Analysis

Potholes: Treating the illness not just the symptom

With the publication of the ALARM survey, chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance, David Giles, talks to LocalGov about investing in local roads.

Opinion

Local elections in the shadow of reorganisation

Dr Jonathan Carr-West of the LGIU discusses the meaning of the local elections against the backdrop of local government reorganisation (LGR).

Most Popular News

Council employee pay offer announced

Unite advises members to reject latest pay offer

London boroughs issue bankruptcy warning over £330m overspend

Toilet access depends on biological sex, watchdog says

Council launches lawsuit against Grenfell fire fridge maker

New Products

New remotely lockable cabinet will help manage medication for people with mental health issues

UK-first tool developed by Bluesky scores areas green credentials to aid urban planners

New partnership drives improved air quality and healthier homes in social housing

ShuttleID launches 90-day free trial for local authorities

New steps to keep tenants safe

Invision360 secures Innovate UK smart grant for VITA EHCP generator

New technology to revolutionise air quality monitoring

Case Studies

Acrospire Partners with Bath & North East Somerset Council to Illuminate Historic Film Location with LED Upgrade

Believ to install 22 charge points across Redcar and Cleveland

Acrospire Enhances Harlington Underpass with Energy-Saving Vandal-Resistant Lighting

Croydon Council selects integrated corporate GIS to improve efficiencies

Bath & North East Somerset Council Shines Light on Heritage Preservation with Acrospire's LED Upgrade

Airtech Improves Indoor Air Quality and Tackles Mould for Mid-Devon Social Housing Resident

Acrospire's Sustainable Lighting Solution for Luton Bus Shelters

Company Anouncements

Believ excels in environmental responsibility and worker satisfaction in B Corp certification

Matrix Workforce Management Solutions Appoints Andrew Curry as Client Engagement Director for Health and Social Care

Stepping up to help disabled social housing tenants

Envirobed® CD534: The benchmark for bedding mortars since 2005

Vent-Axia Supports Global Recycling Day 2025

Vent-Axia Publishes Free eBook to Help Social Housing Landlords Navigate Awaab’s Law

Unlock Awaab’s Law compliance with audits

Top 100: Our most popular local government stories of 2020

Although the dispute over council pay caused the most stir in the local government sector this year, the impact of dealing with the pandemic obviously dominated the headlines as well. Here is our countdown of the 100 most popular stories on LocalGov during 2020:

1. Council workers offered a 2.75% pay rise

2. Local government pay deal agreed

3. Council staff will be deployed for Covid-19 contact tracing

4. Chancellor accused of 'selective memory' over council workers' pay

5. First food parcels for vulnerable people are delivered

6. Unions slam 'woefully low' council pay offer

7. A 10% council pay rise is 'affordable' says Unison

8. Council considers placing some staff on furlough

9. Councils close buildings and cancel meetings in response to coronavirus outbreak

10. Hotels supporting key workers and homeless to stay open

11. Town hall rich list branded 'inane and distasteful'

12. Thousands of council jobs at risk due to funding shortfall, union warns

13. Rejection of coronavirus bonus a 'slap in the face'

14. Councils to be fully funded for coronavirus costs

15. LGA split over worker bonus

16. Sector surprise at COVID marshal scheme

17. Council leaders recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours List

18. Councils report ‘sickening’ attacks on staff

19. Council planning powers under threat

20. 100 towns to share £80m regeneration funding

21. PM pledges extra £1bn for local government amid three-tier system

22. Councils put at heart of coronavirus response

23. Councils warn of ‘wave of waste’

24. Four-day week in public sector could create 500,000 new jobs, think tank argues

25. Four in five council staff working from home

26. Jenrick announces allocations for £1bn council funding

27. Jenrick announces more cash, income compensation and tax delay

28. Councils prepare to reopen recycling sites

29. Colchester Borough Council to furlough staff

30. Javid urges reorganisation and devolution post-COVID

31. Streamline local government under plans to save £30bn a year, think tank argues

32. Councils given direction on using £500m Hardship Fund

33. Councils urged to tackle corruption in the planning process

34. More than 50 councils to receive rapid COVID-19 tests

35. Councils given power to hold meetings remotely

36. Councils decide against re-opening schools

37. Councils welcome £170m COVID winter grant scheme

38. Leader of Northumberland Council is deposed

39. Government backs merger of two council pension funds

40. Five cities rated 'A' in fight against climate change

41. Councils pledge to 'keep it local'

42. Councils given £300m and key tracking role

43. Councils locked out of plans to lift lockdown

44. Report suggests a new tax for people living near to public parks

45. Council leader survives vote of no confidence

46. Housing Ombudsman names six councils with highest number of maladministration findings

47. Borough chief dies with Covid-19

48. Johnson launches planning reforms to help 'build, build, build'

49. Council launches UK’s first local government green bond

50. Refuse workers in Wirral walk out over coronavirus fears

51. Ministry was 'blind' to council investment risks says watchdog

52. Council clerk convicted of breaking Freedom of Information Act

53. Council test and trace teams to be rolled out

54. Government league table plan causes fury

55. Councils gain COVID enforcement powers

56. Councils urged to appoint chief foresight officers

57. Allocation of £3.6bn towns fund appears 'politically motivated', watchdog warns

58. Rapid review into Croydon’s ‘dysfunctional governance’

59. Video conferencing first at council meeting

60. Jenrick outlines new proposals to reform planning process

61. Government announces £250m emergency active travel fund

62. Planning for planning reform

63. Council chiefs call for ‘urgent clarity’ about self-isolation scheme funding

64. Council mows grass in two metre 'channels' to promote social distancing

65. Council saves £1m by using AI to repair roads

66. Child sexual exploitation cases in Greater Manchester ‘reopened’

67. Glasgow council seeks 1,500 voluntary redundancies

68. PM announces new powers for local lockdown

69. Council staff warn fraud is a major risk for local government

70. Sadiq Khan proposes City Hall move to save £55m

71. Union questions how refuse workers can practice social distancing within an RCV cab

72. Districts win in latest allocations

73. Somerset councils vote to establish two unitary authorities

74. 'Red Wall' areas most at risk of economic scarring, think tank warns

75. Countywide unitaries ‘could save £3bn’

76. Three areas invited to submit unitary proposals

77. An innovative approach to tackling homelessness

78. Budget 2020: Sunak reveals spending spree for first budget