Staying Safe in Local Elections: Challenges and support for candidates
With local elections nearing, rising abuse fears are deterring candidates - this analysis explores risks, definitions, and new guidance to support safer campaigning.
Calls for local elections indemnity grow
27/02/2026 Further calls have been made to provide legal protection for returning officers after the Government backtracked on postponing May's elections. |
Auditors uncover 'significant weaknesses' at Wirral
17/02/2026 Wirral Council needs to ‘urgently' tackle ‘significant weaknesses' in its finances, governance and effective use of resources, auditors have warned. |
Isle of Wight Council ‘dysfunctional’, report finds
12/11/2025 A new report has warned that Isle of Wight Council faces serious governance failings and risks Government intervention unless urgent reforms are made. |
Smarter Spaces: The case for council office reconfiguration
04/11/2025 Kingsley Clarke, Head of SCF (South West) at Southern Construction Framework, explains why councils must rethink office space. |
Councils need more backing to manage investment risks, Localis warns
29/10/2025 Think-tank calls for government action to help finance directors balance investment risk and growth goals. |
Camden set to appoint new chief executive
08/05/2025 Jon Rowney has been recommended for appointment as Camden Council’s new chief executive. |
LGA launches new empty homes toolkit
28/03/2025 Councils can now access more support to help them tackle long-term empty homes thanks to a new toolkit from the Local Government Association (LGA). |
CCN: Planning legislation would ‘dilute’ local oversight
11/03/2025 Legislation aimed at speeding up planning decisions would ‘dilute’ the role of councillors on planning committees, warns the County Council Network (CCN). |
Car driven into council officer outside school
20/02/2025 Police have joined local authority staff on school parking patrols in a Kent borough after a car was ‘driven deliberately’ into a council officer. |
Police take 'no further action' against Croydon officers
05/12/2024 Police have decided to ‘take no further action at this stage' against former Croydon LBC officers who were investigated for potential misconduct in public office. |
Labour intervenes at Tameside
15/10/2024 The leader of Tameside MBC has resigned after Labour took steps to directly intervene over ‘unacceptable working practices' at the authority. |
Councillors accused of ‘not seriously considering’ recommendations
03/10/2024 Auditors have accused Dudley Council members of ‘not seriously considering’ the recommendations of officers when it came to the council’s financial position. |
East Suffolk pledges to tackle abuse
27/09/2024 East Suffolk Council has committed to challenging the abuse or intimidation of its members and officers. |
Peers find 'blurred' responsibilities between officers and members
17/09/2024 Ashfield DC must resolve issues with the ‘blurred' responsibilities of members and officers, a report from the Local Government Association has said. |
Police meet families about ashes found at funeral home
01/07/2024 Police and council officers have met with families who were identified in relation to ashes found during an investigation at a funeral home in Hull. |
Planning officer boost needed to meet parties' housing goals
21/06/2024 A major boost to planning department resources would be needed to meet the housebuilding aims of any of the main parties, experts have said this week. |
Council spends £1m in bid to speed up planning
12/06/2024 Wiltshire Council will pour an extra £1m into its planning department this year to process applications more quickly and improve customer service. |
Campaigners publish council ‘rich list’
09/04/2024 Campaign group TaxPayers’ Alliance has published its annual ‘town hall rich list’ today as it continues to raise the issue of public sector pay. |
Officer-member relations ‘fractured’ at Wrexham
01/02/2024 Issues in Wrexham County Borough Council’s planning service mean it is hindered in fulfilling its role, an audit has found. |
'Unacceptable culture' at East Devon
19/12/2023 An auditor heard bullying allegations among evidence that ‘cultural issues’ at East Devon DC saw officers leave and members decide not to stand for re-election. |
