive £60m in funding in a bid to boost social mobility. |
May: Britain should not be just for the ‘privileged few’
01/09/2016 Theresa May is to chair a cabinet committee focusing on social reform in order to make Britain ‘better for everyone, not just the privileged few.’ |
Public health cuts ‘false economy’, MPs says
01/09/2016 Cuts to public health and front line services are a ‘false economy’ and risk ‘widening health inequalities’, a select committee has warned. |
May orders audit to tackle racial disparities in public services
30/08/2016 All Whitehall departments will need to publish information on how outcomes differ for people of different racial backgrounds under a new audit of public services. |
Local authorities ‘not doing enough’ to support parents of disabled children
25/08/2016 Councils should take a more flexible approach to childcare, charity says after it was revealed four out of five parents of children with complex needs struggled to access services over the summer holidays. |
Inequality and post-Brexit hate crime increases race tensions, commission warns
18/08/2016 The failure to tackle deep-rooted race inequality and the post-Brexit rise in hate crime risks increasing race tensions, says equality commission. |
Council to adopt gender neutral title on forms
16/08/2016 Oxford City Council has approved plans to add the gender neutral title ‘Mx’ to official forms in order to become more inclusive. |
Council gender equality ‘success story’
21/07/2016 Lewisham has overcome the continuing gender pay and position inequality that still persists in many organisations across the UK, report finds. |
Boys 'twice as likely to fall behind girls' by age five
18/07/2016 Boys are twice as likely to fall behind girls in basic language skills by the time they start school, a new report has warned today. |
How local government can improve transgender equality
08/06/2016 In the wake of the media furore surrounding a council’s decision to make its primary school applications more gender diverse, William Eichler explores how local authorities can address transgender issues in their communities. |
North Lanarkshire settles equal pay dispute
01/06/2016 A Scottish council has resolved a long-running dispute over equal pay claims in what it describes as a ‘major milestone’. |
Think tank warns northern schools are being underfunded
23/05/2016 Schools in the North of England should be given more cash to put them on a level playing field with the South, according to a think tank. |
Different lighting schemes buttress segregation
12/05/2016 The way spaces are lit can reinforce levels of inequality in urban areas, a new report argues. |
Neglect of ‘place poverty’ hampering fight against deprivation
11/05/2016 Efforts to tackle poverty are being held back by a neglect of ‘place poverty’ in welfare policies, planners argue. |
Sexist hat-based tradition causes controversy
10/05/2016 A row over double standards in a Norfolk council has erupted after a councillor complained women have to ask permission from the mayor before removing ceremonial hat—but men don’t. |
Councils urged to take a more ‘active’ approach to integration
10/05/2016 Local authorities should publish annual measures of residential segregation as part of a ‘more muscular’ approach to managing ethnic and religious diversity, a new Civitas report argues. |
Watchdog to address inequalities in end of life care
09/05/2016 Social service departments are to be assessed for end of life care after a new report found some people were receiving poor services. |
Brighton criticised for option to select gender on school form
20/04/2016 A council has come under attack for the decision to allow children to choose their gender on primary school application forms. |
Poor children more likely to go to failing schools finds research
19/04/2016 Families are on low incomes are four times more likely than wealthier families to send their child to a struggling primary school, new research has revealed. |
Report highlights persistence of educational inequality
14/04/2016 Inequality in education remains ‘deeply entrenched’ in the UK, an annual report is warning. |
Scottish council urged to settle equal pay claims
01/04/2016 Union members call on a Scottish council to settle outstanding equal pay claims they argue are being delayed because of a lack of ‘political will’. |
Councils score highly in top 100 employers for LGBT staff
19/01/2016 Local authorities make up 15% of the top 100 employers for gay, bisexual and transgender staff, according to a new report. |
£50m historic equal pay claim threatens council’s fiscal future
07/01/2016 Fife Council faces a potential £50m historic equal pay claim that could have a ‘significant impact’ on its finances. |
Research shows impact of health determinants
10/11/2015 Collaboration between local authority stakeholders can help address health quality determinants and result in improved health outcomes, according to a new report. |
Research highlights inequality in staff training
10/11/2015 Women are less likely than men to receive workplace training, according to new research published by NIACE and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES). |
Council first to analyse pay gaps based on gender, disability and ethnicity
28/10/2015 A London borough has become the first council in the country to publish a pay analysis of its workforce by gender, disability and ethnicity. |
The March issue of Local Government News explores alternative funding channels that are available to councils beyond the Public Works Loan Board, what hurdles merging councils face in coming together, and how local government is handling GDPR.
This issue also has a special highways and street lighting section exploring how councils can use lighting to embark on their smart city journey and using IoT technology to weather the storm.
