Local Elections: What voters really want from their councils
With voters heading to the polls tomorrow, a recent YouGov survey reveals what local issues matter most — and the answers are not always what you might expect.
Experts raise concerns over children's services deadline
29/04/2026 ‘Clear and credible concerns' have been raised by experts that some council children's services will struggle to meet a deadline to overhaul family support. |
Reform council refuses to name recipient of £455k exit pay-out
28/04/2026 Reform UK-led Staffordshire CC has remained tight-lipped over reason for a £457,000 pay off made under the previous Conservative administration to an officer. |
Shropshire in food waste warning
20/04/2026 Shropshire Council has warned it may not be able to collect food waste weekly until 2039. |
Increasing homelessness blamed for council company failure
26/03/2026 London Councils has blamed ‘increased homelessness rates' for the failure of a company formed to procure properties to tackle the issue. |
Capacity warning to Cornwall over strategic authority move
24/03/2026 A corporate peer challenge review has issued a capacity warning to Cornwall Council as it looks to move closer to forming a foundation strategic authority. |
Northamptonshire councils consider joint devolution plan
20/03/2026 North and West Northamptonshire Councils will align under a joint devolution proposal should their preferred option continue to falter. |
Croydon pledge after SEND overspend
17/03/2026 Croydon LBC has pledged to tackle a raft of problems highlighted in a review into its £16.7m overspend on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). |
Recruitment challenges restricting pace of Sandwell improvement, peers find
13/03/2026 Recruitment challenges are hindering continued improvement at Sandwell Council, a Local Government Association corporate peer challenge review has warned. |
Cross-party LGA fails to agree tourism tax line
25/02/2026 The Local Government Association (LGA) has failed to agree on whether to back plans to give English strategic mayors the power to introduce a tourism tax. |
Think tank in reorganisation democracy warning
19/02/2026 Action is needed to preserve local democracy amid local government reorganisation and devolution, a think-tank's report has warned. |
Government using strategic planning agenda to speed up devo
18/02/2026 Concerns have been raised over the Government's use of its strategic planning agenda to speed up decisions around devolution. |
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. |
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. |
Welsh Government funding boost for councils
23/01/2026 The Welsh Government has confirmed it will make £112.8m in additional funding available to local government in its final budget for 2026-27. |
Reform council facing challenge of beginning from 'standing start'
21/01/2026 Durham CC’s adaptation to future challenges could be delayed due to the Reform UK leadership beginning from a ‘standing start’, a peer challenge concludes. |
Trafford bid for £20m EFS
16/01/2026 Trafford Council is to ask Whitehall for more than £20m in exceptional financial support (EFS) after its deficit increased by £24m under the fair funding review. |
‘Landmark’ Bill to overhaul planning system receives Royal Assent
19/12/2025 The Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill to reform the planning system has received Royal Assent this week. |
Council urges Government to make all primary schools ‘smartphone-free’
19/12/2025 A council is urging the Government to bring in a ban on smart phones in all primary schools in England. |
Council workers have started to 'normalise abuse' from residents
18/12/2025 Local authority workers are warning that abuse from residents is so common they are now coming to work expecting to be shouted at. |
Government announces funding boost for most deprived councils
18/12/2025 The Government has revealed details of its multi-year funding deal for local government that aims to shift funding to England’s most deprived areas. |
