Wales | LocalGov

Wales to ‘correct’ guidance on 20mph speed limits

22/04/2024

The Welsh Government will change its guidance on 20mph speed limits, the transport minister has said.

Welsh council tax rises finalised

13/03/2024

The average council tax rise for Welsh local authorities will be just over 8% next year.

Regulator calls for 'substantial' planning intervention

26/02/2024

The planning system requires ‘substantial intervention’ by the Government to ensure consistent delivery of new homes, a major study has concluded.

Wales could drive agenda on council tax, report argues

12/02/2024

Wales could have a chance to deal with unfairness in the council tax system and drive the agenda for other nations and regions to follow, says think-tank.

Pembrokeshire council proposes record 21% council tax hike

08/02/2024

Pembrokeshire County Council has proposed the highest ever percentage increase in council tax in Wales.

Welsh government announces £25m for councils

07/02/2024

The Welsh government has announced an additional £25m to support cash-strapped local authorities in 2024-25.

Call for ‘different approach’ to brownfield

24/01/2024

A more ‘systematic, interventionist and collaborative’ method could ‘significantly’ increase the regeneration of brownfield sites in Wales, according to a new report.

Welsh councils commit to improving benefits system

22/01/2024

All local authorities in Wales have signed up to a new charter, committing to work with the Welsh Government to develop a consistent benefits system.

Welsh minister backs tax reforms

03/01/2024

One of the candidates to become first minister of Wales has backed reform of council tax.

‘Very difficult year ahead’ for Welsh councils

19/12/2023

Council bosses say local authorities in Wales face a 'considerable' funding gap despite the devolved nation’s planned cuts in other departments to protect local services.

Wales passes workplace recycling law

08/12/2023

New Workplace Recycling Regulations have been passed in Wales, which will require all businesses to separate recyclable materials.

Wales consults on council tax reform

14/11/2023

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on redesigning the country's council tax system.

Councils sign cross border partnership

13/11/2023

Two English councils, Herefordshire and Shropshire, and two Welsh county councils, Monmouthshire and Powys, have signed a partnership agreement.

How AI surveys show councils need a new approach on litter

31/10/2023

Gavin Ellis, co-founder and director of Hubbub, discusses how litter survey projects on Glasgow and Cardiff roads suggest that a new approach is needed by local authorities.

Welsh councils face £750m shortfall

25/10/2023

Local government finances in Wales are on an ‘unsustainable path’, according to a report from Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre.

Extra cash for Welsh social care in emergency spending revisions

17/10/2023

Council budgets will remain largely unchanged, but there should be more cash for social services, following the Welsh Government’s emergency public spending revisions.

Welsh government urged to improve diversity in local politics

17/10/2023

Women, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities are under-represented in Welsh local government, according to a new Senedd committee report.

Home Office ditches Stradey Park asylum plans

10/10/2023

The Home Office has withdrawn its controversial plans to house asylum seekers at the Stradey Park Hotel in Furnace, Llanelli.

Care workers in Wales feel undervalued, poll reveals

05/10/2023

Social care workers in Wales feel undervalued by the public and underpaid for the work they do, a new survey has revealed.

Wales to automatically register voters

03/10/2023

The Welsh Government is set to establish automatic voter registration for local government and Senedd elections.

Welsh local services at ‘mortal risk’, council chiefs warn

15/09/2023

Local authority leaders in Wales have warned the UK Government that local services could be at ‘mortal risk’ if further funding was not forthcoming.

Watchdog uncovers ‘weaknesses’ in councils’ workforce plans

12/09/2023

Weaknesses in Welsh councils’ workforce strategies could hamper their ability to deliver in the long term, Audit Wales has found.

Welsh councils press for more housing support

11/09/2023

The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has called on the UK Government to prioritise housing and homelessness services.

Wales to consider funding bids straddling English border

11/09/2023

Wales’ economy minister has said he would consider funding bids from a new council partnership that crosses the Welsh and English border.

Audit reveals ‘deficiencies’ councils’ record keeping

07/09/2023

Auditors have found ‘significant deficiencies’ in the financial management and record keeping of Ammanford Town Council and Llanferres Community Council.

EXCLUSIVE: Housing pressures may push councils into effective bankruptcy

04/09/2023

Rising housing pressures will force some councils to effectively declare bankruptcy, a local authority chief executive with more than 40 years of experience in the sector has warned.

Weaknesses in Newport counter-fraud approach

17/08/2023

‘Weaknesses’ have been found in Newport City Council’s approach to fraud, a finance watchdog has reported.

Alarm over Welsh budget warnings

10/08/2023

The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has warned a return to austerity would be ‘devastating’ following budget warnings from the devolved Government.

Pay dispute to stretch into autumn

07/08/2023

The local government pay dispute is destined to stretch into the autumn as trade union Unite warned ‘coordinated industrial action’ was ‘inevitable’.

‘Real fears’ that post-Grenfell safety legislation won’t be delivered

31/07/2023

Auditor General for Wales has raised concerns over the devolved government’s implementation of building safety legislation that was created after Grenfell.

Wales and Cornwall strengthen ties in new agreement

18/07/2023

The Welsh government and Cornwall Council have formed a ‘strategic alliance’ to strengthen their historical, cultural and linguistic ties.

Cardiff Council leader calls for investigation into Ely collision

23/05/2023

The leader of Cardiff Council has called for an investigation into the events that led to the deaths of two teenagers and a riot on Monday night.

'Widespread industrial action' warning

10/05/2023

Unite has warned the Scottish Government and employers there ‘could be widespread industrial action’ without a ‘significant increase’ to the current pay offer.

Welsh village opposes plans to house refugees in hotel

09/05/2023

Villagers in Wales have vowed to fight plans for 400 asylum seekers to be lodged in a former hotel.

Welsh Government to detail council tax reform later this year

03/05/2023

The Welsh Government has revealed it will announce details of its council tax reforms later this year.

Pavement parking ban parked after 'frustratingly slow' jibe

04/04/2023

The Welsh Government has shelved a consultation on banning pavement parking after councils apparently claimed they were too busy to engage with it.

Welsh council chiefs welcome free school meal extension

10/03/2023

Councils in Wales have welcomed the Welsh government’s announcement that free school meals will continue for children from lower income families over holidays.

Digitisation must not lead to ‘two-tier society’, auditor says

09/03/2023

Spending on internet infrastructure must be balanced with measures to prevent creating a two-tier society when it comes to services, Welsh government says.

Welsh councils need to encourage resilience, auditors say

24/01/2023

Local authorities in Wales must do more to encourage and grow community resilience against a backdrop of cuts, auditors have said.

Watchdog raises safeguarding concerns at Powys

20/12/2022

A watchdog has taken Powys CC to task over the lack of ‘control’ of its safeguarding arrangements.

Auditors warn of workforce shortages in flooding sector

15/12/2022

Local areas in Wales are facing a shortage of workers with experience in dealing with the impact of floods, auditors say.

‘Difficult decisions’ ahead despite £400m settlement boost

14/12/2022

Councils in Wales have warned ‘difficult decisions’ on spending remain despite receiving an 8% increase in funding from the Welsh government.

Labour outlines huge devolution push

05/12/2022

Labour proposes removing ‘dead hand of centralisation’ by devolving to local government wide-ranging powers over employment, growth, transport and education.

Welsh councils urged to engage more with social enterprises

01/12/2022

Local authorities in Wales should do more to ‘maximise the impact’ of social enterprises in their areas, auditors say.

Interim chief given role permanently

23/11/2022

Swansea City & CC has appointed its interim chief executive on a permanent basis.

20mph speed limit could save £100m in first year, research finds

07/11/2022

A 20mph speed limit across Wales could save £100m in the first year due to a reduction in deaths and injuries, new research has found.

Welsh councils struggle to tackle poverty

01/11/2022

Local authorities in Wales are struggling to tackle poverty because of a wide variety of approaches and a ‘complicated partnership landscape’, auditors find.

Welsh digital and green sector gets £3m boost

17/10/2022

The Welsh government has announced a £3m boost to help support the development of skills in the digital and green sector.

Workload warning over voting pilots

11/10/2022

Proposals to introduce automatic voter registration in Wales could cause confusion and add to already heavy workloads, election officers have warned.

Welsh councils warn of 'serious harm' to budgets

03/10/2022

Welsh local authority leaders have warned the Government that market turmoil is causing ‘serious harm’ to council budgets.

The future of EV charging in Wales: Making experience count

26/08/2022

Anne Buckingham explains how SWARCO Smart Charging is helping councils across Wales install the right infrastructure.

Council defrauded of nearly £240,000 due to failure of financial checks

17/08/2022

Poor governance and financial management left Maesteg Town Council vulnerable to a fraud that cost nearly a quarter of a million pounds, auditors say.

Traveller communities in Wales face ‘widespread racism’

11/08/2022

Members of the Senedd have called on councils to take ‘action’ to provide sites for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities who face widespread prejudice.

Welsh councils get £1.85m to clean up chewing gum

08/08/2022

Five local authorities in Wales are to receive a funding boost in order to help them remove used chewing gum from their streets.

Neath Port Talbot leisure services moving ‘in-house’

02/08/2022

Leisure services in Neath Port Talbot are set to be brought back in-house next year, local authority says.

Call to simplify devolved-benefits in Wales

28/07/2022

A new report has called on the Welsh Government to simplify the benefit system to help more people during the cost of living crisis.

‘Significant flaw’ in UK Shared Prosperity Fund

18/07/2022

Welsh councils with large populations could lose out on tens of millions of pounds from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), new analysis has concluded.

Welsh parliament votes for 20mph default

13/07/2022

The Welsh Senedd has approved legislation to lower the default national speed limit on residential roads and busy pedestrian streets in the country from 30mph to 20mph.

Council tax revaluation announced for Wales

11/07/2022

The Welsh Government has announced it will revalue all 1.5 million properties in the country under bold plans to modernise the council tax system.

Welsh councils to get new powers over second homes

05/07/2022

Welsh councils will be given new powers to limit the number of second homes in their community under plans revealed by the First Minister.

Welsh bus industry receives £48m boost

29/06/2022

The bus industry in Wales is set to receive £48m to help it recover from the pandemic and cope with the financial challenges, Welsh government announces.

Welsh government launches £20m care leavers pilot

28/06/2022

The Welsh government today launched a pilot scheme that will see care leavers receive £1,600 per month to support their transition into adult life.

Welsh councils launch new armed forces status

27/06/2022

Schools in Wales that go the extra mile to support service children are to be recognised by a new status awarded by their local authority, WLGA announces.

Universal free school meals in Wales to start from September

20/06/2022

Every primary school pupil in Wales will receive a free school meal by 2024, the Welsh Government has confirmed.

Welsh auditors: NHS waiting lists could take seven years to clear

31/05/2022

It could be seven years before Wales sees its NHS waiting lists come back down to pre-pandemic levels, Welsh Auditors have claimed.

First Welsh council joins digital Local Land Charges register

19/05/2022

Swansea has become the first Welsh local authority to move its local land charges to a digital register.

Gender equality campaigners in Wales warn of ‘glacial’ progress

25/04/2022

Councils have been urged to increase the number of women in local politics as campaigners warn Welsh local democracy won’t see gender equality until 2050.

Welsh councils to receive £1.1m to become Age Friendly

20/04/2022

Local authorities in Wales will have access to £1.1m funding to help the country become Age Friendly.

Welsh government invests £8m in employment services

14/04/2022

Welsh government is investing £8m in employment services that help people recovering from physical, mental ill-health and substance misuse remain in work.

All regions told to take asylum seekers

14/04/2022

All regions of England, Scotland and Wales will be expected to take a share of asylum seekers under a new system of ‘full dispersal,’ the Government has told councils.

Government unveils £2.6bn UK Shared Prosperity Fund

13/04/2022

The Scottish Government has said it has been short-changed by its allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Welsh councils receive £10m to support domiciliary care

06/04/2022

A further £10m will be provided to local authorities in Wales to support domiciliary care and increase service provision, the Welsh government has announced.

Auditors warn of social care direct payments ‘lottery’

06/04/2022

Direct payments for adult social care in Wales help residents maintain their independence but implementation is inconsistent, auditors say.

Solar panels to be installed on public buildings in Wales

05/04/2022

Public buildings in Wales are set to have solar panels installed as part of the Welsh government’s efforts to promote community owned renewable energy.

Welsh government announces £25m to roll out free school meals

31/03/2022

The Welsh government is investing £25m in school kitchen and dining infrastructure to roll out free school meals to all primary school children in Wales.

Merthyr Tydfil improvement board ends

16/03/2022

Independent oversight of Merthyr Tydfil CBC has come to an end following improvements to its governance and sustainability.

Welsh council tax premiums on second homes increased to 300%

02/03/2022

The maximum level at which local authorities can set council tax premiums on second homes and long-term empty properties in Wales will be increased to 300%.

Welsh communities 'least empowered in Britain' to protect assets

17/02/2022

Welsh communities are the least empowered in Britain to protect land and assets, a new report has warned today.

Wales to trial Basic Income pilot for care leavers

16/02/2022

A Basic Income pilot for all young people leaving care will be piloted across Wales.

Welsh councils call for clarification over council tax rebate

10/02/2022

The Government has reassured council chiefs in Wales that the Welsh government will receive £180m of new funding as a result of the council tax rebate.

Welsh winter fuel support payments double to £200

01/02/2022

The Welsh government today announced that the Winter Fuel Support Scheme payment will be doubled to £200 as the cost-of-living crisis intensifies.

Welsh government confirms £120m for Omicron-hit businesses

23/12/2021

Wales’ First Minister has confirmed that the Welsh government will make £120m available for nightclubs, retail, and other businesses affected by COVID-19.

Welsh councils win £750m funding boost

20/12/2021

The Welsh Government has included a £743m increase in funding for councils in its latest budget.

Welsh councils offer £100 winter fuel payment

13/12/2021

Eligible people in Wales will be able to claim a £100 payment from their local authority to provide support towards paying their winter fuel bills.

Plans for council tax reform in Wales

07/12/2021

The Welsh Government has confirmed it will consult on council tax reforms plans next year to 'modernise' the system.

Councils secure funding to secure private homes for homeless people

30/11/2021

Councils in Wales will receive £30m funding over the next five years to help use private housing to prevent homelessness.

Welsh government to crack down on second homes

24/11/2021

The Welsh government is to launch a pilot scheme to tackle the negative impact that second home ownership can have on local communities, particularly in Welsh speaking areas.

Wales’ fuel poverty scheme should be ‘greener’

23/11/2021

The Welsh government's Warm Homes Programme needs to be greener, clearer and more tightly managed, auditors say.

Welsh government announces £51m package to tackle cost-of-living crisis

16/11/2021

The Welsh government has announced a £51m package of support in order to help families facing the cost-of-living crisis pay their bills this winter.

Four Welsh councils to pilot flexible voting schemes

09/11/2021

Four councils in Wales will allow people to vote before polling day in next May’s local government elections as part of a pilot scheme.

Plans to make Wales smoke-free by 2030

08/11/2021

A new plan to make Wales smoke-free by the end of the decade has been unveiled.

EXCLUSIVE: Employers dig in as they refuse to reopen pay talks

19/10/2021

Council employers have dug in to defend their ‘full and final’ pay offer despite warnings that months of disruption could lie ahead.

Welsh Government makes final decision on boundary changes

18/10/2021

The biggest ever changes to electoral boundaries in Welsh local government have been confirmed.

Disruption warning as unions ask for pay talks to resume

15/10/2021

Unions have urged council employers to return to the negotiating table with an improved pay offer amid warnings that months of disruption could lie ahead.

Unison warns of strike action over council pay

04/10/2021

Trade union Unison has warned of future strike action unless local government employers improve their pay offer.

Auditors question financial sustainability of Welsh councils

30/09/2021

Auditors have questioned the sustainability of local authorities in Wales despite the improved financial position Welsh councils have experienced as a result of pandemic support.

New 50mph speed limits in Wales to be enforced

28/09/2021

Motorists exceeding the 50mph speed limits on some of the most polluted roads in Wales could face fines, the Welsh government has warned.

Welsh councils share £40m social care recovery fund

15/09/2021

Local authorities in Wales have been awarded £40m to help social care services overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Welsh government confirms £5m town centre funding

08/09/2021

The Welsh government has confirmed that £5m of loan funding will be made available to support the regeneration of town centres.

Welsh councils must provide ‘ambitious leadership’ to revive high street

02/09/2021

Local authorities in Wales have been urged to use their existing powers and resources to make town centres sustainable.

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Banning urban pesticide use

RSPB and PAN are working on a letter from local councillors calling on the Government to introduce a national ban on urban pesticide use. Find out more below.
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