Protecting the public realm without shutting it down
As Martyn's Law approaches, this free special report from LocalGov and Hill & Smith sets out how councils can protect public spaces without shutting them down.
Councils still waiting on fees and charges review 10 months on
02/10/2026 The Local Government Association (LGA) has called on ministers to deliver their commitment to review sales, fees and charges ahead of the Budget. |
Councils demand full cost recovery for planning fees
28/05/2026 Proposals to increase planning application fees do not go far enough, the Government has been warned. |
Councils cutting services to pay for social care, think tank warns
08/04/2026 Councils are raiding reserves and slashing non-statutory services to keep pace with a ‘precarious’ social care system, according to The King’s Fund. |
Drivers to face paying over £4k in congestion charge fees
02/10/2025 Congestion charge fees could surge by £40m next year, analysis has revealed. |
Council abandons controversial cemetery charges
15/08/2025 A council's plans to implement a higher fee for wider burial plots have been retracted following public objections. |
Council ordered to investigate nursery payment policies
08/05/2025 BCP Council has been told it needs to do better when it comes to overseeing nursery fees when they are providing the Government’s free places scheme. |
Brum pauses charges for rat infestations
22/04/2025 Birmingham City Council has temporarily waived charges for residents who require help with rat infestations during the bin strikes. |
Government announces nursery top-up fees ban
21/02/2025 Parents using Government-funded free childcare cannot be required to pay top-up fees for items such as nappies and snacks, according to new guidance. |
LGA warning over audit fees
22/10/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned it is ‘very likely' there will be ‘significant' audit fee variations as the accounts backlog is eliminated. |
Diplomats owe £143.5m in congestion charges
21/05/2024 Embassies in London have amassed debt worth more than £143.5m in unpaid congestion charges since the scheme was introduced in 2003. |
Councils spend £45m on planning appeal advice
03/05/2024 Councils spent £45m over the past three years on external legal advice relating to planning appeals, according to a freedom of information request. |
Councils ‘spending £5m a week to subsidise planning services’
13/09/2023 Subsidising planning services is costing authorities almost £5m a week as they await a proposed fee increase to help cover the cost of processing applications, according to the Local Government Association (LGA). |
Vehicle emission schemes raise £418m
24/08/2023 More than £400m in fees and penalties has been generated from vehicle emission schemes in England, a freedom of information (FOI) request has revealed. |
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. |
End ‘scandalously low fee rates’, say homecare providers
26/10/2021 Councils should be better funded and required to pay more for care, says the UK’s membership body for homecare providers. |
Public back local tourism taxes
24/02/2020 More than half of residents think councils should have the power to set a tourism levy, according to a new survey. |
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Ombudsman reminds councils of care home ‘top-up fees’ duties
12/02/2020 Councils are being reminded by the local government Ombudsman of their duties to administer ‘top-up fees’ for people contributing towards relatives’ care. |
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Councils ‘enabling’ heir hunters to charge high fees
13/08/2019 Researchers have accused local authorities of helping heir hunting firms to rip-off families by charging excessive fees for tracking down inheritance claims. |
