Politics and Policy

DfE consults on raising SEND funding cap beyond £6,000

10/07/2026
The Government has launched a consultation that could see mainstream schools receive significantly more up-front funding to support pupils with SEND.

Politics and Policy News

Trafford Council publishes Wharfside regeneration masterplan

10/07/2026

Trafford Council has published its regeneration plan for Trafford Wharfside, a 150-hectare site centred around Manchester United’s proposed new stadium.

Council warns of fake QR code stickers on parking machines

09/07/2026

West Berkshire Council has issued a warning after fake QR code stickers were found on some of its parking machines.

LGA conference: Change journey 'will never end' in Northamptonshire

09/07/2026

North Northamptonshire Council has offered to help councils embarking on their own reorganisation journey.

Call for stronger scrutiny of mayors

08/07/2026

Stronger accountability and scrutiny of mayors is needed should they be given greater fiscal powers under an Andy Burnham-led government, think-tank says.

Polanski calls for end to outsourcing

08/07/2026

It’s time to bring an end to wasteful outsourcing and fix the broken planning system, Green Party leader Zack Polanski told the LGA Conference.

LGPS urged to back ‘balanced growth’ beyond London

08/07/2026

Local government minister Alison McGovern MP said the LGPS must work closely with England's strategic authorities to deliver ‘balanced growth’.

LGA Conference: MP warns Burnham not to delay local elections again

08/07/2026

Zoe Franklin MP issued a pointed warning to Andy Burnham at the LGA Conference, warning that Labour cannot use devolution to delay local elections again.

Councils put aside £20m for local government reorganisation

07/07/2026

Seven local authorities have set aside a total of £20m to support local government reorganisation (LGR).

Affordable rural housing at risk from planning reforms

07/07/2026

Government proposals to ease affordable housing requirements could result in half of all affordable rural housing being lost, according to the NHF.

North Warwickshire BC celebrates victory in Bromford Tunnel appeal

03/07/2026

North Warwickshire Borough Council has been vindicated in the Bromford Tunnel dispute after the Court of Appeal found that the environmental effects of the extension should have been assessed.

Biodiversity rule changes could unlock London homes, think tank says

03/07/2026

Scrapping Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements for London brownfield sites could unlock hundreds of thousands of new homes in the capital, study claims.

Pubs get green light for late-night England v Mexico match

03/07/2026

Communities Secretary Steve Reed is writing to council leaders to confirm pubs and bars will be allowed to stay open until 5am on Monday for the World Cup.

Council leaders demand review of ‘MegaShed’ planning law

02/07/2026

The leaders of all three political groups on South Gloucestershire Council have called for urgent reform of historical planning consents.

Think tank calls for more devolution and digitisation to fix public services

02/07/2026

Decentralising responsibility to local areas while widening access through digital tools should be at the heart of public service reform, ThinkLabour argues.

Housebuilding falls in half of England's council areas

02/07/2026

New analysis has found that half (51.8%) of local authorities in England are building fewer homes than they were five years ago.

LGA warning over council intervention metrics

01/07/2026

Analysis by the Local Government Association (LGA) has uncovered issues with the proposed methods used to trigger new intervention powers.

Oxford CC slams Oxfordshire's Thames Valley devolution veto

01/07/2026

Oxford CC has voiced its disappointment after Oxfordshire CC vetoed a devolution deal which it argues could have brought billions in investment.

Council stays ‘vigilant’ amid rise in Wimbledon e-bike use

01/07/2026

Merton Council has outlined measures in place to help manage the poor parking of e-bikes in Wimbledon.

Qatari-owned hotel probed over unmet homes pledge

01/07/2026

Westminster CC is investigating a five-star Knightsbridge hotel owned by members of the Qatari royal family, over an alleged breach of planning obligations.

Devolution progress strong, but scrutiny must be strengthened, auditors say

01/07/2026

Good progress has been made on English devolution, a National Audit Office report has found, but it also calls for strengthened local scrutiny arrangements.

New towns must avoid 'planning mistakes of the past', report warns

30/06/2026

New towns could help tackle London's housing crisis, but only if delivered with clear standards on housing, transport and community involvement, report says.

Suffolk CC to push on with LGR legal challenge

30/06/2026

Suffolk CC is pursuing its legal challenge to local government reorganisation (LGR) following revelations Steve Reed defied civil service advice.

Order for more Local Plan hearings ‘beggars belief’, City of London says

30/06/2026

The City of London Corporation has criticised a Government direction requiring further examination of its City Plan 2040, calling the move ‘anti-growth.'

Two-thirds of anti-social behaviour goes unreported

30/06/2026

Nearly two-thirds of victims and witnesses of anti-social behaviour did not report it in the past three years, according to a new survey.

Burnham puts devolution at centre of leadership pitch

29/06/2026

Andy Burnham has pledged the ‘biggest rebalance of power our country has ever seen' as he prepares to enter Downing Street.

Tories pick Trafford councillor for Greater Manchester mayoral by-election

29/06/2026

The Conservative Party has selected Trafford councillor Phil Eckersley as its candidate for the upcoming Greater Manchester mayoral by-election.

Councils demand say in asylum seeker housing plans

26/06/2026

Council chiefs have called on the Home Office to obtain council consent well in advance of any decisions around asylum accommodation.

Plymouth celebrates prestigious national museum award

26/06/2026

Plymouth City Council has won national recognition for the success of its award-winning museum, The Box.

Suffolk leader accuses Reed of overruling civil service on reorganisation

26/06/2026

Suffolk CC is rethinking its legal challenge against local government reorganisation plans, after newly released correspondence sheds light on LGR decision.

Woman dies and girl critical after train strikes car

25/06/2026

Lancashire's council leader has expressed his condolences after a woman died and a young girl was left in a critical condition when a train struck a car.

High Court injunction cracks down on late-night car meets

25/06/2026

Kensington and Chelsea Council has secured a High Court injunction to stamp out late-night car meets after some areas became hotspots for dangerous driving.

London councils take Mayor to court over affordable housing cuts

25/06/2026

Seven London councils are backing a judicial review of the Mayor's decision to cut the proportion of affordable housing developers are required to build.

First investigation areas announced for grooming gang inquiry

25/06/2026

The first local investigation areas for the grooming gang inquiry have been revealed.

Council leaders demand central admissions role in SEND inclusion bases

25/06/2026

Council chiefs have called for a central role in admissions to new school inclusion bases, as Government publishes landmark guidance on SEND support.

Hampshire and Portsmouth to challenge local government reorganisation

25/06/2026

Two of the largest councils in Hampshire have become the latest to launch a legal challenges against local government reorganisation (LGR).

Council leader to stand in Greater Manchester mayoral election

24/06/2026

Manchester City Council leader selected as Labour's Greater Manchester mayoral candidate.

Quarter of council professionals question LGR readiness

24/06/2026

One in four council professionals involved in local government reorganisation lack confidence that their authority will be viable on Vesting Day, poll finds.

LGR readiness checklist for museums published

24/06/2026

Arts Council England has released a new checklist to help local authority museums prepare for the current wave of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

Council wins High Court injunction over unauthorised flag placements

24/06/2026

Oxfordshire CC has secured a court injunction preventing individuals linked to the group Raise the Colours from placing unauthorised flags on the highway.

Government rejects SEND power expansion for councils

23/06/2026

The Government has rejected calls by MPs to boost councils' powers over health partners to provide Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

More people leaving care into homelessness, research warns

23/06/2026

Growing numbers of people are leaving public institutions directly into homelessness, according to new research from national umbrella body Homeless Link.

Thames Valley devo deal thrown into doubt

23/06/2026

A deal to create a Thames Valley foundation strategic authority has seemingly collapsed at the 11th hour.

Council fights for Universal theme park rail access

23/06/2026

West Northamptonshire Council has urged the Government to include Northampton in the plans for East West Rail to improve access to Universal's new theme park.

Council backs further biodiversity action

22/06/2026

Bradford Council has confirmed its aims to boost its biodiversity and conservation efforts.

£97m wildfire investment to ease pressure on local fire services

22/06/2026

A £97m investment in fire and rescue assets will help take pressure off local services as wildfire incidents continue to grow, the Government has announced.

Councils gain new £7k fine powers to tackle rogue landlords

22/06/2026

Councils have been given new powers to fine private landlords up to £7,000 where serious hazards are found in rented properties, coming into force today.

New mosque safety toolkit launched ahead of terror attack anniversary

19/06/2026

The Muslim Council of Britain has launched an updated Mosque safety toolkit just days before the ninth anniversary of the Finsbury Park terror attack.

Driverless cars set to challenge planning system, report warns

18/06/2026

Planning systems across the UK could face pressure ‘unlike anything the system has handled before’ as autonomous vehicles roll out, according to a new paper.

Reed defied officials' advice on DPP reorg plans

18/06/2026

Essex and Norfolk CCs have hit out at ministers ignoring the advice of Whitehall officials over reorganisation plans.

Harry Potter star wins approval for eco-village

18/06/2026

Actor Rupert Grint has secured planning permission for an eco-village on his estate, on condition he contributes at least £187k towards local infrastructure.

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Durham County Council
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Durham County Council
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