New SIGOMA chair: ‘We need certainty’ on council funding
Mayor Chris Cooke, new chair of the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA), talks to LocalGov about collaborative governance and funding.
Dorset Council leader calls for quicker progress on devo deal
21/07/2026 The leader of Dorset Council has appealed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham to urge him to accelerate the approval of a devolution deal for the south west. |
Residents urged to ‘remain vigilant’ amid seizure of counterfeit toys
21/07/2026 North Northamptonshire Council has seized nearly 500 non-compliant toys over the last month, prompting safety warnings about their potential risks. |
Campaigners strive to save historic Durham mosaic mural
20/07/2026 Campaigners are working to save a historic mural that could be lost during the demolition of Durham County Hall. |
Birmingham Council pays tribute to Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy
20/07/2026 Birmingham City Council is set to host its first Ozzy Day celebrations, which will see music legend Ozzy Osbourne celebrated on the anniversary of his passing. |
Staffordshire CC unveils plans to lead in AI adoption
17/07/2026 Roughly £2bn could be generated for Staffordshire’s economy through the council’s ‘responsible adoption’ of artificial intelligence (AI). |
Bristol welcomes ‘city of harm reduction’ status
16/07/2026 Bristol has become the first official ‘city of harm reduction’, with the declaration confirming that the council’s response to drug usage will prioritise support over punishment. |
Concerns raised about councils’ strategic climate policies
15/07/2026 Twenty-eight per cent of local plans still neglect to deliver a strategic climate change policy, research has found. |
Push for reduced speed limits in rural areas
15/07/2026 Active Travel England (ATE) has called on councils to consider 20mph speed limits as part of its new rural design guidance. |
Monmouthshire pioneers with period dignity programme in schools
15/07/2026 Monmouthshire’s first-ever Menstrual Ambassador Conference has empowered young people across the county to promote period dignity and menstrual health awareness. |
No progress in children’s health outcomes, report reveals
14/07/2026 Health outcomes for children have ‘worsened or stalled’ since a review almost 10 years ago, research has found. |
Veteran in line to receive Freedom of the City award
13/07/2026 City of York Council is preparing to present its Freedom of the City award to a Normandy veteran. |
Council closes beach amid asbestos testing
13/07/2026 Plymouth City Council has closed a beach in Mount Batten following the discovery of ‘hazardous waste’. |
Staffordshire CC reveals proposals for stricter councillor dress code
10/07/2026 Staffordshire County Council has proposed a new dress code for councillors when attending civic or public events. |
Council calls off climate emergency declaration
10/07/2026 A vote has seen Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council revoke its climate emergency declaration. |
‘Stark local gaps’ in childcare provision revealed
03/07/2026 Just 34% of councils have sufficient childcare places to support full-time working parents, research has found. |
North Warwickshire BC celebrates victory in Bromford Tunnel appeal
03/07/2026 North Warwickshire Borough Council has been vindicated in the Bromford Tunnel dispute after the Court of Appeal found that the environmental effects of the extension should have been assessed. |
Phased repair could be on the cards for Hammersmith Bridge
02/07/2026 Hammersmith and Fulham Council is seeking a phased approach to the Hammersmith Bridge restoration project due to funding barriers preventing its full repair. |
Union calls for fully-funded teacher pay offer
02/07/2026 A union has criticised the Government’s latest pay offer for teachers, which proposes a partially funded settlement. |
Council stays ‘vigilant’ amid rise in Wimbledon e-bike use
01/07/2026 Merton Council has outlined measures in place to help manage the poor parking of e-bikes in Wimbledon. |
North Yorkshire explores drone-based solution to coastal monitoring
29/06/2026 North Yorkshire Council has approved a funding application for a drone monitoring project to support its coastal erosion management work. |
