Policy

• Whitehall grabs £875m Right to Buy receipts

  Labour has demanded immediate Right to Buy (RTB) reforms after figures obtained by The MJ revealed the amount councils lose to Whitehall under the regime.

  

• Labour outlines housing policy

  Labour would scrap right to buy, and give councils new borrowing freedoms and central funding in a bid to kick-start house building, the party said today.

  

• Scrap 'outdated and regressive council tax, says think tank

  Council tax is ‘outdated and regressive’, and the Government should consider scrapping it in favour of a fairer system, according to a think tank.

  

• Five councils to help with Government integration plan

  The Government will work with five local authorities to develop integration plans as it develops a national strategy for England, it has announced today.

  

• Labour accuses Government of 'holding back' local government

  Labour MPs have urged ministers to provide ‘strategic vision’ for local government.

  

• Scottish government under pressure over council pay

  Scotland’s Government is under pressure to reverse planned council budget cuts after MSPs warned ministers created an ‘expectation’ town hall staff would receive pay hikes.

  

• Councils win high-value home reprieve

  Local authorities will not be forced to sell high-value council homes until at least April 2019 after lobbying from the sector.

  

• Budget 2017: Housing Revenue Account cap lifted for some

  The Housing Revenue Account cap will be lifted for councils in ‘high-demand areas’ and stamp duty will be scrapped for most first-time buyers, chancellor Philip Hammond announced in his Budget speech today.