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.
Concern over 'procrastination culture' at Southampton
11/04/2025 A ‘procrastination culture' is holding back progress at Southampton City Council, a new report has found. |
LGA updates business plan amid reorganisation shake-up
09/04/2025 The Local Government Association (LGA) is working on a new business plan as mayors increasingly reject its advances. |
East Midlands mayor suggests LGA not the right 'fit'
17/03/2025 East Midlands mayor Claire Ward has said the Local Government Association ‘might not be' the place where combined and strategic authorities ‘fit'. |
Council leader stands down to focus on LGA role
25/02/2025 Cllr Joe Harris, the leader of Cotswold District Council, has announced he is stepping down to focus on his Local Government Association (LGA) role. |
End of statutory override could leave half of councils insolvent
19/02/2025 More than half of unitary and upper tier councils could be unable to balance their books when the statutory override for special needs spending expires, a survey has found. |
Call for reorganisation support
14/02/2025 A senior sector figure has called for the Local Government Association (LGA) and Whitehall to offer education and training to those about to go through reorganisation. |
Call for national health inequalities strategy
04/02/2025 A new Local Government Association report has called on the Government to introduce a national strategy to tackle health inequalities in England. |
Concern over new audit body
04/02/2025 Ministers have been warned against overreach with the creation of the Local Audit Office (LAO). |
Government urged to ‘empower’ councils as digital plans unveiled
21/01/2025 Council bosses have urged the Government to ‘empower’ local authorities after it set out new plans to overhaul digital technology and AI usage in public services. |
Rebels with a cause
16/01/2025 The Local Government Association (LGA) has been warned some members could quit over its stance on reorganisation as it faces an internal rebellion. |
LGA: Councils with ‘scarce resources’ need reorganisation support
13/01/2025 Councils that have bid to be on the fast-track for new devolution deals and reorganisation need extra funding and a quick decision on local elections, the LGA says. |
Care sector faces ‘most difficult’ months in years
16/12/2024 Organisations working in social care have warned that without new funding the coming months will be ‘the most difficult we’ve seen in recent years.’ |
Sector call for council tax review
13/12/2024 Local government has called for a ‘fundamental review of council tax' in a long-awaited report. |
LGA overhaul mooted after 'big conversation'
12/12/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) could be overhauled as part of efforts to increase its influence, The MJ understands. |
LGA: National Insurance hit could be £1.7bn
05/12/2024 The impact of employer National Insurance Contribution increases on external providers and contractors could be up to £1.13bn, Local Government Association (LGA) analysis has shown. |
Government to create first ever men’s health strategy
28/11/2024 The Government has committed to creating the first strategy for men’s health – something council bosses have been calling for. |
Call for funding for ‘under threat’ youth services
28/11/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for a funding boost to prevent cuts to youth services. |
Swindon facing 'existential' financial crisis
12/11/2024 Swindon BC is ‘facing a burning financial platform' with cost pressures of around £9m but ‘mitigating actions' not fully identified, finds peer challenge. |
Council recruitment drive launches across England
04/11/2024 A national recruitment campaign has launched to encourage people to work for their local council. |
Budget: Council chiefs call for ‘explicit clarity’ on NI increases
31/10/2024 Council leaders have welcomed the £1.3bn funding boost but called for clarity on protection from increases to employer National Insurance contributions. |
Councils facing ‘social care blackhole’, Lib Dems warn
24/10/2024 Councils are facing a ‘social care blackhole’ in their finances, according to the Liberal Democrats. |
Councils call for full waste service costs under EPR
23/10/2024 Council bosses have urged the Government to ensure local authorities receive the full costs for delivering waste and recycling services under new packaging reforms. |
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. |
Disgraced peer Hanningfield dies
22/10/2024 Former leader of Essex CC and peer Lord Hanningfield has died. |
One in four councils likely to request exceptional financial support
21/10/2024 One in four English councils believe they will have to apply for exceptional financial support (EFS) in the next two years without additional funding, research has revealed. |
One in five councillors threatened with violence
21/10/2024 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. |
Housing targets ‘weaken local decision making’, LGA warns
03/10/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has raised concerns that mandatory housebuilding targets for councils centralise policy and weaken local decision making. |
'Scant' budget report criticised by peer review
02/10/2024 A finance peer review of East Hertfordshire DC has criticised the lack of information in a budget report. |
Council bosses call for men’s health strategy
27/08/2024 The ‘silent health crisis’ facing men in England should be a national concern, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said. |
LGA: Minister’s stance on hybrid meetings ‘encouraging’
19/08/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has said it was ‘encouraging’ that the new Government signalled an openness to discussing hybrid council meetings. |
United call following homelessness surge
08/08/2024 The local government sector has united to call for urgent action following a surge in the number of homeless families. |
Councils hit new low in value for money survey
07/08/2024 The number of people who believe they are getting value for money from local authorities is falling, according to a survey for the Local Government Association (LGA). |
Culture funding under threat from bidding system
31/07/2024 Local government culture funding is under threat ‘due to the multitude of funding streams as well as the system for funding bids’, the LGA warns. |
Local housing deals could deliver 200k social homes
30/07/2024 Implementation of five-year local housing deals by 2025 would lead to 200,000 additional social homes being built over the next three decades, report finds. |
Landmark report finds SEND system ‘broken’
25/07/2024 Major reforms introduced a decade ago have failed to improve educational outcomes for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), a report has found. |
Minister voices concern over districts' role in devolution
22/07/2024 District councils should be handed a greater role in devolution talks, a minister has said. |
LGA launches framework for digital transformation
12/07/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has launched a new framework to support councils as they digitalise. |
LGA chair: Councils need to 'keep' up with new Government
11/07/2024 The Local Government Association's new chair has emphasised the need for councils to show they can ‘keep up' with Labour's ambitious programme for Government. |
Councillors celebrate General Election success
05/07/2024 A string of high-profile figures from the local government sector are celebrating victory in the General Election. |
Homelessness spending triples in eight years
02/07/2024 The proportion of councils’ total housing budget spent on homelessness and temporary accommodation has tripled since 2015, new analysis has revealed. |
All change
27/06/2024 Cheshire West and Chester leader Louise Gittins has emerged as the frontrunner to be the next chair of the Local Government Association, The MJ understands. |
‘Talk more’ about social care, party leaders told
21/06/2024 Political parties must do more to acknowledge the value of adult social care in the run up to the General Election, sector leaders have argued. |
Council told to tackle safeguarding backlog
14/06/2024 A Local Government Association peer challenge urged Cumberland Council to take immediate action on a ‘significant’ safeguarding backlog. |
Councils looking after record 576k children with SEND
13/06/2024 Local authorities are looking after record numbers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), council chiefs warn. |
‘Existential crisis’ for councils as £6bn funding gap revealed
06/06/2024 A new Local Government White Paper has uncovered a £6.2bn funding gap facing councils in England over the next two years. |
Growth at heart of LGA White Paper
03/06/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for powers and funding so that councils can take a leading role in driving inclusive growth. |
LGA axes conference due to election clash
24/05/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has officially cancelled its annual conference after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the General Election that clashed with the event. |
LGA announces 2024/25 Sector Support programme
12/04/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has announced the 2024/25 Sector Support programme to help councils ‘deliver critical services to communities.’ |
Northumberland has ‘further to go’
13/03/2024 Northumberland CC has ‘further to go’ despite progress on its improvement journey, a report has found. |
LGA moves towards performance support role
14/02/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) is to take a more proactive role as it seeks to do more to prevent Whitehall intervention in councils, The MJ understands. |
Consultation on audit reset proposals launched
09/02/2024 Proposals to reset the local audit system and clear the backlog of accounts have been officially unveiled. |
Disposable vapes to be banned
29/01/2024 Disposable vapes will be banned in the UK to protect children’s health, the Government announced today. |
LGA calls for family hubs extension
10/01/2024 Council bosses have called for an extension of the family hubs programme after the Government announced that all local authorities involved in the scheme offer access to a centre. |
LGA appoints new chief exec
04/01/2024 Surrey County Council boss Joanna Killian has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Local Government Association (LGA). |
Call for greater drug use surveillance
18/12/2023 Council chiefs have called for greater regulation and surveillance of the use of illegal drugs in response to what they have called ‘worrying new trends’. |
Swindon’s finances on a ‘cliff edge’
14/12/2023 Axing 80 jobs is one proposal among a raft of measures under consideration by Swindon Borough Council as it seeks to cover a £14m shortfall. |
Dudley's sustainability 'in jeopardy'
11/12/2023 Dudley MBC has set up an improvement board following stark warnings over its finances and governance. |
Councils call for support after ‘stark’ climate change warnings
11/12/2023 Local authority leaders have said they need support to prepare communities for climate change after a stark report described the impacts of changing temperatures on people’s health. |
LGA poised to shift position on Right to Buy
06/12/2023 Smith Square is poised to amend its position on Right to Buy, The MJ has learned. |
One in five councils report bankruptcy fears
06/12/2023 A poll of council leaders and chief executives has revealed that one in five think it likely that their chief finance officer will need to issue a Section 114. |
Thousands of refugees face homelessness at Christmas, LGA warns
29/11/2023 The Government’s push to clear the asylum backlog is putting ‘tens of thousands’ of refugees at risk of homelessness over Christmas, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned. |
Council reprimanded after suffering Cyber attack
28/11/2023 Gloucester City Council has pledged lessons will be learnt following a reprimand from a data watchdog over a Cyber attack. |
LGA seeks views on improvement framework
28/11/2023 The LGA has called on those working in or with local government to provide feedback on how the improvement and assurance framework can be improved. |
MPs launch inquiry into controversial watchdog
24/11/2023 An inquiry looking at the remit of the controversial Office for Local Government (Oflog) was launched by MPs today. |
Sector unites in plea to chancellor
22/11/2023 The local government sector in England has put out a call to Jeremy Hunt to ‘address the significant financial challenges faced by councils’. |
LGA responds to councillor’s ceasefire email
21/11/2023 The LGA has spoken out after a councillor threatened to name locally elected members who did not sign up to support a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza. |
Temporary accommodation costs mount to £1.74bn
27/10/2023 English councils spent £1.74bn on temporary accommodation last year, research has found as more than 100 local authorities signed up to an ‘emergency’ housing summit. |
LGA: involve councils in asylum hotel decisions
25/10/2023 Councils want an active role in decisions about ending hotel use for asylum seekers, local government bosses have said. |
Councils ‘held back’ on net zero
24/10/2023 The organisations that represent English councils have collaborated in a call for the Government to change its approach on delivering net zero. |
'Devolution hopes rest on combined authorities'
24/10/2023 Combined authorities represent the greatest hope for devolution in England, according to a new report based on interviews with 95 former ministers and Whitehall mandarins. |
Councils welcome waste reform flexibility but await details on costs
23/10/2023 Councils were relieved not to lose all local discretion in the Government’s waste collection reforms but have said questions remain, including over funding. |
EXCLUSIVE: Sector to plot solutions for 'broken' finance system
18/10/2023 Local government is planning to collectively come up with some innovative ideas about how the ‘broken’ finance system could be improved, The MJ has been told. |
Chiefs' new professional development framework launched
17/10/2023 The first version of a new professional development framework to keep local government chief executives ‘ahead of the game’ has been launched. |
LGA claims ‘so much more could have been done’ in pandemic
04/10/2023 Councils were held back from effectively tackling the challenges of the pandemic by central Government, it has been claimed. |
New programme to help councils with climate change goals
03/10/2023 A sustainability programme has been launched by the Local Government Association (LGA) to help councils reach carbon reduction targets. |
Council's ‘low-risk approach’ questioned
02/10/2023 A council has been urged by Local Government Association (LGA) peers to take more risks to improve its financial outlook. |
Lords block plans to scrap nutrient neutrality rules
14/09/2023 The Government’s attempt to scrap nutrient neutrality rules has been defeated in the House of Lords. |
'Clarity' promised on waste reforms
12/09/2023 More certainty on the Government’s waste reform programme has been promised after mandarins were taken to task over delays. |
LGA: Section 114s show system is 'broken'
11/09/2023 The Local Government Association (LGA) will cite the number of section 114 notices issued by councils as evidence of a ‘broken’ system. |
Councils press for more stringent air quality targets
06/09/2023 Local authorities have dismissed claims air pollution targets cannot be met by 2030. |
New NHS dentists not going to areas most in need
24/08/2023 Council bosses have raised concerns that new dentists working for the NHS are not going to the areas that need them most. |
Councils face £18m bill from new housing standards
08/08/2023 Local authorities could be stuck with an £18m bill to implement new government housing standards, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned. |
Councils told to 'step up' on refugee housing
19/07/2023 The Government has told councils to ‘step up’ efforts to provide permanent homes for Afghan refugees, having served legal notices to quit to those in hotels. |
Minister: Oflog won't spot every council failure
04/07/2023 In his speech to the LGA conference this week, levelling up secretary Michael Gove officially launched the Office for Local Government (Oflog). |
LGA sets up tribute page for Lord Kerslake
04/07/2023 The Local Government Association as set up a tribute page following the death of Lord Bob Kerslake. |
Gove: Trust councils on waste collection
09/06/2023 Communities secretary Michael Gove has said the Government should not ‘dictate’ to councils on waste collections. |
LGA: Social care must remain 'rooted’ at local level
08/06/2023 Social care must remain 'rooted in local government' council leaders have warned, to make sure it is democratic and accountable. |
Councils better placed to deliver welfare than DWP, leaders claim
26/04/2023 Sector representatives were brought before the Work and Pensions Committee to hear their experiences of delivering the Household Support Fund. |
‘Significant concerns' over regional care cooperatives
23/03/2023 Regional care cooperatives (RCCs) will not resolve the issues around child care placements, councils have said. |
LGA moves to tackle workforce crisis
10/03/2023 The association’s executive advisory board heard that all of the LGA’s policy boards had highlighted ‘significant workforce capacity challenges’. |
Minister mounts Oflog defence
10/03/2023 Local government minister Lee Rowley told councillors to ‘judge us by what we do, not what you worry about’ as he defended the planned Oflog. |
Number of homeless Ukrainian refugees mounts
20/02/2023 Politicians have made a cross-party call to extend support for Ukrainian refugees to prevent them becoming homeless. |
Councillors split on solution to workforce crisis
26/01/2023 The LGA’s executive advisory board considered a survey that found more than nine in 10 councils were experiencing staff recruitment difficulties. |
Local net zero push held back by Government, review finds
13/01/2023 Local authorities’ efforts to achieve net zero are being held back, according to a Government-commissioned review. |
Top awards for sector in King Charles III's Honours list
03/01/2023 Local government figures from across the sector have been recognised in the first New Year's Honours list under King Charles III. |
CQC delays new care inspections
21/12/2022 The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has announced it is to delay the introduction of its new adult care assessments. |
District concern in wake of finance settlement
20/12/2022 Concern over funding for districts has been voiced following the announcement of the provisional local government finance settlement for 2023-24. |
Transformation stalled at unitary's planning service, peers find
19/12/2022 ‘Widespread dissatisfaction’ with enforcement has been uncovered by a peer review of a new unitary council’s planning service. |
Deaths caused by alcohol reach 'record high'
09/12/2022 Council leaders have called for a 'concerted approach' to tackling alcohol dependency after figures showed the number of deaths caused by alcohol has hit a record high. |
Councils could be forced to hike council tax by 20% over next two years
16/11/2022 Council leaders are warning council tax must rise by 20% over the next two years in order to meet ‘spiralling’ financial costs. |
