Scale of council deficits due to pandemic is revealed
14/04/2021 Councils are facing a budget deficit of nearly £1.2bn by the end of the financial year due to the impact of COVID-19, research has revealed. |
Housing Ombudsman launches damp and mould investigation
14/04/2021 The Housing Ombudsman has launched an investigation after a review of data revealed a high rate of maladministration on cases involving damp and mould. |
Care home residents 'barred' from voting booth says care group
14/04/2021 A care group has branded it a 'national scandal' that care home residents will be unable to vote in person in the local elections without self-isolating for 14 days afterwards. |
Charity warns of 'astonishing' level of underclaimed council tax support
14/04/2021 Older people on low incomes in Scotland missed out on £88m in Council Tax Reduction support last year, a charity has warned. |
Largest surge testing operation deployed in South London
13/04/2021 The largest surge testing operation to date will take place across parts of South London where the variant first identified in South Africa has been found. |
Children's Laureate calls for £100m ring-fenced school library fund
13/04/2021 Waterstones Children's Laureate has written an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for a £100m yearly ring-fenced fund for primary schools libraries. |
Campaigners call for 'major voting rights effort'
12/04/2021 Campaigners are calling for automatic registration to avoid millions of people being left 'voiceless' in the upcoming local elections. |
Professionals back use of standalone supervision orders
12/04/2021 Nine out of ten professionals think standalone supervision orders should continue to be an option in care proceedings, according to a new survey. |
Public back more city devolution
09/04/2021 More than eight in ten people support more devolution to England’s largest cities, a new poll has revealed. |
Children ‘bearing brunt’ of mental health crisis
09/04/2021 The number of children seeking help for mental health problems increased by 28% during the pandemic, new figures have revealed. |
Shapps announces £18m cycle training fund
09/04/2021 Local authorities will be able to offer bespoke Bikeability Family training sessions to help people feel more confident cycling. |
MPs call for review of 'dangerous' obesity strategy
09/04/2021 The Government’s Obesity Strategy has been branded as ‘dangerous’ for people with negative body image by MPs. |
Council to review decision to block humanist from religious education committee
08/04/2021 Southampton City Council has agreed to retake a decision to block humanists from becoming full members of the local religious education committee following a threat of legal action. |
New study maps loneliness during the pandemic
08/04/2021 People living in areas with higher levels of unemployment were more likely to experience loneliness throughout the pandemic, according to new research. |
Ofsted to visit schools facing sexual abuse allegations
08/04/2021 Ofsted has announced it will visit a sample of schools and colleges in England where sexual abuse claims have been made. |
Government urged to consult on a national 'right to food' in England
07/04/2021 MPs have urged the Government to consult on a national 'right to food' and appoint a new minster for food security to prevent food poverty in England. |
Johnson announces £23.6m Truro Deal
07/04/2021 Truro has secured £23.6m from the Towns Fund to boost the local economy, create jobs and new homes. |
Figures show rise in sexual and criminal exploitation under lockdown
07/04/2021 Criminal and sexual exploitation has risen ‘dramatically’ during the pandemic, new data has warned today. |
Council apologises over faulty COVID support vouchers
07/04/2021 Lancashire County Council has launched an investigation after vulnerable families were given faulty vouchers meant to buy food and pay bills. |
Government 'rules out' COVID-19 business rates appeals
26/03/2021 Local authorities will be allocated a £1.5bn funding pot to help businesses adversely affected by COVID-19. |
This issue of Public Property examines how how flexible workspaces can lead the way in regeneration for local authorities, Why local authority intervention is key to successful urban regeneration schemes and if the Government’s challenge of embracing beauty is an opportunity for communities.
The March issue also takes a closer look at Blackburn with Darwen Council's first digital health hub to help people gain control over health and care services.