Leadership | LocalGov


Leadership and HR in local government transformation 01/04/2025 Pam Parkes, president of the PPMA, argues that the leadership mindset and HR are the missing links in local government transformation.
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.
First leader of North Northants to step down 20/02/2025 The first leader of North Northamptonshire Council has announced he is stepping down at the local elections in May to ‘transition into semi-retirement’.
Hollinrake: Leaders to blame for s114 notices 19/02/2025 Conservative local government spokesperson Kevin Hollinrake has said council leaders are primarily responsible for their authorities having to issue section 114 notices.
Leader resigns after ‘inappropriate behaviour’ reported to police 09/12/2024 The City of Edinburgh Council’s leader has resigned after Police Scotland revealed it was investigating a report of ‘inappropriate behaviour’.
Newcastle leader faces no confidence vote 03/12/2024 The leader of Newcastle City Council is facing a vote of no confidence after just two months running the authority.
Report finds ‘alarming erosion of governance capacity’ 02/12/2024 Governance within councils must be improved if local public finances are to be rebuilt, a think-tank has argued.
Notts leader steps down after ‘challenging’ year 07/11/2024 The leader of Nottinghamshire County Council has announced he is stepping down from the role after a ‘challenging’ year.
Council leader quits over paedophile headteacher row 18/10/2024 The leader of Gwynedd Council has stood down after a row over his initial failure to apologise to the victims of a convicted paedophile headteacher.
CQC announces new chief executive 07/10/2024 England’s health and social care regulator has announced that Sir Julian Hartley will be appointed as its new chief executive.
Newcastle set for first female leader 02/10/2024 Newcastle City Council is set to appoint its first female leader, while calls have come for an inquiry into issues with the authority's political leadership.
The challenges of local government reorganisation 16/09/2024 Guy Clifton, director, Local Government Value for Money, Grant Thornton UK LLP looks at reorganisation lessons from recently established unitary councils.
Newcastle leader steps back due to ill health 16/09/2024 The leader of Newcastle City Council has taken a temporary leave of absence due to ill health.
Liverpool City Council set to achieve ‘true potential’, minister says 14/08/2024 The new minister for local government has praised Liverpool City Council’s improvement journey saying it is ‘on its way to achieving its true potential.’
Rise in sustainability and governance weaknesses 16/07/2024 Weaknesses in councils' financial sustainability and governance are increasing, according to evidence uncovered in a newly-published report.
Barking and Dagenham leader to step down 16/07/2024 The leader of Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council has announced he is standing down from the role after 10 years.
New MP to resign as council leader 10/07/2024 Newly elected MP Vikki Slade will stand down as leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.
Plaque unveiled for country’s longest serving councillor 28/06/2024 A memorial plaque has been installed in Peterborough in honour of a man who served on the city council for 62 years.
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.
Hampshire leader announces abrupt resignation 16/05/2024 The leader of Hampshire County Council has announced he is standing down next week after two years in the role.
Devon County Council’s long-serving leader steps down 18/04/2024 The leader of Devon County Council has said it is the ‘right time’ to leave the post after 15 years.
'Business as usual' for Lancashire councillors despite resignations 02/04/2024 Councillors in Lancashire have insisted it will be ‘business as usual’ despite 20 resignations in protest at the leadership of the national Labour party.
Officer-councillor tensions affecting outcomes, review finds 20/03/2024 Tensions between Teignbridge DC’s executive and senior leadership team are ‘inhibiting progress and damaging the council’s reputation,’ review warns.
Long-serving council leader to step down 12/03/2024 Sutton council leader Ruth Dombey, one of the longest-serving council leaders in the UK, has announced her intentions to step down.
Council leader reveals cancer diagnosis live on radio 07/02/2024 The leader of Braintree District Council has revealed on a live radio broadcast that he has been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.
Study reveals ‘worrying’ state of local government leadership 25/01/2024 Just over half of council leaders and managers believe their local authority isn’t ensuring accountability for failure, an alarming new study has revealed.
Report calls for more devolution to boost creative industries 23/01/2024 The further devolution of powers and funding connected to culture will help tackle economic stagnation and will boost to local communities, study finds.
Council bankruptcies underline the need for good governance 06/11/2023 Penny Rinta-Suksi, partner at law firm Blake Morgan, argues that innovative policies that aim to enable efficient service delivery must be built on the foundations of good governance.
Peterborough leader loses confidence vote 02/11/2023 Peterborough City Council has new political leadership after councillors voted to remove Conservative leader Wayne Fitzgerald.
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.
South East Councils to consider devolution of vehicle excise duty 01/09/2023 The devolution of vehicle excise duty (VED) will be among the options expected to be considered by a London Finance Commission-style investigation.
Sheffield apologises 'unreservedly' for trees dispute 21/06/2023 Sheffield City Council has apologised ‘unreservedly’ after a report found the authority mishandled a dispute over the felling of thousands of healthy trees.
Croydon pushes ahead with drive to hold former leaders to account 23/03/2023 Croydon LBC has announced ‘unprecedented action’ to hold ex-senior leaders to account for ‘misconduct, wrongdoing and failures in governance’.
‘Highest performing’ active travel councils named 13/03/2023 Leicester and Nottingham councils have been rated as two of the highest performing local authorities in the first ever Government review of active travel.
Khan announces £14m to restore trust in Met 27/01/2023 The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has set out proposals for £14.2m of new funding to rebuild the trust and confidence of London’s communities in the Met Police.
Council chiefs welcome ‘shake-up’ of health and social care 08/06/2022 Council leaders have welcomed a review into health and social care leadership, particularly its emphasis on collaboration across the NHS and social care.
Broxtowe BC looks to adopt cabinet system of governance 11/02/2022 Broxtowe Borough Council is looking to move to a leader and cabinet model of decision making.
Council leader survives vote of no confidence 10/06/2020 A vote of no confidence in the leader of BCP Council, Cllr Vikki Slade, has failed by one vote.
Charity calls for ‘strong leadership’ to integrate support for disabled children 24/07/2019 Strong leadership is needed to streamline and integrate support for disabled children, according to campaigners.
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.
Leader denies decision to step down related to local plan defeat 04/04/2018 The leader of South Oxfordshire District Council has denied his decision to step down before the local elections is related to the authority’s local plan.
Scottish council leader with ‘big heart’ passes away 07/02/2018 Perth & Kinross Council yesterday announced their leader Ian Campbell had passed away ‘suddenly’.
Public sector leadership: what can be learned from Grenfell? 15/12/2017 Grenfell sent shockwaves across the nation and has forced public sector organisations across the country to ask themselves serious questions.
Scottish council opts for joint leaders 24/08/2017 For the first time in its history, Aberdeen City Council has chosen to appoint co-leaders.