CIL funds are not reaching communities due to 'systemic problems'
17/10/2025 A new report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has identified ‘a number of problems' with Community Infrastructure Levies (CIL) and other developer contribution systems, which means cash has failed to reach local communities. |
New strategic authorities should 'embrace' disagreement
17/10/2025 Areas moving towards devolution deals have been advised to ‘embrace’ inevitable disagreement between councils and new strategic authorities. |
‘Transformative’ social housing complex wins architectural recognition
17/10/2025 A social housing complex has been awarded the Stirling Prize for architectural excellence. |
Record 172,000 children trapped in temporary housing
16/10/2025 One in five families with children in temporary accommodation (TA) in England have been living there for five or more years, official statistics reveal. |
Reorganisation and fair funding will 'throw cards up in the air' on budgets
16/10/2025 The impact of reorganisation and the fair funding review will ‘throw all the cards up in the air' for councils trying to hit budget, sector expert has warned. |
Reform council backs county unitary
15/10/2025 Reform-led Warwickshire CC has backed a plan for a county unitary and a bid to join the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). |
Social housing regulator flags serious failings at Canterbury council
15/10/2025 Canterbury City Council has been issued a C3 grading by the Regulator of Social Housing after inspectors found it had failed to meet key consumer standards. |
Approval of largest solar farm scheme branded ‘appalling’
15/10/2025 A 3,000 acre solar farm project in Lincolnshire has received Government approval despite opposition from the county council. |
EXCLUSIVE: London boroughs shunning fixed-term tenancies despite housing pressures
15/10/2025 The MJ has found a majority of London councils still providing lifetime tenancies by default despite the capital's burgeoning temporary accommodation costs. |
Cumbria devolution plan gets final sign off
14/10/2025 Cumbria is set to gain greater powers and funding after councillors in both Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness approved the Government's devolution plan. |
Council leader accuses critics of ‘gerrymandering’
14/10/2025 The leader of Norfolk County Council has accused opponents of proposals for a single county-wide unitary authority of 'wilful gerrymandering of figures'. |
Ministers seek 'holding direction' powers
14/10/2025 The Government is seeking to gain more powers to prevent councils refusing planning permission. |
Right to Buy leaves councils thousands of homes short
14/10/2025 An investigation by The Big Issue has revealed the lasting impact of the Right to Buy scheme on England’s social housing stock. |
MPs back five unitary authorities in Essex
14/10/2025 Local government reorganisation plans to create five new unitary authorities in Essex have been backed by several MPs. |
Reform-led council leader reports street abuse
14/10/2025 George Finch, head of the Reform UK-led Warwickshire County Council, has reported being verbally attacked while in Nuneaton town centre on Friday evening. |
Budget deficit warning over two unitary plan
13/10/2025 One of two unitary authorities proposed for Warwickshire amid local government reorganisation ‘would exist with a budget deficit from day one', report warns. |
Public footpaths facing barriers nationwide
13/10/2025 Over 30,000 public rights of ways are blocked in England and Wales, research has found. |
Decision on Chinese embassy plans to be delayed
13/10/2025 The UK Government is reportedly set to postpone its final decision on the Chinese Government’s proposed new embassy near the Tower of London. |
Autumn Budget: Rising business rates could cost 150,000 jobs
13/10/2025 Business rates could pose a threat to 60,000 small businesses and 150,000 jobs, data finds. |
Mayor unveils £10bn growth plan
13/10/2025 Mayor Steve Rotheram has unveiled a plan to add £10bn to the Liverpool City Region economy and create tens of thousands of jobs. |
Cornwall Council rethinks climate goals
10/10/2025 Cornwall Council is considering pushing its net zero target back until 2045. |
Council greenlights John Lewis rental home project
10/10/2025 John Lewis’ plans to deliver 170 new homes in Reading have been unanimously supported by the council. |
Nottingham calls for boundary review under reorganisation plans
10/10/2025 Nottingham CC has confirmed it will submit a proposal to the Government for a boundary review as part of the local government reorganisation (LGR) programme. |
EXCLUSIVE: Food waste new burdens assessment still not completed
09/10/2025 Whitehall has yet to complete a new burdens assessment for introducing separate food waste collections with six months until the policy has to be implemented. |
Hillingdon Council warns of £2m bill from Chagos arrivals
09/10/2025 Hillingdon Council has raised concerns over the financial impact of recent arrivals from the Chagos Islands. |
New Towns report: 'stars align' for mayors
09/10/2025 Mayors are set to take more prominent roles in planning matters, a think-tank has said. |
West Midlands mayor launches £40m social housing fund
09/10/2025 Mayor Richard Parker has announced a £40m Social Housing Accelerator Fund to fast-track the delivery of 1,000 new social homes across the West Midlands. |
Licensing review could help pubs and bars ‘thrive’
09/10/2025 The Government is considering introducing changes to ‘outdated’ licensing regulations limiting hospitality venues. |
Planning delays and costs hit small home builders
08/10/2025 SME home builders are facing mounting barriers on small sites, with planning delays, rising costs, and new levies threatening their viability, report warns. |
EXCLUSIVE: Surrey reorganisation decision delayed
08/10/2025 A final decision on the new unitary structures for Surrey has been delayed, council chiefs have been told. |
Councils urged to join forces for ‘Fight Fly-Tipping Fortnight’
08/10/2025 Keep Britain Tidy is urging councils to take part in Fight Fly-Tipping Fortnight, a new national campaign launching in November to tackle waste crime. |
Over 50% of teachers doubt SEND reforms
08/10/2025 Over 70% of teachers think the children’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system is ineffective, research has revealed. |
Homeless deaths hit record high
08/10/2025 A record 1,611 people died while homeless across the UK in 2024, a 9% increase on the previous year, according to a new report from the Museum of Homelessness. |
EXCLUSIVE: Councils warn of 'devastating' axing of net zero fund
07/10/2025 Councils have warned of the ‘devastating' impact after the Government failed to commit further investment in a fund viewed as key to net zero plans. |
Conservatives call for reduced affordable housing targets
07/10/2025 Shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly has suggested affordable housing targets for new developments should be dropped. |
Ombudsman uncovers ‘systemic failings’ at Lewisham Council
07/10/2025 A investigation into Lewisham Council has exposed widespread failings in how the authority manages housing repairs, complaints, and property conditions. |
New partnership to give councils fresh reorganisation support
06/10/2025 A new partnership between Local Partnerships and the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) will give councils fresh reorganisation support. |
Leeds businesses could pay thousands in parking levy fees
06/10/2025 A workplace parking levy is being discussed by Leeds City Council to produce funds for a planned tram network. |
Gosport rejects local government reorganisation plans
06/10/2025 Gosport Borough Council has formally opposed the Government's proposal to reorganise local councils across Hampshire. |
Council considers court order over unstable building
03/10/2025 Herefordshire Council is seeking legal advice due to safety issues surrounding a high street building. |
Government announces £10m sewage repair scheme
03/10/2025 Communities are to receive more than £10m funded by water company fines to support local cleanup projects. |
Reform council lifts newspaper ban
03/10/2025 Reform UK-led Nottinghamshire County Council has reportedly lifted a ban on a local newspaper after legal threats. |
Consensus emerges over statutory climate change duty
03/10/2025 A ‘clear consensus' has emerged among councils for the sector to be subject to a statutory climate change duty, Local Government Association (LGA) has said. |
Councils to get rent control powers
02/10/2025 Councils in Scotland will be granted powers to limit rent increases on some properties under new legislation. |
Drivers to face paying over £4k in congestion charge fees
02/10/2025 Congestion charge fees could surge by £40m next year, analysis has revealed. |
Councils to call for tighter HMO controls
02/10/2025 Councils are expected to call for tighter controls over houses in multiple occupation (HMO) after a ‘rush' of applications for HMO licences. |
Four in five major grey belt housing appeals allowed
02/10/2025 Four in five major residential planning appeals on grey belt land have been approved since the Government’s policy came into force in 2024, analysis finds. |
Exclusive: Cleverly criticises Labour's 'short term fixes'
02/10/2025 The shadow local government secretary has accused Labour of leaving councils with ‘short term fixes', identifying asylum hotels as an area ‘showing strain'. |
Oxfordshire councils told to scrap joint housing plan
02/10/2025 Two Oxfordshire councils have been told to withdraw their joint local plan due to concerns there was not enough cooperation with Oxford City Council. |
Notts councils clash over reorganisation report
02/10/2025 Two Nottinghamshire local authorities have accused neighbouring councils of ‘prematurely’ publishing a report on local government reorganisation (LGR). |
Salford Council mural demolition sparks heritage outcry
Devon’s district councils unveil reorganisation plan
Essex CC leaves 'bitter taste' with 'underhand' reorg move
1.6 million drivers fined for yellow line parking
