Politics and Policy

EXCLUSIVE: Intervention cost hits £9.5m

30/10/2025
Councils have been forced to shell out £9.5m on Government intervention over the last four years, research by The MJ has found.

Politics and Policy News

Tourist tax could pave way to greater fiscal devolution

29/10/2025

Enabling mayors in England to levy tourist taxes could pave the way for greater fiscal devolution, a think-tank has suggested.

PAC calls for ‘clear strategy’ on bus services

29/10/2025

MPs have urged the Government to set out a clear vision for local bus services, amid concerns over accessibility for elderly and disabled passengers.

Building Safety Regulator delays prompt rethink

28/10/2025

Elements of building safety could be removed from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and returned to local authority control.

MP calls for new mayors to take legal action on climate

28/10/2025

Green MP Siân Berry has proposed a new statutory duty on mayors created under the English Devolution Bill, urging them to take action on climate change.

Community cohesion concerns over Inverness asylum plans

28/10/2025

Plans to house asylum seekers in Inverness have raised concerns over community cohesion within the relatively small community.

Company faces ‘zero tolerance’ penalty for fire safety failings

28/10/2025

A company has been fined £50,000 by Birmingham City Council for an ‘unacceptable’ failure to implement essential building improvements.

MPs urge overhaul of developer levies

28/10/2025

The system for capturing developer contributions is failing communities, leaving vital public amenities like schools and GP surgeries underfunded, MPs say.

Landmark bus bill becomes law

28/10/2025

The Bus Services Act has officially become law, giving local authorities the power to step in when vital routes are under threat.

Council reveals ‘substantial tightening’ of air quality target

28/10/2025

Oxford City Council has announced plans to establish a new air quality target.

Welsh Government launches consultation on local election rules

28/10/2025

The Welsh Government has opened a 12-week consultation on proposals to modernise local election rules ahead of the 2027 polls.

Nine councils in Derbyshire unite behind two unitaries

27/10/2025

Proposals for two unitaries covering Derbyshire are set to be formally considered by councillors at the eight district and boroughs and Derby City Council.

Councils key to New Towns success, say peers

27/10/2025

Councils must have a key role to make a success of the New Towns programme, peers have urged.

Three unitary councils proposed for Staffordshire shake up

27/10/2025

Three southern Staffordshire councils have unveiled a local government reorganisation plan aimed at creating three new unitary authorities.

Scottish councils demand £750m social care lifeline

24/10/2025

Scotland’s political leaders have been told they face a ‘defining moment’ for local services — with social care at the centre of a new call for action.

EXCLUSIVE: Fair funding fightback

24/10/2025

An alliance of urban authorities is pressing the Government to change tack on the fair funding review.

London’s ULEZ cuts pollution, but challenges remain

23/10/2025

A new study shows that London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has delivered a significant drop in roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

Lancashire leaders call for delay to council shake-up

23/10/2025

Lancashire County Council has asked the Government to delay the county’s planned local government reorganisation.

Two new councils proposed in Cambridgeshire overhaul

23/10/2025

Cambridgeshire County Council has formally approved a major plan to reorganise local government, paving the way for the creation of two unitary authorities.

Government delays SEND overhaul

22/10/2025

The long-awaited schools white paper, intended to overhaul special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision in England, will now be delayed.

Edinburgh to miss 2030 net zero target

22/10/2025

Edinburgh City Council will not meet its ambition to be net zero by 2030, according to a report discussed by councillors yesterday.

Councils urged to step up as pothole breakdowns soar

21/10/2025

Councils face renewed pressure to maintain roads as new RAC figures reveal a 25% rise in pothole-related breakdowns over the summer compared to last year.

Salford Council mural demolition sparks heritage outcry

21/10/2025

A campaign has been launched to stop Salford City Council from demolishing a ‘rare and beautifully crafted’ post-war mural.

Devon’s district councils unveil reorganisation plan

21/10/2025

Devon’s district councils have published a new reorganisation blueprint to reshape how local government works across the county.

Essex CC leaves 'bitter taste' with 'underhand' reorg move

21/10/2025

Relations between Essex local authorities have been soured after the county council spent nearly £37,000 informing residents of its preferred LGR option.

‘Suck it up’: Leaked video leads to Reform UK suspensions

20/10/2025

Reform UK has suspended four councillors following the leak of a video from a virtual Kent County Council meeting.

1.6 million drivers fined for yellow line parking

20/10/2025

More than 1.6 million drivers were slapped with Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) in 2024 for parking on single or double yellow lines, according to The AA.

CIL funds are not reaching communities due to 'systemic problems'

17/10/2025

A new report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has identified ‘a number of problems' with Community Infrastructure Levies (CIL) and other developer contribution systems, which means cash has failed to reach local communities.

New strategic authorities should 'embrace' disagreement

17/10/2025

Areas moving towards devolution deals have been advised to ‘embrace’ inevitable disagreement between councils and new strategic authorities.

‘Transformative’ social housing complex wins architectural recognition

17/10/2025

A social housing complex has been awarded the Stirling Prize for architectural excellence.

Record 172,000 children trapped in temporary housing

16/10/2025

One in five families with children in temporary accommodation (TA) in England have been living there for five or more years, official statistics reveal.

Reorganisation and fair funding will 'throw cards up in the air' on budgets

16/10/2025

The impact of reorganisation and the fair funding review will ‘throw all the cards up in the air' for councils trying to hit budget, sector expert has warned.

Reform council backs county unitary

15/10/2025

Reform-led Warwickshire CC has backed a plan for a county unitary and a bid to join the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

Social housing regulator flags serious failings at Canterbury council

15/10/2025

Canterbury City Council has been issued a C3 grading by the Regulator of Social Housing after inspectors found it had failed to meet key consumer standards.

Approval of largest solar farm scheme branded ‘appalling’

15/10/2025

A 3,000 acre solar farm project in Lincolnshire has received Government approval despite opposition from the county council.

EXCLUSIVE: London boroughs shunning fixed-term tenancies despite housing pressures

15/10/2025

The MJ has found a majority of London councils still providing lifetime tenancies by default despite the capital's burgeoning temporary accommodation costs.

Cumbria devolution plan gets final sign off

14/10/2025

Cumbria is set to gain greater powers and funding after councillors in both Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness approved the Government's devolution plan.

Council leader accuses critics of ‘gerrymandering’

14/10/2025

The leader of Norfolk County Council has accused opponents of proposals for a single county-wide unitary authority of 'wilful gerrymandering of figures'.

Ministers seek 'holding direction' powers

14/10/2025

The Government is seeking to gain more powers to prevent councils refusing planning permission.

Right to Buy leaves councils thousands of homes short

14/10/2025

An investigation by The Big Issue has revealed the lasting impact of the Right to Buy scheme on England’s social housing stock.

MPs back five unitary authorities in Essex

14/10/2025

Local government reorganisation plans to create five new unitary authorities in Essex have been backed by several MPs.

Reform-led council leader reports street abuse

14/10/2025

George Finch, head of the Reform UK-led Warwickshire County Council, has reported being verbally attacked while in Nuneaton town centre on Friday evening.

Budget deficit warning over two unitary plan

13/10/2025

One of two unitary authorities proposed for Warwickshire amid local government reorganisation ‘would exist with a budget deficit from day one', report warns.

Public footpaths facing barriers nationwide

13/10/2025

Over 30,000 public rights of ways are blocked in England and Wales, research has found.

Decision on Chinese embassy plans to be delayed

13/10/2025

The UK Government is reportedly set to postpone its final decision on the Chinese Government’s proposed new embassy near the Tower of London.

Autumn Budget: Rising business rates could cost 150,000 jobs

13/10/2025

Business rates could pose a threat to 60,000 small businesses and 150,000 jobs, data finds.

Mayor unveils £10bn growth plan

13/10/2025

Mayor Steve Rotheram has unveiled a plan to add £10bn to the Liverpool City Region economy and create tens of thousands of jobs.

Cornwall Council rethinks climate goals

10/10/2025

Cornwall Council is considering pushing its net zero target back until 2045.

Council greenlights John Lewis rental home project

10/10/2025

John Lewis’ plans to deliver 170 new homes in Reading have been unanimously supported by the council.

Nottingham calls for boundary review under reorganisation plans

10/10/2025

Nottingham CC has confirmed it will submit a proposal to the Government for a boundary review as part of the local government reorganisation (LGR) programme.

EXCLUSIVE: Food waste new burdens assessment still not completed

09/10/2025

Whitehall has yet to complete a new burdens assessment for introducing separate food waste collections with six months until the policy has to be implemented.

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