Councils click into the future of planning
In town halls across the country, planning officers are racing to update their Local Plans — but this time, the process looks very different.
Former communities secretary James Brokenshire dies aged 53
08/10/2021 Tributes have been paid to former communities secretary, James Brokenshire, after he died at the age of 53 from lung cancer. |
Councils face more funding uncertainty
14/08/2019 ‘Indicative numbers’ for the amount councils will receive in 2020/21 will not be published before next month’s Spending Review, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has admitted after it missed a self-imposed deadline. |
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Move to ban 'poor doors' in new housing developments
22/07/2019 The segregation of social housing residents in mixed-tenure developments will be banned under new measures announced by the Government. |
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Brokenshire calls for 'new deal for local government'
02/07/2019 Communities secretary James Brokenshire has called on the next Prime Minister to publish a Green Paper on a new deal between local and central government. |
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Delay to Northamptonshire reorganisation welcomed
14/05/2019 Council leaders have welcomed the year-long delay to plans to create two new unitaries in Northamptonshire. |
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Brokenshire moves to boost local government accountability
09/05/2019 Brokenshire moves to impose fresh conditions on ‘top slice’ cash |
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Concern over councils' ability to cope with polls
17/04/2019 Council chiefs have raised concerns with Government about the sector’s capacity to run EU elections so close on the heels of local polls. |
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Brum improvement team issues final damning judgement and walks away
02/04/2019 Birmingham City Council’s intervention team has issued a final, damning report on the crisis-hit council and walked away – despite admitting its job is not complete. |
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Brokenshire slams door on One Yorkshire plan
12/02/2019 Communities secretary James Brokenshire has told regional leaders that their plans for a One Yorkshire metro mayor fails to meet the Government’s devolution criteria. |
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Brokenshire to intervene over ‘lamentable’ failures to publish local plans
05/02/2019 The secretary state for communities has written to Wirral and Thanet councils warning them that Whitehall intended to intervene over their failure to put local plans in place. |
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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. |
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Brokenshire announces ‘overhaul’ of housing complaints system
24/01/2019 Communities secretary James Brokenshire today announced an overhaul of what he describes as a ‘broken’ housing complaints system. |
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Buckinghamshire districts threaten legal action over unitary plan
21/01/2019 Two Buckinghamshire districts have written to the Government warning they could launch legal proceedings over plans to create a single county unitary. |
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Brokenshire announces proposals to help veterans access social housing
09/01/2019 The Government has announced it is consulting on proposals that would mean members of the Armed Forces and veterans suffering from mental health issues will be prioritised for social housing. |
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London Councils forms company to tackle homelessness
02/01/2019 A not-for-profit company will be created to provide housing for homeless families in 11 London boroughs. |
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Finance settlement: Government floats commercialisation crackdown
13/12/2018 Whitehall is considering a crackdown on councils that excessively borrow for commercial reasons as it continues to restrict council tax rises. |
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Local government finance settlement delayed by Brexit debate
05/12/2018 Today's provisional local government finance settlement has been delayed – just weeks after Whitehall agreed to bring it forward and fix a date. |
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Councils given power to remove unsafe cladding from private buildings
30/11/2018 Local authorities have been given the power to strip unsafe cladding from private residential buildings over 18 metres tall. |
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Northants can use £70m in capital receipts to plug finance gap
29/11/2018 Northamptonshire CC will be allowed to use £70m in capital receipts to plug its financial black hole, local government secretary James Brokenshire has ruled. |
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Brokenshire in shared prosperity fund threat
15/11/2018 Communities secretary James Brokenshire has threatened to withhold the shared prosperity fund (SPF) from areas that fail to remove local enterprise partnership (LEP) overlaps. |
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Single unitary council for Bucks gets the go-ahead
01/11/2018 Buckinghamshire’s five councils are to be scrapped in favour of a single county-wide unitary, communities secretary James Brokenshire has announced. |
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One Yorkshire submits devolution plans to Brokenshire
26/09/2018 Councils in Yorkshire have made a show of unity in their pursuit of a devolution deal for the region. |
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Rotherham council to regain full control of services
19/09/2018 All powers are to be returned to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, three years after government intervention. |
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Brokenshire unveils £200m Right to Buy pilot
16/08/2018 The Government has launched a £200m pilot scheme to boost social home ownership. |
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'New deal' for social housing branded as 'pitiful'
14/08/2018 The Government's social housing green paper has been criticised for failing to provide any new funding for social housing. |
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Brokenshire considering new devolution models
10/07/2018 James Brokenshire is considering new models of devolution as he seeks to extend further powers to local areas, the communities secretary has insisted. |
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Brokenshire dodges funding commitment pledge
03/07/2018 Communities secretary James Brokenshire has failed to make a firm commitment to fighting for more funding for councils despite warnings the 'bank of local government is running on empty'. |
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Northampton unitary plan falls
15/05/2018 The tight timeframe for reorganising local government across Northamptonshire claimed its first victim this week despite ministers’ decision to extend the consultation period. |
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Brokenshire announces Northamptonshire commissioners
09/05/2018 New local government secretary James Brokenshire has today announced the two commissioners appointed to help rescue troubled Northamptonshire CC. |
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Brokenshire promises a 'hands on approach' to local government
02/05/2018 New secretary of state James Brokenshire has declared himself to be ‘a real fan of local government’ and vowed to take a ‘hands on’ approach to his relationship with the sector. |
