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.
NewGov: Think local Labour
08/07/2024 Jonathan Owen, chief executive of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), discusses what parish and town councils want from the new government. |
Petition calls for creation of new town council
12/04/2024 A petition calling for the creation of a new town council in Salford has been submitted to Salford City Council. |
Local Authority of the Year revealed at The MJ Achievement Awards
26/06/2023 Barnsley MBC has taken the coveted title of Local Authority of the Year at The MJ Achievement Awards this afternoon. |
What the Covid inquiry can learn from local government
13/06/2023 Richard Machin, lecturer in Social Work and Health at Nottingham Trent University, looks at what the Covid inquiry can learn from Nottingham City Council. |
North Yorkshire Council green lights community partnerships
31/05/2023 North Yorkshire Council yesterday gave the go-ahead for a series of community partnership pilots in an effort to ensure local voices are heard. |
Poll reveals majority support full funding for local government
05/08/2022 The vast majority of people support full funding for local authorities, a new report has revealed. |
Councils spending £9bn a year more on local suppliers, research finds
22/07/2022 Councils are spending 46% of their procurement budgets with local suppliers, new research has revealed. |
First Big Local area distributes £1.15m grant
28/06/2022 The first of 150 areas taking part in a long-term funding programme helping residents deliver community projects has distributed all of its £1.15m grant. |
Communities should be empowered to tackle cost of living crisis
06/05/2022 Over two thirds of people responding to a recent poll argue that more power should be given to local communities to tackle the cost of living crisis. |
Councils chosen to pilot planning schemes
12/01/2022 People living in deprived and urban areas will be encouraged to engage more with the planning system under new schemes being piloted by 11 councils. |
I'm dreaming of a White (Paper) Christmas.
16/12/2021 Tim Pope, local government expert at PA Consulting, explains what he hopes to see in the White Paper on levelling up |
Campaigners call for new law to empower communities
01/12/2021 Campaigners have called for a new Community Power Act to give communities a legal right to self-determination. |
Calls for radical expansion of parish and town councils
12/11/2021 Parish and town councils should be established in every neighbourhood to help places level up and revive local democracy, a think tank has said today. |
Gazing up at the future of community power
29/04/2021 Following on from a three-day event in March, New Local's Building Stronger Things looked at how to put the ideas of the community paradigm into practice locally. Ann McGauran reports. |
New proposals to fix Britain's 'fraying social fabric'
12/01/2021 Every local area should be represented by a parish or town council in order to rebuild ‘fraying’ communities after the pandemic, a think tank has argued today. |
What do we want our high streets to look like next Christmas?
05/01/2021 Vidhya Alakeson argues that community businesses provide a tremendous opportunity to create vibrant and resilient high streets and communities. |
It’s time to reboot localism, says think tank
23/09/2019 Local authorities should formally commit to including the neighbourhood in all decision making processes, says Centre for London. |
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Think tank calls for radical reform of children’s services
10/09/2019 A radical new approach to children’s services is needed to avert the growing crisis, a think tank has warned today. |
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How South Tyneside became Co-operative Council of the Year
16/07/2019 An unusual way of providing public services has proved successful in an area hit by unemployment and huge cuts in government funding, as Mark Whitehead found out. |
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The power of the community
05/07/2019 Tony Armstrong writes about why and how we must commission public services locally, and the growing Keep it Local movement. |
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Alliance calls for voting reforms to fix 'failing' system
03/07/2019 Political parties and civil society groups have signed the Good Systems Agreement calling for reforms to the UK's voting system. |
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Localism has led to ‘wide differences’ in fire service standards, inspectors warn
21/06/2019 A 'decade of localism' has led to wide differences in standards of fire services, inspectors have warned. |
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Protecting public spaces
22/03/2019 Local Government News finds out why local community organisations and councils must work together to save public spaces. |
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Councillors take final step towards creation of new Weymouth council
25/02/2019 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is one step closer towards setting up of a new town council for Weymouth. |
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New funding to get people more involved in local issues
15/02/2019 Funding has been announced in 16 boroughs, town and cities across England to encourage more people to get involved in local issues. |
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Councils should ‘step back’ from service provision, think tank says
13/09/2018 Local authorities should shift their focus away from direct service provision and focus more on enabling communities to ‘step up’, new study argues. |
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Government urged to simplify creation of new councils
04/06/2018 The Government should make it easier for communities to set up new local councils in England, according to the National Association of Local Councils (NALC). |
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Government launches £23m neighbourhood plan
20/03/2018 The Government yesterday launched a £23m fund to help local residents plan their own communities. |
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Local councils prepare to lobby MPs for extra powers
19/03/2018 Town and parish councils are calling for new powers to be handed to them following Brexit in what they see as the next stage in local government devolution. |
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Councillors to be equipped with 'community organising' skills
16/03/2018 A new partnership will soon equip councillors with ‘community organising’ skills to help them engage more effectively with their local communities. |
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Power in the country lanes
15/03/2018 Mark Whitehead finds out why smaller councils are taking on bigger roles in terms of responsibilities and delivering services. |
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Lord Kerslake: Let's reignite the possibilities of localism
26/01/2018 Localism is a marathon, not a sprint, writes Lord Kerslake. Quick fixes through legislation will not be enough. |
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Javid approves locally-led proposals to merge councils
01/12/2017 Communities Secretary Sajid Javid yesterday announced he was ‘minded’ to support two locally-led proposals for merging district councils in Somerset and Suffolk. |
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Communities to share £1bn shale gas funding
13/11/2017 A £1b fund has been announced for communities near fracking sites to pay for extra facilities including parks, sports centres and libraries. |
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Javid accuses top-tier authorities of not passing grant funding to local councils
01/11/2017 Not enough cash from the support grant is going to local authorities because ‘too many top-tier councils’ are not following Government guidance, Javid says. |
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Launch of grass-roots project to tackle local inequality
26/10/2017 Seven areas have been chosen to share £8m to create a network of new community businesses in their areas. |
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Councils must show how local change can offer solutions that Whitehall cannot
06/10/2017 Local experiment offers a way out, argues Ipsos MORI's Ben Page, and in the current uncertain environment it is more needed than ever. |
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Redefining neighbourhoods: Beyond austerity
11/09/2017 The Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) and ITN Productions have launched a news and current affairs-style programme ‘Redefining neighbourhoods: Beyond austerity'. |
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Four countries to test-drive new e-participation tool
04/07/2017 A new online tool to help reshape local politics and council spending decisions is being tested by four European countries. |
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Launch of councillor's guide to planning
19/05/2017 A new guide has been launched to give local councillors tips on how to plan for their neighbourhoods. |
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Celebrating the best of council-run services
24/03/2017 LocalGov and We Own It are partnering up to launch the Local Public Ownership Awards. |
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Care of the elderly should be a shared responsibility
07/02/2017 Tony Pilkington calls on councils to develop new models of care in order to empower local communities. |
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Public service delivery should be ‘local by default’, argues community group
25/01/2017 The current trend among councils of standardising services and outsourcing contracts to big national charities and multinational companies is ‘counterproductive’, campaigners warn. |
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Peers urged to support creation of new local councils
17/01/2017 The House of Lords is being urged to support the creation of new local councils in England's city areas in order to strengthen local democracy and improve the take-up of neighbourhood planning. |
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Whitehall will tackle ‘injustice’ and build a ‘shared society’, PM says
09/01/2017 The Government will take an active role in tackling ‘everyday injustices’ and building a ‘shared society’, says the prime minister. |
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New powers must be driven beyond town halls says new report
15/11/2016 Devolution to local government will only be successful if power is driven beyond town halls and into local communities, a new report from the Co-operative Party has argued. |
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Croydon Council to pilot community decision-making scheme
15/11/2016 Three local communities in south London are to be given more responsibility for services as part of a six-month pilot scheme launched by Croydon Council. |
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Report calls for £1bn fund to transfer public assets to communities
08/11/2016 The Government should invest £1bn to help transfer public buildings and land into the hands of community groups. |
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Online community action toolkit launched
28/10/2016 The Local Government Association (LGA) has launched an online toolkit to help councils involve their residents in the design and delivery of services. |
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Deprived communities missing out on Neighbourhood Plans says think tank
26/08/2016 Poorer communities are missing out on a government scheme to improve neighbourhoods, according to new research published by a think tank. |
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Neighbourhood plans break the 200 mark
11/07/2016 200 neighbourhood plans have now been approved following three referendums in Herefordshire. |
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Report highlights benefits of using community currency
08/07/2016 A new report has revealed how the use of community currency - known as Time Credits - can help councils engage with and empower local communities. |
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Empowering communities builds ‘trust’ but not answer to austerity
06/07/2016 In the face of ‘massive austerity’ devolving power to local communities can give them a sense of ‘pride’, but cannot solve fundamental problems, according to an LGA panel on devolution. |
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Councils should make it ‘simpler’ to establish cohousing communities, report says
22/06/2016 Local government should make more land available cheaply for groups who want to set up cohousing communities, a report launched in the House of Commons today says. |
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The Green View: localism and devolution
20/05/2016 With the Green Party failing to make headway in the recent local elections, William Eichler finds out why their growing membership is failing to translate into seats. |
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Councils gear up for Queen's birthday celebratations
21/04/2016 Councils across the country are celebrating the Queen’s 90th birthday in style today, with more than a thousand beacons being lit to mark the occasion. |
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Empowering local ambassadors
06/04/2016 William Eichler meets up with the campaigners who are being empowered to take resident-led action to improve their local communities. |
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The strong foundations of community involvement
10/03/2016 Tony Armstrong welcomes the new 'healthy towns' initiative but warns engaged communities should be at the heart of any plans |
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Map shows take-up of Community Rights programme
08/03/2016 More than 3,000 buildings, green spaces and other assets have been protected under legislation designed to give people more say over developments in their areas, according to the Government. |
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Deptford bids to ‘get back its mojo’ with new parish council
02/03/2016 A campaign has been launched to establish London’s second parish council under the Localism Act. |
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Funding secured for 87 new pocket parks
16/02/2016 Community groups across the country will share £1.5m of funding to transform 87 neglected urban spaces into new ‘pocket parks’. |
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Corbyn vows to end era ‘of forced privatisation’
08/02/2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has pledged to give councils new powers and freedoms to end the ‘forced privatisation’ of public services. |
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Welsh council leaders publish radical manifesto calling for more localism
23/11/2015 Council leaders in Wales have called on the Welsh Government to empower local authorities so that they can better protect local services. |
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Survey shows support for protection of parks
03/11/2015 The majority of people (95%) think parks and play areas should be protected from future development, with half saying they would be less active if local green space was lost, according to a new survey. |
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Council considers 'Green Guarantee' to protect public spaces
15/10/2015 Telford & Wrekin Council is considering protecting more than 100 green spaces from future development under its new Green Guarantee. |
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Two ‘Citizens’ Assemblies’ will explore future of local government
15/10/2015 Two ‘Citizens’ Assemblies’ in Southampton and Sheffield will bring representative samples of the population together to discuss the future of local democracy, according to a statement from Democracy Matters. |
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100 communities vote to take control of local planning
09/10/2015 One hundred communities across England have voted for the adoption of their Neighbourhood Plans, announced Locality. |
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Show failing public services a ‘red card’ says think tank
06/10/2015 Councils should have the power to directly intervene in failing centralised public services, by issuing a ‘red’ or ‘yellow’ card, according to the findings of a new report. |
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Report highlights 'uncertain future' for BAME community assets
01/10/2015 Government must help Black, Asian and minority ethnic organisations take over community buildings to ensure future generations benefit from them argues a new report by Ubele Initiative and Locality. |
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New parish council set for Sutton Coldfield
10/09/2015 Plans to create a new town council in Sutton Coldfield have moved a step closer, following Birmingham City Council’s recommendation to set up a new parish council. |
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Councils urged to be more innovative to reduce service demand
03/09/2015 Councils should encourage people to keep the streets clean rather than just relying on charges and fines to make up shortfalls in budgets, according to the findings of a new report. |
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Councils could be given power over Sunday trading rules
05/08/2015 Local authorities could be given the power to extend Sunday opening hours in a bid to boost the local economy by £1.4bn a year. |
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Consultation launched on ward boundaries in Scotland
30/07/2015 A consultation has begun on the number of councillors and electoral wards in Scotland by the Local Government Boundary Commission. |
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More local areas extend their Community Rights
27/07/2015 A Government push to hand more power to local areas has now reached 250 communities across England. |
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Call for long-term funding to support community-led housing
23/07/2015 More funding should be made available to communities that want to build their own housing, according to Locality. |
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Council introduces constitutional reforms
05/06/2015 Kingston Council is set to introduce resident-led debates, live webcasting of council meetings and changes to council question time, as part of a wider programme of constitutional reforms. |
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Empowered communities urged to enter £10,000 prize fund
05/05/2015 A nationwide competition has been launched today, offering £10,000 to organisations that help re-shape public services. |
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Town halls chiefs unite on devolution
28/04/2015 Council chiefs from across the UK have joined forces to call for the next government to make devolution an ‘urgent’ priority. |
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‘People power’ could cut cost of public service says report
24/04/2015 Councils have been urged to develop initiatives that encourage a more active contribution from the public, as a new report hails the benefits of public engagement. |
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Guildford considers hybrid model of governance
17/04/2015 Guildford Council looks set to adopt a hybrid system of governance in a bid to improve transparency and accountability. |
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Importance of imparting information
02/04/2015 ‘Town hall Pravdas’? No. Information is the lifeblood of local government and constricting its flow will cause injury and even death, writes David Walker |
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Pub-goers value local inns like community centres, poll suggests
01/04/2015 Pubs are just as important to local life as community centres or post offices, a poll suggests. |
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Public would support council tax increase to protect services, poll reveals
24/03/2015 The majority of people believe local authorities or voluntary groups are best placed to deliver public services rather than profit making companies, according to a new poll. |
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Neighbourhoods urged to bid for planning funding
27/02/2015 Neighbourhood planning groups are being encouraged to apply for a share of £22.5m to help decide the future development of their local areas. |
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Councils need 'reinventing' for the 21st century warns think tank
24/02/2015 Local government needs a 'radical rethink' to examine 'what councils are for', according to a report from think tank MCA. |
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Hand communities more power over services and pubs, say MPs
03/02/2015 Communities should be given more power to shape local services, save pubs from closure and build housing, MPs have said. |
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Government announces more protection for English pubs
27/01/2015 The Government has announced it will take action to stop pubs in England being demolished or converted into different uses against the will of local people. |
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Whole Place Community Budgets
27/01/2015 Paul Tombs argues that wiith increased power comes increased responsibility. |
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Big Society has ‘failed’ warns report
20/01/2015 The Government’s Big Society has failed to deliver more power to local communities, according to a three-year investigation into the project. |
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Mayor blasts Pickles for ‘perverse’ planning decision
16/01/2015 The mayor of Liverpool has called the decision of Eric Pickles to turn down the proposed regeneration of the Welsh Streets as ‘unacceptable, dishonourable and completely perverse’. |
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Councils spending millions to ‘prop up’ drinks industry
15/01/2015 Councils are being forced to divert at least £1.5m a month from frontline services to ‘subsidise’ the drinks industry, town hall chiefs are warning. |
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Councils ‘overlooked’ on community energy policies
14/01/2015 Local authorities are being left out of government discussions on community energy policy, academics are claiming. |
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Lewis launches plain speaking planning guide
05/01/2015 A ‘plain English’ guide to the planning system has been published by the Government in a bid to get more communities involved in the planning process. |
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Give England’s councils same gambling powers as Scotland, says LGA
09/12/2014 Powers over local gambling proposed for Scotland must now be devolved to councils in England as well, town hall chiefs have said. |
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Dorset leader quits ahead of trial
04/12/2014 Dorset County Council’s leader has quit ahead of a trial over his alleged failure to declare interests in two property companies. |
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Dorset County Council leader to face trial
02/12/2014 Dorset County Council’s leader is to stand trial after pleading not guilty to three charges of failing to declare interests in two housing companies. |
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Leaders of 119 councils demand devolution and end to austerity
01/12/2014 The leaders of 119 councils in England have united to demand an end to austerity and greater power to match Scottish devolution commitments. |
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Report: London’s diversity makes neighbourhood plans ‘too difficult’
20/11/2014 Legislation brought in to help communities influence planning decisions has had little impact in London because it does not fit with the capital’s diversity. |
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Dorset leader steps down to fight charges
20/11/2014 The leader of Dorset County Council is facing charges of failing to disclose financial interests in a property company when he took office. |
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Community energy schemes receive £10m boost
13/11/2014 A £10m fund has been launched to help communities across England set up their own renewable energy schemes. |
