Laura Sharman 16 December 2014

Top 100 local government stories of 2014

See our countdown of the 100 most popular stories on LocalGov during 2014, with strike action and pay discontent dominating the headlines.

1. Pay strike called off by unions

2. LGA reveals pay proposal for council staff

3. Benefits unfairly withdrawn for 68,000 jobseekers, report finds

4. Unions accept 2.2% pay offer

5. Survey shows people with a learning disability turned away at polling stations

6. Council leaders ‘disappointed’ by rejection of new pay deal

7. Council cancels pre-paid benefit card trial

8. Don’t scrap census, MPs say

9. New Year’s Honours for local government staff

10. Council staff vote for strike action

11. Wolverhampton stops all spending to avoid ‘insolvency’

12. Revealed: The top ten bizarre questions posed to councils

13. Council laughs off this hilarious headline error

14. Two thirds turned down for new disability benefit

15. Council chiefs told to revise pay offer, as strike looms large

16. Ministers urge councils to scrap chief executive post

17. Council considers using 350-million-year-old volcano to heat district

18. Pickles: I bash local government because I love it

19. Report predicts six scenarios for local government in 2020

20. Four councils set out plans for ‘most radical joint working’ in local government

21. ‘Offensive’ council estate Christmas card withdrawn

22. Pickles death joke results in MP apology

23. Britain’s most prolific complainer receives council ban

24. Strikes to hit councils again

25. Council selected for behind-the-scenes TV documentary

26. Council defends ‘unfortunate’ road sign spelling error

27. Pickles announces £410m funding to redesign services

28. Stark warning over local authority pensions

29. Local government staff offered 1% pay increase

30. Cameron's council funding comments 'obscene'

31. Former council chief’s work car revealed to be £90k

31. Former council chief’s work car revealed to be £90k Porsche

32. Warrington Council publishes ‘50 ways to save £50m’ list

33. Exorcism inquiry sent to council

34. LGA reveals pay proposal for council staff

35. Council’s ‘dog poo’ poster goes viral

36. Birmingham Council could go bankrupt in 18 months, MP warns

37. Councils urged to bid for funding to develop new delivery models

38. Twitter gaffe sees exec board branded ‘pathetic’ by own council

39. Council staff to protest over fair pay

40. Anglesey hands all council staff chance of redundancy

41. Council given 'taste of own medicine' as bailiffs seize computers

42. Tower Hamlets vote count in ‘chaos’, cllr claims

43. Danny DeVito slur and racism claim mars chaotic council meeting

44. Pickles tipped to move in cabinet reshuffle

45. Less than 6% of council workers vote for strike

46. Pickles reveals Right to Buy shake up

47. Game of Thrones name-change set for Hertfordshire village

48. Councillors to lose tax-payer funded pensions

49. 'Penis' map 'could pay off'

50. Council pay dispute could see 2m people strike

51. Council chiefs defend top salaries

52. More than 20,000 council jobs to be cut, says union

53. Barnet Council staff win compensation in landmark legal ruling

54. ‘No-one understands local government law’ at Barnet Council, warns report

55. 600 jobs to go as Middlesbrough Council changes 'beyond recognition'

56. Council defends 'obscene' allowance hikes

57. Edinburgh Council suspends service director

58. Winners named for £89.4m service improvement fund

59. More than 2,000 council staff earn over £100,000

60. Council attacked for use of 'upsetting' swastikas

61. Council leader resigns over ‘toxic behaviour’

62. Pickles considering intervention in Tower Hamlets following documentary

63. Bromley hit with £64k staff compensation bill over contracts

64. ‘Gobbledygook’ council reports prove an education

65. Borough ready to scrap chief executive role

66. Pickles tells militant atheists to ‘get over it’

67. Pickles puts traditional counties back on boundary signs

68. Fall in numbers barred from working with children prompt safety fears

69. DCLG fails to understand impact of council cuts, says watchdog

70. Man holds dirty protest at council building over ‘dwarf discrimination’

71. Councils warn of ‘sickening’ budget decisions

72. Strike will not change pay offer, council staff say

73. Councils reveal West Midlands combined authority plan

74. Combined authority naming row relegates Liverpool

75. Most councils changed speed limits last year

76. Public sector could face historic 40% workforce loss by 2018/19

77. Councillors losing pension a ‘kick in the teeth’ say council leaders

78. Budget 2014: Budget a ‘double whammy’ for local government workers

79. Street light switch-off called the ‘insidious threat’ to road safety

80. Former council officer sentenced after probe

81. Council removes posters telling women where they can walk

82. Councils told to publish pay-offs for senior staff

83. Four councils warned to improve FOI practices

84. Unions join for second strike date

85. Leeds Council proposes changes to staff conditions

86. Councillor disciplined for using council laptop to view pornography

87. Pickles punishes councils that ignore rubbish recommendation

88. 2,000 jobs to go at Wolverhampton City Council

89. Pension reforms could save councils £660m a year says Lewis

90. Budget 2014: No great surprise for local government

91. Council publishes bizarre calls to call centre

92. Council worker sacked over ‘sizzling’ romantic novel

93. Politicians urged to rule out council reorganisation

94. Council staff ‘unhappy’ with new terms and conditions

95. Local elections: Major wins and losses

96. Predictions reveal nine 'battle boroughs' in London local elections

97. War launched on council waste

98. South London district seeks independence from Croydon and union with Scotland

99. Ministers urged to ‘slow down’ on outsourcing more public services

100. ‘Unlawful’ ruling could impact future consultations warn lawyers

#Council tax #Elections #Pay #Trade unions #DCLG #LGA #Eric Pickles #Strike action #Job cuts #Council staff

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

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Need To Know

What is local government reorganisation?

What is voter ID?