Politics and Policy

City of London paid £10,000 to Mandelson firm Global Counsel

19/02/2026
The City of London Corporation spent a five-figure sum last year with Global Counsel, the company founded by Peter Mandelson.

Politics and Policy News

Gloucestershire CC supports nature recovery with new local strategy

18/02/2026

Gloucestershire County Council has produced a strategy to promote nature recovery and enhance biodiversity across the region.

Local election candidates urged to back preventative road maintenance

18/02/2026

The Road Emulsion Association (REA) has urged all candidates in the upcoming local elections to commit to long-term, preventative maintenance of local roads.

West Midlands Mayor urges climate action to protect economy

17/02/2026

Climate inaction could cost the West Midlands almost £3bn by the 2050s, the mayor has warned.

Norfolk withdraws cooperation on LGR over elections debacle

17/02/2026

Norfolk CC’s leadership has withdrawn its cooperation with ministers to deliver local government reorganisation (LGR) following Steve Reed’s u-turn on postponed elections.

Joined-up approach to tackle unauthorised parking near Bristol Airport

17/02/2026

A new Parking Action Plan is being delivered by Bristol Airport, North Somerset Council and Avon and Somerset Police, to combat rogue parking companies.

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.

Cornwall Council supports circular economy with reuse shops

17/02/2026

Cornwall Council’s eight reuse shops have saved roughly 500 tonnes of waste.

Government U-turns on elections delays

16/02/2026

The Government has withdrawn its decision to postpone local elections in 30 areas.

Government proposals on spatial development aligned with devo

16/02/2026

The Government is consulting on plans to map out spatial development strategy (SDS) areas across England.

Belfast CC invests in arts events for underserved groups

16/02/2026

Belfast City Council is launching a grant scheme to boost access to music and arts events for under 18s.

Call for £100k consultants to investigate care home sell off

16/02/2026

Norfolk CC’s Labour opposition has called for consultants to be brought in to investigate how the council runs its arms-length companies.

EXCLUSIVE: Lambeth service redesign after senior restructure

16/02/2026

Lambeth LBC is embarking of a ‘service redesign across the whole organisation’.

Lime exceeds agreed fleet limits

16/02/2026

Lime has exceeded agreed fleet limits in several London boroughs, according to analysis of app data from November 2025.

Lincolnshire CC seeks to revise ‘unachievable’ net zero goals

16/02/2026

Lincolnshire County Council is considering removing its 2050 carbon neutral target.

Council to consider scheme to prevent residents leaving bins on streets

13/02/2026

Tewkesbury Borough Council could begin to fine residents for leaving empty wheelie bins on the pavement.

Former DCN chair blames LGR for council's debt write-off plan

12/02/2026

A former DCN chair has blamed local government reorganisation for his council's proposal to write off nearly £500,000 of debt to its own property company.

Hospitality leaders call for visitor levy to be dropped

12/02/2026

Hospitality leaders are calling on the Government to abandon proposals for a new overnight visitor levy in England.

Flexible voting options to be piloted during local elections

12/02/2026

Government has confirmed that a small number of councils will trial new flexible voting options at the local elections to make voting more accessible.

Investigation launched into illegal waste dump

12/02/2026

An illegal waste site containing roughly 30,000 tonnes of rubbish is being investigated in Knowsley.

Council announces ‘precautionary’ closure of listed bridge

11/02/2026

A historic bridge in London has been closed by the council to allow for investigations.

Smartphone policies ‘huge drain’ on schools, study finds

11/02/2026

Over 100 hours a week is dedicated to enforcing smartphone policies at some schools, research has revealed.

Brent council leader condemns ‘distressing’ school stabbing

11/02/2026

The leader of Brent Council has described the stabbing of two pupils at Kingsbury High School as ‘deeply shocking and distressing’.

Regulator hits county council with C4 grading

11/02/2026

Northumberland County Council has been issued with a C4 grading following a planned inspection that uncovered ‘very serious failings’.

Auditors call for stronger tracking of housing delivery

10/02/2026

New housing investment will need clearer priorities and stronger tracking if it is to deliver the homes the country needs, says the National Audit Office.

Minister blocks local plan

10/02/2026

The Government has put Three Rivers District Council’s local plan on hold because of a shortfall of 5,000 houses.

North proposed as host for Olympic and Paralympic Games

10/02/2026

Northern Mayors have collaborated to propose that the Olympic and Paralympic Games are hosted in the North of England.

EXCLUSIVE: £1.6m bill for intervention support

10/02/2026

Councils under Government intervention have shelled out more than £1.6m on staff and consultants to support their commissioners and envoys, The MJ can reveal.

Government announces £1bn for community energy projects

10/02/2026

The Government has announced a new programme of investment to support the development of community energy projects across the country.

Waste plant explosions prompt warning from environmental association

09/02/2026

Explosions of nitrous oxide canisters are causing energy-from-waste power plants to close for repairs, a trade association has cautioned.

Call to support deprived local parades

09/02/2026

Local shopping parades in deprived areas are hindered from delivering their key functions, research has found.

London boroughs to benefit from better bus shelter designs

09/02/2026

New bus shelter designs with improved safety and accessibility features are to be piloted at 27 different locations across the capital.

Social housing conditions ‘barely improved’ since pandemic, MPs say

09/02/2026

The conditions in England’s social housing have ‘barely improved’ since the pandemic, with nearly 430,000 homes failing to meet the minimum standard, MPs say.

Council welcomes major flood risk management scheme

06/02/2026

A flood risk management project in Stoke-on-Trent has been completed, providing enhanced protection for 333 homes and unlocking regeneration potential.

Councils face barriers approving heritage retrofit, report warns

06/02/2026

Just 16% of council officers feel confident making decisions about retrofit measures for heritage buildings, research has found.

Mayor plans to double pothole repair funding

06/02/2026

Mayor Richard Parker has announced plans to double funding for pothole repairs and road resurfacing across the West Midlands.

London Councils urges Government to keep visitor levy revenue local

05/02/2026

London Councils is calling on the Government to ensure boroughs retain at least 50% of revenue raised in their area from any future overnight visitor levy.

Exclusive: London borough is top for productivity

05/02/2026

Kensington and Chelsea LBC is the most productive council in England, the latest IMPOWER Index Top 10 has revealed.

Swansea Council hits out at ‘unlawful’ plans for regional rugby restructure

05/02/2026

Swansea Council has branded the handling of the Welsh regional rugby restructure proposals ‘wholly unacceptable’.

Exeter reveals City of Culture ambitions

03/02/2026

Exeter City Council has confirmed plans to submit a bid for the UK’s City of Culture title.

United North could unlock £30bn boost to UK economy

03/02/2026

Collaboration between northern leaders and Government is vital to make the North a top investment destination and raise living standards, says IPPR North.

Council seeks ethical whalebone arch replacement

03/02/2026

North Yorkshire Council is considering sustainable replacement options for the town’s historic whalebone arch.

Councils targeted by pro-Russia hackers

03/02/2026

Councils have been warned that they have become prime targets for Russian hackers.

Local roads to see boost from £315m highways contract

03/02/2026

Three councils have awarded a £315m highways maintenance contract to an international infrastructure group.

Report calls for slashing of London boroughs

03/02/2026

London boroughs should merge so the number of local authorities in the capital is reduced by about two-thirds, a report claimed today.

Diplomats owe £165m in unpaid congestion charges

02/02/2026

Unpaid London congestion charges owed by diplomats have hit nearly £165m, according to figures from Transport for London.

Bus services reform in Wales becomes law

02/02/2026

Legislation to reform how local bus services are delivered in Wales has received Royal Assent and become law, marking a shift in public transport policy.

Reform council chair resigns following illegal HMO operations

02/02/2026

A council chairman has resigned after being found to have unlawfully operated unlicensed houses in multiple occupation (HMO).

Council considers feeding pigeons contraceptives

02/02/2026

Norwich City Council is considering feeding contraceptives to the local pigeons in an effort to reduce the number of birds in the city’s central market.

District councils propose council tax freeze

02/02/2026

Lincoln City Council is the latest to join a small band of councils proposing a freeze on council tax in the coming year.

Call to bolster powers of strategic authorities

30/01/2026

Strategic authorities require more freedoms and capacity to drive growth and reform, a think-tank has urged.

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