Weakening financial sustainability arrangements
Paul Dossett, head of local government, Grant Thornton UK, discusses financial sustainability and raises concerns about the viability of a number of councils.
Council support staff declare strike over salary grades
26/07/2024 Around 200 support staff in Lancashire County Council’s social work team today began strike action in a dispute over salary grades and working arrangements. |
Social care watchdog ‘not fit for purpose’
26/07/2024 The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the body responsible for regulating adult social care services, is ‘not fit for purpose’, the health secretary says. |
Council tax hikes on second homes backfiring
25/07/2024 Councils in the south west of England that have increased council tax on second homes are missing out on £55m of income due to the business rates system. |
Councils ‘struggling to cope’ with complaints
24/07/2024 More than one in five remedies by councils who have received complaints are being implemented late, Ombudsman finds. |
South East Councils calls for ‘seat’ at the devolution table
24/07/2024 Councils in the South East of England have written to the Government voicing concerns that they could be at a disadvantage in the ‘devolution revolution’. |
Council considers ‘drastic’ asset sale to close £80m gap
24/07/2024 Somerset Council members are considering selling off non-operational buildings and land to help bridge an £80m funding gap. |
LGPS reform could unlock £40bn of infrastructure investment
24/07/2024 Reform of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) could unlock £40bn of investment for infrastructure, an insurance company has estimated. |
Government failing to track pothole funding, auditors warn
23/07/2024 The Government does not know whether the funding it allocates to councils to fix the pothole-riddled road system is being used effectively, auditors warn. |
Care home numbers down by 1,500
23/07/2024 The number of care homes in England has decreased by nearly 1,500 since 2018, according to a study by the House of Commons Library. |
York council green lights government hub
23/07/2024 City of York Council has signed off on plans to construct a six-storey government hub near the city centre. |
Unions threaten ‘stinking’ summer after rejecting pay offer
22/07/2024 Residents in Scotland will be faced with a ‘stinking Scottish summer’ unless local government employers improve their pay offer to workers, union says. |
Local government faces 2.4% spending cuts
22/07/2024 Local government could face annual spending cuts averaging 2.4% by 2029, with services set to deteriorate as a result, a new report has warned. |
Cash-strapped Thurrock needs to borrow £206.7m
22/07/2024 Thurrock Council needs to borrow £206.7m from the government to balance its 2023-24 budget, according to a report on the council’s financial position. |
Council launches ‘urgent review’ after Harehills riot
22/07/2024 Leeds City Council has launched an ‘urgent review’ of the case that saw children removed from a family and put into care after riots broke out last week. |
Summer childcare costs exceed £1,000
19/07/2024 Families will be paying an average of £1,049 for summer childcare for children aged between four and 14, a new survey has revealed. |
‘Spreadsheet issue’ led to 6.5k vote election declaration error
19/07/2024 A ‘spreadsheet issue’ led to over 6,550 votes being excluded from the declaration of the election result in the Putney constituency at the general election. |
Analysis reveals £30bn funding hole in care reforms
19/07/2024 Council chiefs have called for a delay in the introduction of the cap on adult social care costs, describing it as ‘unfunded’. |
COSLA offers 3.2% pay uplift
18/07/2024 Local government employers in Scotland have made a new pay offer in an effort to resolve the ongoing pay dispute. |
Care sector needs 540,000 workers by 2040
18/07/2024 The care sector will need 540,000 additional social care posts by 2040 to cope with the aging population, care workforce body Skills for Care estimates. |
Council leader resigns after bankruptcy warning
18/07/2024 The leader of Cheshire East Council resigned yesterday ahead of a vote of no confidence after a report raised serious concerns over the council’s finances. |
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.
Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.
Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.
Written by contributors who work with local government, LocalGov's white paper Transforming Local Government: A Strategic Guide for Labour will provide insights into the 5 major issues Labour must tackle.
