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Mediator called to settle Brum bin strike dispute 24/04/2025 Unite say a deal could be ‘in touching distance’ after agreeing to engage in talks with Birmingham City Council under the auspices of arbitration service Acas.
GMB: Local government workforce cut by 600,000 22/04/2025 Local authorities across England and Wales have lost almost 600,000 members of staff since 2012, a public sector union has found.
Brum pauses charges for rat infestations 22/04/2025 Birmingham City Council has temporarily waived charges for residents who require help with rat infestations during the bin strikes.
New finance commissioner for Woking 17/04/2025 Barry Scarr has been appointed as finance commissioner for troubled Woking Borough Council.
Striking Brum bin workers reject pay offer 14/04/2025 Refuse collection workers in Birmingham have rejected the city council’s latest pay offer in long-running dispute.
Military planners sent to Brum amid bin strikes 14/04/2025 Military planners have been called in to help tackle the backlog of rubbish in Birmingham that has built up during the ongoing strike.
EXCLUSIVE: Rayner drops Brum inquiry plan 09/04/2025 Angela Rayner has dropped plans for a statutory inquiry that would have investigated Labour-run Birmingham City Council's failed rollout of an IT system.
Angry reaction to Starmer stance on Brum bin strike 07/04/2025 A war of words has broken out between the Government and union bosses over the bin strike in Birmingham.
Brum council declares ‘major incident’ amid bin strikes 01/04/2025 Birmingham City Council has declared a major incident to address the impact of the bin strikes in a move branded by Unite as ‘disgraceful strike breaking’.
Brum council threatens redundancies to end bin strike 28/03/2025 Birmingham City Council will begin a consultation on compulsory redundancies in an effort to end the bin strike, a move Unite describes as ‘bully boy tactics’.
Birmingham's post Oracle scrutiny portal 'should help to better understand risks' 20/03/2025 A new online information site for scrutiny teams at Birmingham CC should lead to a better understanding of risk after the Oracle IT scandal, councillor says.
Brum rejects independent inquiry call 18/03/2025 Birmingham City Council has rejected an opposition call for an independent inquiry into the botched implementation of an IT system.
Children in prison failed by ‘multiple services’ 27/02/2025 Children in prison have been failed by ‘multiple services’ and youth custody worsens their disadvantages, according to the Children’s Commissioner.
IT woes to cost Birmingham City Council more than £90m 21/02/2025 The failed implementation of Birmingham City Council’s new IT system could cost the taxpayer £90m more than was originally budgeted, auditors have revealed.
Call for ministers to step in over Birmingham strikes 20/02/2025 Britain’s largest union has called on ministers to intervene amid ongoing industrial action by refuse workers in Birmingham.
Birmingham strikes escalate 04/02/2025 Strikes by more than 350 Birmingham bin workers will ‘intensify’ over the next two months, trade union Unite has announced.
Envoys sent in to Tower Hamlets 23/01/2025 Local government minister Jim McMahon has sent three envoys in to improve Tower Hamlets LBC following last year's Best Value inspection.
Council to honour ‘Birmingham legends’ Black Sabbath and Benjamin Zephaniah 22/01/2025 Birmingham City Council is set to honour the members of heavy metal band Black Sabbath and posthumously award a medal to poet and campaigner Benjamin Zephaniah.
Leeds proposes closing dozens of bowling greens 13/01/2025 Half of the council-run crown bowling greens in Leeds under plans to save nearly £275m over five years.
Birmingham overhauls leadership team 13/01/2025 Birmingham City Council has made a string of appointments to its senior leadership team.
Thousands tricked by fireworks hoax despite council warning 02/01/2025 Thousands of people flocked to central Birmingham on New Year’s Eve after false claims circulated online that there would be a fireworks display at midnight.
Councils issue just four fines for illegal wood burning 20/12/2024 English councils received more than 5,600 complaints in a year about smoke in smoke control areas but issued just four fines, new data has revealed.
350 Birmingham workers to strike 20/12/2024 Refuse workers at cash-strapped Birmingham City Council are set to strike in January in a dispute over pay.
Local government spends £3.4bn with 39 ‘strategic suppliers’ 18/12/2024 Public procurement experts Tussell find that local government spending with the Government’s ‘strategic suppliers’ has remained flat for five years.
Birmingham settles equal pay claim 10/12/2024 Birmingham City Council has reached an agreement over the equal pay claim that pushed it to issue a section 114 notice.
Devolution would help skills 'mismatch' - report 03/12/2024 Government should give local areas greater powers over skills to address the ‘mismatch' of people needed for future industries, Birmingham Uni has urged.
Birmingham seeks approval for default 20mph limit 02/12/2024 Birmingham City Council has asked the Government to allow it to introduce a default 20mph speed limit.
Brum staff call for security review 26/11/2024 Birmingham City Council staff have called for a review of security at their offices after three housing staff were injured in a ‘serious incident'.
Five star performance for Everyone Active 28/10/2024 Everyone Active celebrates five awards at ukactive Awards 2024, including top honours for National Centre and Outstanding Organisation of the Year.
Birmingham day centres set for axe 10/10/2024 Councillors in Birmingham have been advised to approve the closure of four day centres for disabled adults.
Brum misses out on £165m in council tax 02/10/2024 Birmingham City Council has missed out on over £165m worth of council tax in five years, new research reveals.
Councils on standby for Lebanon evacuation 02/10/2024 Councils will be responsible for reception arrangements helping British nationals arriving from Lebanon after the Government began an evacuation.
Call for Oflog independence 27/09/2024 Academics have called for an overhaul of the Office for Local Government (Oflog), including making it independent from Whitehall.
Mayors announce Manchester-Birmingham railway line 13/09/2024 Plans for a railway line improving connections between Birmingham and Manchester ‘at a fraction of the costs’ of the northern leg of HS2 have been announced.
£4bn shortfall leaves councils facing ‘financial disaster’ 09/09/2024 Failure to address an estimated £4bn black hole in the finances of councils could lead to ‘the widespread collapse of local government’, union warns.
Birmingham commissioners cast doubt on budget 06/09/2024 Commissioners at Birmingham City Council have cast doubt on the authority's ability to balance its budget next year.
Northern leaders form new partnership 05/09/2024 A partnership has been launched between mayors and council leaders representing non-mayoral areas in the North of England.
West Midlands councils warn region will be ‘financially unsustainable’ 02/09/2024 Seven council leaders in the West Midlands have warned there is a risk the region will have to declare itself as ‘financially unsustainable.’
Cash-strapped Brum sells off £56m of assets 27/08/2024 Birmingham City Council has sold off an estimated £56m of assets to help tackle its financial challenges.
Questions raised over Brum’s decision to issue s114 19/08/2024 A report has raised questions about the reliability of Birmingham CC’s £760m equal pay liability and called for an inquiry into the decision to issue an s114.
Birmingham slated over pay cut plans 16/08/2024 A union has slammed cash-strapped Birmingham City Council over plans to cut the salaries of refuse workers.
Birmingham to lose £320m on athletes’ village sale 14/08/2024 Hundreds of homes designed to be part of an athletes’ village for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games will be sold by the council at a loss of about £320m.
Brum council spends £1m on bookkeepers 29/07/2024 Birmingham City Council has been forced to spend £1m on manual bookkeeping after the new Oracle software failed to automate the process.
Birmingham to host 2027 Invictus Games 24/07/2024 Birmingham’s winning bid to host the Invictus Games in 2027 will see the event return to the UK for the first time since its launch.
Birmingham commissioners warn of 'dire' finances 23/07/2024 Birmingham City Council's finances have been described as ‘dire' by commissioners as it grapples with a budget gap of up to £80m next year.
Six tips to improve public services in the UK 15/07/2024 From social care and schools to bins and the criminal justice system, public services touch the lives of everyone. Here are six tips for improving them.
Tower Hamlets tops list of worst recyclers 15/07/2024 The London borough of Tower Hamlets is the worst area for recycling in England, new research has revealed.
Council housing landlords warn of £2.2bn ‘black hole’ 11/07/2024 Twenty of England’s largest local authority landlords have warned council housing finances are ‘unsustainable’ with housing budgets facing a £2bn ‘black hole’.
Birmingham councillor becomes West Midlands deputy mayor 17/06/2024 The deputy leader of Birmingham City Council has been appointed as the deputy mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
Birmingham councillors sign off on £1.9bn redevelopment 14/06/2024 Birmingham City Council's planning committee has given the go ahead to developer Lendlease for the £1.9bn redevelopment of the Smithfield site.
Birmingham planners back £1.9bn Smithfield redevelopment 07/06/2024 Plans to redevelop Birmingham’s former Smithfield wholesale markets have taken another step forward as city council planners recommend approval.
Could tackling fraud help cash-strapped councils? 03/06/2024 Colin Gray, principal consultant at SAS UK, looks at the role of tackling fraud when it comes to helping local authorities get their finances in order.
Child pedestrian casualties on England’s roads up 16% 31/05/2024 Nearly 50 child pedestrians are killed or injured on England’s roads every day, a new study has revealed.
Nearly 190,000 social homes set to be lost by 2040 22/05/2024 The controversial Right to Buy scheme is set to reduce the dwindling social housing stock by nearly 190,000 properties by 2040, new research has revealed.
Brum council-owned company reprimanded for data breach 14/05/2024 A Birmingham City Council-owned company has been reprimanded following a data breach that saw the personal information of a child disclosed to another family.
Oracle project costs soar from £3m to £40m 09/05/2024 The budget for replacing an IT system with Oracle has ballooned from £2.6m to almost £40m, councillors in West Sussex have heard.
Selling the family silver 09/05/2024 Ryan Swift, research fellow at IPPR North, urges the next Government to stop the mass sell off of council assets.
New £64m WorkWell pilot programme announced 08/05/2024 The Government has announced a new £64m pilot programme called WorkWell to assist individuals with long-term health issues rejoin the workforce.
Brum equal pay wait goes on 01/05/2024 Birmingham City Council faces a further wait before declaring its equal pay liabilities after auditors' warning.
Gove could launch police inquiry for Birmingham 01/05/2024 Reports the levelling up secretary could send a police chief in to investigate financial mismanagement in Birmingham City Council have resurfaced.
Brum councillors reject ‘bonkers’ skyscraper scheme 26/04/2024 Birmingham City Council members have rejected a planning proposal for a 42-storey skyscraper to be built atop a Grade-II listed former hospital.
10,000 council staff on long-term sick leave 25/04/2024 Nearly 10,000 staff members working in councils across England are currently on long-term sick leave, freedom of information requests have revealed.
Brum council workers vote for strike over equal pay 23/04/2024 Council workers at 35 schools across Birmingham have voted in support of strike action over the ongoing equal pay claims issue.
Officers recommend refusal of Birmingham skyscraper plans 18/04/2024 Plans for a 42-storey skyscraper in Birmingham city centre have been recommended for refusal over heritage concerns.
LocalGov Elections: Vote reformation 10/04/2024 Jonathan Werran, chief exec, Localis draws inspiration from a popular podcast on the Reformation to ponder the question of just how local are our politics.
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games boosted economy by £1.2bn 08/04/2024 The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games contributed approximately £1.2bn to the UK economy, according to an evaluation of the impact of the event.
Council contractor apologises after painting over Zephaniah mural 08/04/2024 A council contractor has apologized after painting over a mural of the late poet and Peaky Blinders star Benjamin Zephaniah in central Birmingham.
Brum consults on £2.3m library cuts 05/04/2024 Cash-strapped Birmingham City Council has launched a consultation on how it will cut £2.3m from its library budget.
Breaking: Brum chief exec steps down 13/03/2024 Birmingham City Council chief executive, Deborah Cadman, has announced her intention to stand down after three years in charge.
The elephant in the budget 12/03/2024 The budget provided support to strengthen growth, but bolder action is required to tackle finances, says Amanda Kelly, local government lead at PA Consulting.
LTNs popular and effective, leaked report says 11/03/2024 Low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) are popular and effective, a leaked report from the Department for Transport (DfT) has found.
Budget: Chancellor launches productivity push 06/03/2024 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has unveiled a Budget with little respite for local government but demands for increased public sector productivity.
Brum members approve £300m of cuts 06/03/2024 Councillors at Birmingham City Council have signed off on £300m of cuts over two years and dramatic council tax increases.
Brum workers vote for ‘major escalation’ of equal pay dispute 05/03/2024 Workers at Birmingham City Council have voted to strike in what the union GMB describes as a ‘major escalation’ in the campaign to end the equal pay crisis.
Councils set for £2.5bn in exceptional financial support 29/02/2024 The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has agreed to grant 19 local authorities ‘in principle’ capitalisation directions worth almost £2.5bn.
Social housing investment could boost economy by over £50bn 26/02/2024 Much more investment in the construction of social housing could boost the economy by a dramatic £51.2bn, according to a new analysis.
Councils support HS2 ‘green route’ 26/02/2024 A new active travel route from Birmingham to Coventry along the HS2 line is a ‘no brainer’, West Midlands mayor Andy Street has said.
Birmingham failed residents over damp and mould, ombudsman finds 22/02/2024 The Housing Ombudsman has found six cases of severe maladministration in Birmingham City Council’s handling of issues reported by tenants.
Birmingham 'worse' than commissioners feared 22/02/2024 The situation in Birmingham City Council is worse than commissioners expected, a report to the secretary of state has claimed.
The financial crisis in Birmingham City Council 22/02/2024 Dr James Brackley and Prof. Adam Leaver of the Audit Reform Lab call for an urgent value for money assessment of Birmingham CC's proposed cuts and asset sales.
Productivity plans: more than just reducing expenditure 20/02/2024 Owen Garling, the Knowledge Transfer Facilitator at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, explains how the public sector can boost its productivity levels.
Brum set to sell off £750m of assets 20/02/2024 Cash-strapped Birmingham City Council is set to sell off £750m of assets and cut spending on services by £300m in an effort to balance the books.
Birmingham councillors back 18% pay rise delay 08/02/2024 Councillors at cash-strapped Birmingham City Council have voted to delay pay increases for members.
Brum granted permission to raise council tax by 10% 07/02/2024 Levelling up secretary Michael Gove has approved Birmingham City Council’s request to increase council tax by up to 10% without a local referendum.
Council referrals to bailiffs up 20% 24/01/2024 Referrals to bailiffs in England and Wales to recover council debts have risen by nearly 20%, a BBC investigation has found.
Brum considers axing 600 jobs 17/01/2024 Birmingham City Council could be forced to axe hundreds of jobs as the struggling local authority attempts to balance its books.
Leaderships posts left vacant to cut costs 11/01/2024 Senior leadership posts at Cheshire East Council are being temporarily left vacant as the authority faces ‘significant financial pressures’.
Birmingham faces 10% council tax hike 10/01/2024 Cash-strapped Birmingham City Council could raise council tax by 10% if the Government gives its finance plan the go-ahead.
‘Growth zones’ for West Midlands in UK first 22/12/2023 The West Midlands is to become the first UK region to receive new ‘growth zone’ powers, which the combined authority said could generate £1.7bn.
Council funding to increase 6.5% 18/12/2023 Local authorities are set to see their funding increase by 6.5% as the Government attempts to prevent more councils from declaring effective bankruptcy.
Council warns of S114 risk over HS2 costs 15/12/2023 Cheshire East Council has warned that it may have to issue a section 114 notice after spending £11m preparing for HS2, as it continues to press for compensation.
Birmingham outlines £150m of cuts 14/12/2023 Birmingham City Council has outlined nearly £150m of proposed savings as it tries to plug a £300m budget gap.
Brum requests permission to increase council tax over 5% 13/12/2023 Birmingham City Council is set to apply for permission to increase council tax by more than 5% to help address a £300m budget gap.
Brum workers consider strike over equal pay delays 12/12/2023 Thousands of workers at Birmingham City Council will today start a ballot for strike action in response to equal pay claim delays.
Local government spends £2.8bn with 39 ‘strategic suppliers’ 11/12/2023 Public procurement experts Tussell have analysed the local government procurement market for the financial year 22/23.
Local authority leaders criticise minimum service levels 11/12/2023 'Unfair’ and ‘undemocratic’ minimum service levels will lead to ‘more frequent and longer strikes’, according to mayors and council leaders from across UK.
Birmingham given a month to make £300m savings plan 07/12/2023 Commissioners have given Birmingham City Council until 7 January to set out a ‘credible plan’ for addressing a £300m budget gap over the next two years.
Brum keeps shtum over funding axe reasons 06/12/2023 Birmingham CC has received a document setting out ministers’ reasons for pulling funding from its £2.7bn highways PFI contract but has refused to disclose it.
Coventry on collision course with union 05/12/2023 Coventry City Council is on collision course with Unite this month, over controversial proposals to end ‘task and finish’ contracts among waste staff.
Brum blame culture still 'largely unaddressed' 04/12/2023 Birmingham City Council’s problems of governance and accountability are still ‘largely unaddressed’, despite some gains made by the authority.
Government axes Brum's £2.7bn PFI deal in shock 'betrayal' 01/12/2023 Birmingham City Council's leader has accused the Government of 'betrayal' by axing the authority's £2.7bn highways Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract, in a move that could lose the authority more than £500m of roads investment.
New inspections require ‘significant’ work, pilot councils say 01/12/2023 Councils have reported spending 'a huge amount of time and energy' preparing for and undergoing the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) new adult social care assessments.
Nottingham issues section 114 notice 29/11/2023 Cash-strapped Nottingham City Council has been forced to issue a section 114 notice after revealing it faces a significant in-year deficit.
Million more public transport commuters needed, think-tank says 29/11/2023 The largest cities in Britain should aim to boost the number of public transport commuters by nearly one million to reduce congestion and pollution, a think-tank has said.
Can local government take much more? 27/11/2023 Dr Andrew Walker, head of Research, LGIU reflects on the Autumn Statement and asks: what might it take for the Government to pay attention to local authorities?
Autumn Statement: West Midlands investment zone confirmed 23/11/2023 An investment zone is set to be established in the West Midlands focusing on three sites in Warwickshire, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton, Chancellor confirms.
CQC issues verdicts in pilot care assessments 21/11/2023 The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has completed assessments of adult social care at five councils under its pilot scheme.
Job cuts 'inevitable' at Brum 14/11/2023 Birmingham City Council is poised to reveal a worse-than-expected financial position as it embarks on a savings drive and ‘inevitable’ job cuts, The MJ has learned.
New Bradford station 'one step closer' with £400k award 14/11/2023 The Department for Transport (DfT) has awarded Bradford Council £400,000 ‘to kickstart master planning’ on a new railway station.
Brum commissioners warn council will need further help to agree lawful budget 09/11/2023 Commissioners at Birmingham City Council have warned it will struggle to agree a lawful budget next year without further help.
Council bankruptcies underline the need for good governance 06/11/2023 Penny Rinta-Suksi, partner at law firm Blake Morgan, argues that innovative policies that aim to enable efficient service delivery must be built on the foundations of good governance.
Homelessness fears over asylum fast-tracking 26/10/2023 The largest city councils in England and Scotland fear that Government plans to speed up asylum decisions will result in thousands of people facing homelessness.
Council seeks HS2 compensation over 'levelling down' 25/10/2023 Cheshire East Council is pursuing compensation over the Government’s decision to scrap HS2 north of Birmingham.
Inflation sees councils’ shortfall climb by £1bn 20/10/2023 English councils face a funding gap of £4bn over the next two years, new Local Government Association research has found.
Plan to axe 750 council jobs ‘extremely worrying’ 19/10/2023 Leeds City Council’s proposals to axe hundreds of jobs to help reduce the local authority’s deficit are ‘extremely worrying’, a union has said.
Commission calls for £30bn public infrastructure investment 18/10/2023 Government should invest £30bn a year into public infrastructure to level up struggling areas and tackle climate change, says infrastructure commission.
WMCA trailblazer devolution deal ratified 16/10/2023 The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has ratified a ‘deeper devolution deal’ worth an estimated £1.5bn.
Public Procurement Quarterly Update: 2023 Q3 13/10/2023 Public procurement experts and LocalGov partners, Tussell, have analysed the local government procurement market for the third quarter of this year.
Starmer promises council funding reform 13/10/2023 The way local government is funded is too short-term and has resulted in local authorities such as Birmingham CC declaring bankruptcy, Sir Keir Starmer says.
Birmingham agrees job evaluation scheme 13/10/2023 Birmingham City Council has agreed to implement a new job evaluation scheme in a major step towards meeting its £750m equal pay liabilities.
£1.3bn local road upgrade pledge unravels 12/10/2023 Doubts have arisen over the Government's pledge that it will deliver 70 local authority road schemes
Birmingham 'actively exploring' action against s151 12/10/2023 Birmingham CC is ‘actively exploring’ action against its former director of council management Becky Hellard for her role in the collapse of the council.
London councils face £400m shortfall 11/10/2023 The capital’s boroughs face a £400m funding gap this year, set to rise to £500m in 2024-25, new analysis from London Councils reveals.
Birmingham commissioners revealed 05/10/2023 The team tasked with turning round Birmingham City Council has been announced – including a former Labour minister and a serving council chief.
Hampshire County Council on ‘financial cliff edge’ 05/10/2023 Hampshire CC has warned that cuts to services and job losses are inevitable as the council is facing ‘one of the biggest budget shortfalls in its history’.
Sunak confirms HS2 Manchester leg axed 04/10/2023 Rishi Sunak has confirmed the cancellation of the HS2 north of Birmingham but has said that the high speed rail line will still go to Euston.
Budgetary Breaking Point: Learning from Birmingham’s mistakes 04/10/2023 Claire Agutter from Scopism takes a look at why Birmingham CC's predicament is not an isolated case and how other councils can learn from their mistakes.
Councils face record £3.5bn shortfall 28/09/2023 Research has uncovered a £3.5bn shortfall facing councils over the next financial year, revealing ‘true scale of the dire state of local government funding’.
Righting the wrongs of equal pay 28/09/2023 David M Hutchison, head of Employment Law at Dallas McMillan, asks why councils are still struggling to get to grips with the equal pay issue.
Brum kicks off job cuts 27/09/2023 Birmingham City Council has started a wide-ranging programme of job cuts under emergency plans.
EXCLUSIVE: LGA chief under threat 27/09/2023 The future of Local Government Association (LGA) chief executive Mark Lloyd today hangs in the balance as the new Labour-led regime considers changes.
Newcastle clean air zone brings in £500k 27/09/2023 Newcastle City Council’s clean air zone (CAZ) has brought in over £500,000 in the first six months of its operation, new figures from the council reveal.
How to fix local government finance 25/09/2023 Dr Greg Stride & Dr Andrew Walker, LGIU Local Democracy Research Centre, look at the lessons from other countries when it comes to local government finance.
Few councils' homes meeting energy efficiency target 25/09/2023 New figures have revealed just 18 councils have energy efficient housing stock, laying bare the challenge of tackling the climate emergency.
Birmingham issues second section 114 notice 21/09/2023 Birmingham City Council has issued a second section 114 notice as it has failed to come up with a plan to meet its equal pay liabilities.
Cash-strapped councils forced to sell £15bn of assets 21/09/2023 About 75,000 public assets worth £15bn have been sold by cash-strapped English councils since 2010, according to Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
Gove announces emergency measures for Birmingham 19/09/2023 The Government has announced emergency measures to help run Birmingham City Council during its financial crisis.
Birmingham City Council leader apologises 18/09/2023 Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton has apologised to the city’s residents and insisted he had ‘no prior notice’ of the council's bankruptcy crisis.
Derbyshire faces £46m overspend 15/09/2023 Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet is set to consider a report that estimates the local authority’s overspend to be over £46m this financial year.
Why the four-day week could solve the workforce crisis 12/09/2023 Local councils are struggling with job recruitment and retention. Melanie Pope, 4 Day Week Campaign, argues a four-day working week could be the answer.
Brum braced for Government intervention 12/09/2023 Birmingham City Council is braced for a wide-ranging Government intervention to help rescue the authority’s bleak finances, and improve political and officer leadership.
LGA: Section 114s show system is 'broken' 11/09/2023 The Local Government Association (LGA) will cite the number of section 114 notices issued by councils as evidence of a ‘broken’ system.
Birmingham Commonwealth Games ‘challenge too far’ 07/09/2023 The hosting of the Commonwealth Games by Birmingham City Council last year was a mistake, according to a formed advisor to the local authority.
EXCLUSIVE: Fresh equal pay claims warning 07/09/2023 Councils face a fresh wave of potential equal pay claims after a legal ruling exposed problems with the application of the national pay scheme.
Suffolk’s essential service funding ‘not sustainable’ 06/09/2023 Suffolk County Council has forecast it will spend £22.3m over its budget this year, with the costs of school transport and looking after children in care making up two thirds of the overspend.
Birmingham issues section 114 notice 05/09/2023 The UK’s biggest local authority, Birmingham City Council, has issued a section 114 notice in the face of crippling financial problems.
Birmingham’s clean air zone less effective than previously thought 31/08/2023 Birmingham’s clean air zone (CAZ) has been less effective at reducing the levels of nitrogen dioxide gas than was previously thought, new research suggests.
Resignation scheme begins in Birmingham 30/08/2023 Birmingham City Council has begun asking employees if they would like to leave as it attempts to cut costs in the face of a £760m equal pay bill.
Local authorities and the AI revolution 24/08/2023 Stephen Almond, Information Commissioner’s Office, discusses what councils have to consider when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI).
Vehicle emission schemes raise £418m 24/08/2023 More than £400m in fees and penalties has been generated from vehicle emission schemes in England, a freedom of information (FOI) request has revealed.
London borough set to launch its own £1m scrappage scheme 03/08/2023 Merton Council is planning to introduce a £1m vehicle scrappage scheme, helping residents replace cars that are not ULEZ compliant.
AI cameras installed in Birmingham to catch fly-tippers 02/08/2023 Birmingham City Council has installed three new artificial intelligence (AI) CCTV cameras in a bid to tackle fly-tipping.
Warning Birmingham equal pay bill could rise further 26/07/2023 Birmingham City Council’s mammoth equal pay bill could rise further if it fails to meet a tight deadline to fix the issue.
VisitBritain HQ moves to Birmingham 20/07/2023 Birmingham will be home to VisitBritain’s new headquarters, the national tourism agency has announced.
West Midlands Pension Fund announces first investment 14/07/2023 The West Midlands Pension Fund has invested in a private company for the first time through a £25m fund.
Birmingham City Council stops all non-essential spending 06/07/2023 Birmingham City Council will stop all non-essential spending to deal with its equal pay liability and the fallout from the implementation of its IT system.
Birmingham City Council faces £760m equal pay bill 29/06/2023 Birmingham City Council has revealed it will have to pay up to £760m to settle equal pay claims.
Handy to launch partnership with AVA pressure washer specialist at Glee 22/06/2023 British garden equipment manufacturer and distributer Handy is excited to announce a new partnership with Norwegian pressure washer specialist AVA.
'No progress' on devolution to London 21/06/2023 The capital appears to have ‘taken a step backwards’ on devolution, a former chair of London Councils has said.
Labour blocks Driscoll mayoral bid 05/06/2023 North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll has been blocked by Labour from standing as the party’s mayoral candidate for the proposed North East combined authority.
Birmingham council launches air quality fund 02/06/2023 A funding scheme for cycle racks, school traffic exclusion plans and other measures has been launched to help improve air quality in Birmingham.
Birmingham scolded over housing 24/05/2023 Around 23,000 social homes owned by Birmingham City Council do not meet the Decent Homes Standard.
New leader for Brum after Labour ousts Ward 22/05/2023 The national Labour Party has selected Cllr John Cotton as the new leader of Birmingham City Council Labour group after its intervention last week.
Court clarifies council obligations under Human Rights Act 18/05/2023 There is no requirement for children to be in the care of a local authority for the obligations under the Human Rights Act to arise, Court of Appeal rules.
Bristol announces low traffic neighbourhood scheme 11/05/2023 A new low traffic neighbourhood scheme in Bristol will create a safer and healthier place for people to live and spend time, according to council leaders.
Birmingham opens new ‘super depot’ 04/05/2023 Birmingham City Council has opened a new state-of-the-art ‘super depot’ for its waste management service, replacing two outdated yards.
COVID revealed extent of school nurse shortage 03/05/2023 The COVID pandemic revealed that more school nurses are needed to carry out vital child protection work, researchers say.
Council staff respond to Sudan evacuation 02/05/2023 Councils have been urged to ‘apply maximum flexibility’ when UK nationals returning from Sudan present as homeless.
Rowley orders Birmingham finance review over chaotic IT contract 25/04/2023 A Government-imposed governance review of Birmingham City Council has been expanded after massive failures in its accounts IT system emerged.
Birmingham face £40m bill for chaotic IT contract 19/04/2023 Troubled Birmingham City Council’s financial recovery has hit a massive setback after details of a chaotic contract designed to streamline accounts emerged.
Government launches £500,000 know-your-rights scheme 19/04/2023 Social housing tenants in seven cities are to be offered a place on a Government-funded training scheme aimed at helping them hold their landlords to account.
Planning for biodiversity 12/04/2023 Kieron Gregson, associate partner, Carter Jonas (London) discusses local authorities’ uptake of biodiversity net gain policies.
Campaigners resist plans to cut down trees for ‘eco homes’ 11/04/2023 Residents of historic Bournville village in Birmingham have called on their local councillor to intervene over a plan to cut down trees and build ‘eco homes’.
Councillors offer support after attack near Birmingham mosque 22/03/2023 Local councillors in Birmingham have offered their support to residents of Edgbaston after a man was set alight on the way home from a mosque.
Stoke-on-Trent tops list of smelliest places 14/03/2023 Stoke-on-Trent received the highest number of complaints about bad smells in the UK in the last year, according to new figures.
Guide to the use of AI in social care published 06/03/2023 A new guide has been launched to help councils and social care providers avoid common pitfalls when introducing new technology into adult social care.
Councils urged to consult taxi driver database 03/03/2023 The DfT wrote to local authorities urging them to consult the taxi driver database after figures revealed the councils who are failing to make full use of it.
Autistic children face discrimination in care system 03/03/2023 Marginalised families with autistic children face serious problems in the health, care, and education systems, according to new research.
Birmingham City Council to review respite care complaints process 02/03/2023 Birmingham is to review the way it responds to complaints about respite care for children with disabilities after it told families to appeal to the Ombudsman.
Khan calls for Home Counties targeted scrappage scheme 24/02/2023 Mayor Sadiq Khan has called for a new scrappage scheme to help people in the Home Counties to retrofit or replace vehicles that are not ULEZ compliant.
Birmingham food banks ‘running short of supplies’ 16/02/2023 The leader of Birmingham City Council has warned that the city’s food banks are ‘running short of supplies’.
Charity collaborates with ICSs to boost childhood health 16/02/2023 Children’s charity Barnardo’s have linked with other organisations in a scheme to boost childhood health.
COVID business relief fund ‘carnage’, says report 13/02/2023 Less than a quarter of local authorities have paid out their full grants from the COVID relief fund for local businesses, new research reveals.
MICHELIN’s Connected Fleet leads to nearly 50% drop in engine idling 13/02/2023 Highway Traffic Management (HTM) reports dramatic drop in engine idling, following the installation of MICHELIN Connected Fleet’s on-board telematics system.
Council to buy 50 homes to support refugees 08/02/2023 Birmingham City Council is planning to buy up to 50 homes to provide temporary accommodation for displaced Afghans and Ukrainians.
How councils can support children's mental health 06/02/2023 To mark Children’s Mental Health Week, Dr Anna Harris of Coram looks at how councils can support wellbeing and help mental health services.
HS2 future in doubt 27/01/2023 The future of the flagship rail HS2 project linking the north and south appears in doubt after the Government refused to confirm it will reach central London.
Minister admits to shifting goalposts on levelling up bids 23/01/2023 A Government minister has admitted to shifting the rules on Levelling Up Fund bids after applications had been submitted.
Birmingham complaints handling ‘fundamentally flawed’ 17/01/2023 Birmingham City Council has been ordered to overhaul its ‘fundamentally flawed’ complaints procedures by the housing ombudsman.
SEND advice service requires 'drastic' overhaul 13/01/2023 A SEND advice service has been savaged in an independent report that found it had contributed to a £10m tribunals bill for Birmingham City Council.
Local government spending up fifth year running 13/01/2023 Total spending by local authorities in England has continued to rise steadily over the last five years according to the latest statistics.
Gove demands answers after maladministration findings 03/01/2023 Michael Gove has demanded answers from Lambeth LBC and Birmingham City Council after the ombudsman found severe maladministration in their complaints handling.
Council seeks court order to crack down on ‘street cruising’ 22/12/2022 Birmingham City Council is seeking a High Court order to ban street cruising from all city roads.
Think tank calls for £14.5bn ‘city innovation zones’ 14/12/2022 A think tank has called on the Government to invest £14.5bn to build ‘city innovation zones’ in Birmingham, Glasgow, and Manchester.
Local enforcement teams to get £8m boost 13/12/2022 Council enforcement teams are set to receive a multi-million-pound boost to help them pursue freeholders who have yet to start cladding repairs.
Ombudsman criticises Birmingham council of ‘maladministration’ 12/12/2022 Birmingham CC has apologised for failing on multiple occasions to take action over a housing disrepair claim when prompted by the resident and the local MP.
Council offers food banks £800 per month 05/12/2022 Birmingham City Council has made almost £500,000 worth of grants available to projects providing food to residents.
Social care failing LGBTQ+ young people, study reveals 01/12/2022 The social care system needs to improve how it cares for LGBTQ+ young people in residential and foster homes, University of Birmingham researchers say.
Council fined £30,000 after disabled man left in unsuitable accommodation 24/11/2022 Birmingham council has apologised after a disabled man was left in unsuitable temporary accommodation for eight years.
New £20m fund to stop rogue landlords from exploiting supported housing system 14/11/2022 Councils are being given access to a £20m government fund to tackle landlords who exploit the supported housing system at the expense of vulnerable residents.
Council criticised for failing to tackle issues with bin collections 10/11/2022 Birmingham City Council has been criticised for blaming 'rogue crews' for failures in bin collections by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
Index identifies the 50 areas that struggle the most to access affordable food 08/11/2022 New research has identified the 50 places where people are most likely to struggle to access affordable food.
Councils face £3bn funding gap 31/10/2022 Local authorities could be forced to cut essential services as they face a collective funding gap of over £3bn, Unison warns.
Council apologises for care home top-fees 20/10/2022 Birmingham City Council has apologised ‘unreservedly’ for wrongly charging a family care home fees for more than 11 years.
'New age' road cameras installed 18/10/2022 The Government has launched a trial of a camera designed to identify and track drivers who break the law by revving engines and using modified exhausts.
Mayor welcomes new Solihull tech lab 14/10/2022 The West Midlands mayor Andy Street has welcomed today’s announcement that a new state-of-the-art telecommunications lab will be based in Solihull.
£60m Commonwealth Games underspend reinvested 04/10/2022 The Government has announced it will invest around £60m of underspend from the Commonwealth Games in the West Midlands.
Former looked-after child to appeal abuse case 21/09/2022 Court of Appeal agrees to hear appeal in case brought by a former looked-after child (“AB”) against Birmingham City Council and Worcestershire County Council.
Council announces ‘largest’ selective licensing scheme in UK 20/09/2022 Birmingham City Council has been granted permission to introduce a Selective Licensing Scheme for all private rented properties in 25 wards across the city.
Birmingham declares cost of living emergency 06/09/2022 Britain’s biggest council has declared a cost of living emergency as new Prime Minister Liz Truss prepared to unveil her plans to tackle rising fuel costs and inflation.
Councils accused of allowing cars to hold public space ‘hostage’ 24/08/2022 Activists have accused councils of allowing cars to hold public space ‘hostage’ by charging more for the suspension of parking spaces than for parking permits.
Council landlords named and shamed 17/08/2022 Seven councils have been named and shamed for failings in their housing services.
Seven cities shortlisted to host Eurovision 2023 12/08/2022 The BBC has announced that seven UK cities have been shortlisted to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.
Birmingham faces fresh equal pay claims and strikes 09/08/2022 The leader of Birmingham CC has urged trade unions to engage in talks over fresh equal pay disputes – rather than ballot staff over potential strike action.
How can you keep your site safer from hostile or errant vehicles? 05/08/2022 Deborah Ainscough discusses the importance of risk assessment and specification in protecting people and assets from hostile and errant vehicles.
Councils receive £6m supported housing boost 04/08/2022 Four local authorities have been given a £6m boost to help support vulnerable tenants living in supported housing.
Boldly going where Birmingham has never gone before 21/07/2022 Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, explains the integral role of the local authority in delivering the upcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
‘Debt-tech’ experts Trustfolio to offer Local Authority creditor teams free trial of first-of-its-kind debt management platform 18/07/2022 ‘Debt-tech’ collective Trustfolio is inviting Local Authority creditor teams to attend a free webinar to find out how they could follow in the footsteps of Birmingham City Council and others in transforming the way they process debt solutions to meet operational, commercial, and social objectives.
The speed of biodiversity net gain adoption in Local Plans 22/06/2022 New research has analysed the current uptake biodiversity net gain among all of the 322 English Local Planning Authorities. Kieron Gregson reports.
Birmingham City Council bids to host athletics championship 21/06/2022 Birmingham City Council has officially submitted a joint bid with UK Athletics to host Europe’s most prestigious athletics competition.
Creating a Green Infrastructure Masterplan 07/06/2022 William Eichler finds out how a new toolkit is helping local decision makers transform Birmingham city centre into a greener, safer and healthier place to live.
Birmingham's Clean Air Zone leads to fall in emissions 06/06/2022 The number of the most polluting vehicles entering Birmingham city centre has fallen by more than half since the Clean Air Zone was introduced a year ago, the council has reported.
The need for Green Belt reform 20/05/2022 With only four references to the Green Belt in the Levelling Up White Paper, Karen Charles asks if a change to the Green Belt is inevitable?
Ombudsman reminds councils to ensure processes are transparent 19/05/2022 Councils administering Disabled Facilities Grants need to ensure their processes are transparent and accountable, Ombudsman says.
Combined authority signs £4bn agreement with Legal & General 18/05/2022 WMCA and L&G have today signed a partnership agreement with L&G committing to invest £4bn in regeneration, housing and levelling up across the West Midlands.
Green spaces provide £25.6bn of ‘welfare value’ every year, study finds 04/05/2022 A new study has shown that parks and green spaces in England and Wales provide adults with £25.6bn of ‘welfare value’ each year.
England’s poorest areas hit hardest by austerity 03/05/2022 Residents living in England’s most deprived areas were hit hardest by the largest local authority spending cuts during a decade of austerity, think tank says.
Council chiefs welcome £300m to tackle drug addiction 14/04/2022 Council leaders have welcomed a Government announcement of additional funding for local areas to tackle drug dependency as an ‘important step forward’.
Birmingham CC stops school holiday meal vouchers 30/03/2022 Birmingham City Council has confirmed that school holiday meal vouchers will no longer be provided by the local authority.
West Midlands gets ready for fleet of 124 hydrogen buses 28/03/2022 A fleet of 124 new hydrogen fuelled buses will be taking to the streets of the West Midlands following the approval of a £30m Department for Transport grant.
Clean air zones creating North/South electric vehicle divide 21/03/2022 The roll-out of clean air zones by councils is creating a dramatic North/South divide when it comes to electric vehicle (EV) take-up, new figures suggest.
What are the key considerations when rolling out a successful Clean Air Zone scheme? 18/03/2022 Chris Taylor shares five key considerations for local authorities when rolling out a successful Clean Air Zone scheme – no matter where they are on their journey.
Birmingham becomes the UK’s first Compassionate City 16/03/2022 Birmingham has been crowned the UK's first Compassionate City for the way it supports people who are grieving, living with a serious illness and caregivers.
Museums and galleries to receive £48m boost 14/03/2022 Cultural venues across the country are set to receive £48m of funding to help improve access to the arts, the Government has announced.
BT partners with local authorities to boost mobile coverage in UK towns and cities 11/03/2022 BT is partnering with local authorities in town and cities across the UK, including London, Leeds and Birmingham, to boost mobile coverage by mounting small cell antennas on street furniture such as lampposts and CCTV columns.
Right to Buy policy has been a 'strategic failure' review warns 09/03/2022 The Right to Buy policy in England has become a 'strategic failure' that has exacerbated inequalities in society, a damning review has found.
Solihull ordered to improve children's services 01/03/2022 The Government has ordered Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council to make urgent improvements to its children’s social care services following ‘serious’ concerns over how it protects vulnerable children.
Public transport in UK's biggest cities ranked the most expensive in Europe 24/02/2022 Public transport in some of the UK’s biggest cities is the most expensive in Europe, new research has revealed.
New taskforce aims to ‘level up’ maternity care 23/02/2022 Government launches taskforce aimed at tackling disparities in maternity care experienced by women from ethnic minority groups and those in deprived areas.
West Midlands to pilot advice scheme for parents and carers 22/02/2022 The West Midlands has been selected to pilot a new Government scheme to support and provide advice to parents and carers.
BBC’s MasterChef to relocate to Birmingham 21/02/2022 The BBC’s hit show MasterChef is to relocate to Birmingham as part of the levelling up agenda, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency has announced.
A blueprint partnership for success 18/02/2022 Richard Pearce argues that while working partnerships between developers and councils take time and effort, it does pays off.
Bristol confirms September launch of charging CAZ 16/02/2022 Bristol's City Council has confirmed plans to launch its Clean Air Zone in September this year when motorists could be charged for entering the city centre.
National approach to levelling up is 'ineffective' warns study 01/02/2022 Policies to address regional inequalities should be tailored to individual communities’ needs, according to the results of a new study.
City centres lose nearly a years’ worth of sales due to COVID-19 24/01/2022 Businesses in city and large town centres have lost more than a third (35%) of their potential takings due to COVID-19, think tank finds.
Calls for a national tall buildings policy 24/01/2022 A charity has called for a new tall buildings policy to stop high-rises undermining the form and character of cities.
Calls for urgent reform of UK’s welfare system 24/01/2022 The UK’s social security system is failing to protect low-income families from extreme hardship and urgently needs reforming, researchers have warned.
Councils chosen to pilot planning schemes 12/01/2022 People living in deprived and urban areas will be encouraged to engage more with the planning system under new schemes being piloted by 11 councils.
ENVIROVENT’s ventilation solution CHOSEN for ‘homes OF the future’ PILOT 10/01/2022 A ventilation system from leading manufacturer EnviroVent has been chosen for a flagship new build scheme that could shape the Government’s ‘Future Homes Standard’.
Why councils need to embrace data driven communication and automation 04/01/2022 Tom Shrive calls on councils to embrace new workflow and automation technology to save money and improve customer satisfaction.
Royal recognition for local government figures 04/01/2022 Senior figures from the Local Government Association (LGA) have received awards in the Queen’s New Year Honours.
Irwin Mitchell boosts planning and environment department with two new appointments 08/12/2021 National law firm Irwin Mitchell is expanding its Planning and Environment Team with the recruitment of two new members: Tracy Lovejoy as a Senior Associate, based in the Birmingham office and Victoria Tague as an Associate in Manchester.
The UK's regional cities face a 'retrofit race' 07/12/2021 Jeff Pearey says the race is on to upgrade the office stock of our regional cities – otherwise local and combined authorities will struggle to hit their net zero commitments.
Taskforces to support young people in serious violence 'hotspots' 03/12/2021 The Government is deploying 10 special taskforces to help stop vulnerable young people becoming involved in county lines and criminal activity.
Councillors of the year are named 02/12/2021 Camden Council’s leader, Cllr Georgia Gould, has won Leader of the Year at this year’s 2021 Cllr Awards.
Commuter train line exposed to ‘extreme levels’ of pollution 22/11/2021 Three councils have warned that residents living near the commuter train line running through the Chilterns are being exposed to dangerous levels of pollution.
West Midlands to receive £6.5m to boost sports 18/11/2021 The West Midlands are to receive a £6.5m injection of cash to help improve facilities and level up access to community sport as part of the legacy of next summer’s Commonwealth Games.
Wales tops economic vitality index 16/11/2021 A new economic vitality index has revealed that Wales managed to weather the COVID-19 pandemic better than the UK’s other home countries.
Councils must battle inaction after announcing a climate emergency 15/11/2021 Gayle Monk outlines the key considerations councils must make to better address the situation.
Councils accused of not taking action against criminal landlords 12/11/2021 Two thirds of councils in England have failed to prosecute any criminal landlords in the last three years, according to new research.
Birmingham could face new equal pay claims 12/11/2021 Birmingham City Council is facing an equal pay ‘crisis’, a trade union has warned.
Birmingham bins not returned due to 'council squabble' 11/11/2021 The ombudsman has blamed 'bickering' bin workers for residents having to return their own heavy communal bins to the right place in Birmingham.
13 councils chosen to pilot new ways of working 09/11/2021 The Government has announced which 13 councils in England have been chosen to trial new ways of working to help target specific issues in local areas.
Commission calls for 'radical rethink' on calculating housing demand 05/11/2021 Up to 140,000 homes will be needed every year in areas at most in need of levelling up, according to the findings of the Building Back Britain Commission.
City-level carbon cutting powers backed by 80% 01/11/2021 A study has found support for more mayoral powers to curb carbon emissions in some of the UK’s biggest cities.
A lot of hot air from government on air quality? 20/10/2021 Mark Nichols explains how live data on air quality can help councils identify areas of concern and what actions will be the most effective.
Edinburgh tops list of ‘booming’ cities outside of London 19/10/2021 Edinburgh, Manchester and Leeds have topped the list of local authorities with the highest number of high-growth businesses outside of London.
BT steps up small business support by gifting up to £7.5m of street advertising space 21/09/2021 BT is donating up to £7.5m of outdoor advertising space to small businesses, as part of its roll-out of new Street Hub 2.0 units.
Council chiefs welcome £750m events insurance scheme 09/08/2021 Local authorities have welcomed a new Government-backed insurance scheme designed to help the events industry recover from the impact of COVID-19.
New safe housing pilot for vulnerable rough sleepers 27/07/2021 Vulnerable rough sleepers will be given access to safe housing under a new pilot in 12 areas in England.
Burnham's Clean Air zone accused of having 'blind' spot towards air pollution 22/06/2021 Greater Manchester (GM) mayor Andy Burnham has ‘put local taxi drivers first’ by adding them to a list of vehicle operators who will initially be exempt from the region’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ), despite claims that it will ‘kick-start the city region's green revolution’.
Council invests over £1m in mobile household recycling centres 16/06/2021 Birmingham City Council has invested £1.4m in a pilot project that will see a fleet of mobile household recycling centres (MHRCs) rolled out across the city.
Councils receive extra COVID support as lockdown easing delayed 15/06/2021 The Government has announced additional support to help Birmingham, Blackpool, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Liverpool City Region and Warrington tackle the Delta variant of COVID-19.
Developers challenge accusations of 'land banking' 02/06/2021 A new report challenges the Local Government Association’s (LGA) claim that the housing crisis is largely down to a reluctance by developers to build and argues that the real problem is a shortage of planning permissions.
Charges for Birmingham's Clean Air Zone delayed for two weeks 02/06/2021 Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) finally went live on Monday, but with a two-week ‘soft launch period’ where no charges will be levied.
10 councils chosen to pilot digital planning tools 02/06/2021 The use of digital tools in the planning process will be tested by 10 councils as part of a Government pilot.
How £1.3bn Metro tuned into digital radio comms 26/05/2021 The vision for the £1.3billion upgrade of the West Midlands Metro always included a new radio communications system which would bring the network into the digital age.
Battle of the Smart Cities 04/05/2021 Piers Mulroney explores how the race to innovate, digitise and decarbonise is driving the mayoral elections in Birmingham and Manchester.
Digital map reveals 'lacklustre recycling growth' 26/04/2021 Recycling rates have plateaued in England and Scotland for the fifth consecutive year according to a new interactive digital map of local authority recycling data.
Birmingham CC spends nearly £200m in local economy 26/04/2021 Birmingham City Council has spent £194,619,328 in its surrounding areas as part of an effort to improve the social value of its commissioning and procurement.
Council action sees Tesco fined £7.5m for selling out of date food 20/04/2021 Tesco has been fined £7.5m for selling out of date food after a successful prosecution brought by Birmingham City Council.
Clean air zones save lives and boost local economies 15/04/2021 Clean air zones (CAZs) will save lives and inject millions into local economies, an analysis of eight major cities in the UK has revealed.
Virtual insanity: Councils hit out at refusal to extend meeting rules 26/03/2021 Councils will not be able to hold virtual council meetings after 6 May after the Government refused to budge on changes to legislation.
Reset and rebuild: delivering better connected services 10/03/2021 At a recent webinar organised by The MJ and BT, three speakers gave a national, local and provider perspective on the Government's £5bn gigabit speed connectivity revolution. Michael Burton reports.
Campaigners call for £10.6bn investment in ‘green apprenticeships’ 02/03/2021 Environmental campaigners have called for the creation of 250,000 ‘green apprenticeships’ in areas such as renewable energy as part of the effort to address the twin crises of youth unemployment and climate change.
Over half a million face clean air zone charges this year 08/02/2021 Half a million drivers in London and Birmingham could be 'priced off the road' under Clean Air Zone charges this year, according to motoring group The AA.
Tackling mistrust about vaccines 04/02/2021 Dr Justin Varney looks at how Birmingham is working to tackle the ‘layers upon layers of mistrust’ among ethnic minority communities that is ‘now playing out in vaccine hesitancy’.
Safe and green in 2021 to meet new ULEZ and DVS rules 01/02/2021 2021 sees the launch of two new London-centric directives, which build on the work our industry has already done in recent years to improve safety for vulnerable road users and lessen the environmental impact of heavy haulage and construction vehicles.
Government launches £30m fire alarm fund 01/02/2021 Residents living in high-rise buildings with unsafe cladding can now get financial support from the Government to help them buy fire alarms.
Pandemic is 'levelling down' the South, report warns 25/01/2021 The economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic will make it four times harder to level up the North and Midlands, a new study has revealed.
Insurer compares the market for parking fines 19/01/2021 Councils are issuing fines worth an average of £850,000 a year for parking offences, with one raking in more than £10m, according to new research.
Towards Net Zero 07/01/2021 Join us on 26 January to discover break-through technology supporting the UK’s green recovery
One million households face UC debt deductions 07/01/2021 More than one million households who were forced to claim universal credit (UC) when coronavirus struck are having debt deductions taken from their benefit payments, according to a child poverty charity.
New Year Honours awarded to local government workers 04/01/2021 Figures across local government have been recognised for their response to the pandemic in the 2021 New Year Honours list.
Councils resist pressure to reopen schools 04/01/2021 Scores of councils have raised concerns over the return of primary school pupils to classrooms amid soaring COVID-19 infection rates.
Tier 3 communities in North and Midlands ‘stretched to breaking point’ 30/11/2020 Tier 3 communities in the North and Midlands will be ‘stretched to breaking point’ once the grant aimed at supporting local business is cut at the end of the national lockdown, according to Labour.
Regions losing faith in levelling-up agenda, survey reveals 10/11/2020 Only a fifth of people from the Midlands and the North think the Government is doing enough to level up the economy, according to a new study.
Supporting our young people in the path to economic recovery 03/11/2020 Clare Hatton explains how the West Midlands Combined Authority has made it a priority to support all young people, but especially those not in education, employment or training (NEET).
New easy to install Cycle Lane Separator Bollards 23/10/2020 Leafield Highways, a division of Leafield Environmental have launched a brand-new Cycle Lane Separator (CLS) bollard range that is easy to install, durable and maintenance free.
Chancellor announces new support package for businesses 22/10/2020 The chancellor Rishi Sunak has increased support for workers and jobs hit by tougher COVID-19 restrictions following a barrage of protests from businesses, particularly those in Tier 2 areas.
Government launches £3m supported housing pilot 20/10/2020 The Government has announced that £3m will go to fund pilots in five areas aimed at improving the quality, enforcement, oversight and value for money in supported housing.
Child poverty has risen most in Northern areas and Midlands, research finds 14/10/2020 Child poverty has risen fastest in parts of the Midlands and Northern towns and cities in the past four years, new research has revealed.
Birmingham to launch Clean Air Zone in June 2021 09/10/2020 Birmingham City Council has confirmed the government-mandated Clean Air Zone is now scheduled to launch on 1 June 2021.
Aberdeen named council of the year at MJ Awards 02/10/2020 Aberdeen City Council has been named Local Authority of the Year in The MJ’s first virtual local government awards.
How councils can use landscaping to maintain social distancing and safety 22/09/2020 Saul Huxley explores how councils can use different landscaping methods to incorporate social distancing into public spaces.
Informal childcare exempt from local lockdown rules 22/09/2020 Councils have welcomed the announcement that informal childcare and other caring arrangements will be exempt from local lockdown restrictions.
Councils voice support for new Community Wealth Fund 10/09/2020 Calls for a Community Wealth Fund to transform the most ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods have been backed by 10 councils in England.
London council criticised for housing man in Birmingham costing him a job 27/08/2020 Merton Council has been criticised for housing a man from London in Birmingham, forcing him to give up his second job.
Birmingham Council given new powers to close businesses 26/08/2020 Birmingham City Council has been given new enforcement powers to help keep the rate of COVID-19 infections reducing.
West Midlands councils warn they are at a ‘crossroads’ in fight against Covid-19 21/08/2020 Seven West Midlands councils have called for support to ensure that Covid-19 testing is widely available as the Birmingham CC warns they are ‘at a crossroads’.
Researchers warn about 'lost decade' in adult social care 10/08/2020 Adult social care has reached breaking point after policymakers failed to act on alarms raised back in 2010, researchers have warned today.
Running on empty 17/07/2020 Mark Robinson discusses the widening gap in public sector funding and the implications for the sector’s built environment partners.
Unpaid carers ‘pushed’ into using food banks 17/06/2020 Unpaid carers are twice as likely as the general public to have relied on a food bank during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to charity.
More councils join call to delay schools reopening 20/05/2020 The Government is under increasing pressure to rethink its plans to open schools on 1 June after more councils highlighted safety concerns.
What will the car-free cities of the future look like? 19/05/2020 Ben Mercer explores what car-free cities could look like and how will these policies will change our city-centre commutes.
Council mows grass in two metre 'channels' to promote social distancing 14/05/2020 Birmingham City Council has come up with an unusual way to remind people to obey social distancing rules, by mowing two metre strips into its parks and green spaces.
Leeds chief takes on key contract tracing role 13/05/2020 Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan will take on a key role in the Government’s contact tracing programme in the battle against coronavirus.
Two councils join forces to address health inequalities 06/05/2020 Two councils have joined together to tackle health inequalities affecting Black African and Caribbean communities.
Birmingham signs major development deal 23/04/2020 A new deal to unlock up to 1,000 new homes has been agreed between Birmingham City Council and Homes England.
Risk and resilience around Covid-19 15/04/2020 Kella Bowers outlines the potential for future civil liability in social care.
Coronavirus lockdown has improved air quality, scientists find 01/04/2020 Air pollution across the UK’s largest cities has fallen since the start of the lockdown, new analysis has shown.
Powered by a smarter connection 30/03/2020 Keiron Salt explains how digital solutions, underpinned by a 5G network, can help deliver better healthcare services while reducing the strain on the NHS.
Where are your services on the Smart City journey? 26/03/2020 With technology moving into the next era of 5G and AI, The MJ and BT recently conducted a survey into the extent that local authorities are using shared services to develop their Smart Cities and Places. Michael Burton reports
Pandemic forces Birmingham to delay launch of Clean Air Zone 25/03/2020 Birmingham City Council has written to the Government requesting postponement to the launch of its Clean Air Zone (CAZ) to help protect the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.
Trading standards officers seize bottles of ‘harmful’ hand sanitizer 23/03/2020 Trading standards enforcement officers in Birmingham have seized bottles of potentially harmful hand sanitizer from a trader looking to capitalize on the coronavirus outbreak.
Flybe collapse hits council-owned airports 05/03/2020 The airline entered administration this morning, leading to the grounding of all flights.
Public is ‘supportive’ of plans to invest in cycling, study shows 04/03/2020 Over half of residents in major urban areas across the UK support more investment in cycling, new research reveals.
Housing overcrowding in London at ‘40-year high’ 19/02/2020 Overcrowding in housing in parts of London and the South East of England is worse now than at any other period over the last four decades, research reveals.
The balancing act: reducing emissions and improving transportation 17/02/2020 Paul Moorby outlines how using Big Data to analyse real-time traffic information can help councils to refine traffic management policies whilst reducing carbon emissions.
Duddeston apartments with energy efficiency ventilation systems 12/02/2020 Residents living in the refurbished ‘Boat Blocks’ high rise apartments in Duddeston, Birmingham, are reaping the benefits of new ventilation systems from EnviroVent as part of a major refurbishment project.
Urban councils call for fiscal devolution to end ‘Whitehall hand-outs’ 10/02/2020 Urban authorities have joined forces to urge the Government to devolve power to cities in order to support them in ‘levelling up’ growth across the country.
Kier takes over interim Birmingham contract 04/02/2020 Kier has been brought in to manage the 15-month interim highway services contract in Birmingham after Amey's failed PFI deal in the city.
Birmingham City Council considers ‘overhaul’ of rubbish collection service 04/02/2020 Birmingham residents could see their bins collected every two to three weeks as part of a package of measures designed to overhaul the city’s waste management service.
Brighton considers becoming a ‘car-free’ city 28/01/2020 Brighton & Hove City councillors have agreed to look into the possibility of the city becoming ‘car-free’ by 2023.
Government announces £2.4m ‘boost’ to improve sports teaching 27/01/2020 Schools are set to receive a £1.6m funding boost that will help them provide more sports activities to pupils after school and during the holidays.
Revolutionising mental health 22/01/2020 Cllr Jasmine Ali explains how Southwark Council is putting plans into action to revolutionise children’s mental health in Southwark.
Manchester becomes 'early adopter' of Hackitt Review 20/01/2020 Manchester City Council has joined three other councils to become an ‘early adopter’ of the recommendations made in the Hackitt Review.
Preparing for new regulations 20/01/2020 Chris Proctor warns housing providers must enact change now to improve compliance and not wait for the regulators.
Government failing to ‘learn lesson’ of Carillion collapse 15/01/2020 The union Unite has accused the Government of failing ‘to learn the lessons’ from the collapse of the outsourcing giant Carillion.
Retro-fitting councils around the 21st century 09/01/2020 The MJ and BT recently conducted a survey of local authority directors to find out how they believe 5G will affect their organisations. The conclusions formed part of the discussion at a round table debate on how the new technology will impact local public services. Martin Ford reports.
West Midlands bus passenger numbers ‘rocket’ by eight million 19/12/2019 The number of people catching the bus in the West Midlands has increased by almost eight million over the last year thanks to major investment in the network.
Rogue landlord fined for ‘endangering lives’ 11/12/2019 A landlord in Birmingham has been successfully prosecuted and ordered to pay close to £20,000 for breaching housing regulations.
Top 100: Our most popular local government stories of 2019 10/12/2019 From calls to a 10% pay rise for council staff to declaring a climate change emergency, here is our countdown of the 100 most popular stories on LocalGov during 2019.
Providing sanctuary for refugees 10/12/2019 Neil Merrick finds out what councils across the country are doing to welcome and resettle Syrian refugees.
Garden Communities set to deliver over 400,000 homes 09/12/2019 Garden city developments are set to deliver over 400,000 new homes, the equivalent to a city the size of Birmingham, new research has revealed.
Council adopts new grass cutting approach to save bees 02/12/2019 Hertfordshire County Council is set to try out a new approach to grass cutting in an attempt to preserve wildflowers and the bees who rely on them.
Council wins battle to ban anti LGBT protests 26/11/2019 Birmingham City Council has won a court battle to permanently ban anti-LGBT protests outside a local primary school.
Two thirds of adults ‘unpaid carers’, study reveals 22/11/2019 Two thirds of UK adults can expect to care unpaid for a loved one in their lifetime, according to research from the universities of Sheffield and Birmingham.
Thousands of people living in 'unregulated' housing 07/11/2019 Tens of thousands of vulnerable people are living in unsafe and unsuitable conditions, according to new research.
Think tanks calls for public health funding to be linked to NHS budgets 05/11/2019 Public health funding should be linked to increases in the NHS budget, a briefing published by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) suggests.
West Midlands and Google team up to tackle climate change 31/10/2019 The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has teamed up with Google to tackle the climate change emergency.
Birmingham CC welcomes extension of injunction banning ‘street cruising’ 31/10/2019 A court has agreed to extend an injunction banning street cruising from the roads of Birmingham for another three years, the city council has confirmed.
Birmingham backs parking levy to cut pollution and congestion 18/10/2019 Birmingham City Council is to take forward work to develop a workplace parking levy (WPL) of £500 per space per year.
Queen's Speech 19: Whitehall unveils major infrastructure and rail plans 14/10/2019 The Queen's Speech pledges infrastructure strategy, aviation bill and proposals for rail reform.
Public property hubs to be delivered in Birmingham and Peterborough 11/10/2019 Peterborough and Birmingham are the latest places to benefit from a government programme to regenerate city centre sites.
Millions struggling to pay council tax and household bills, study finds 08/10/2019 Nearly 1.6 million people are falling behind on their council tax payments, new research has revealed.
Not so fast - HS2 could be cut at both ends 07/10/2019 Council leaders in West Yorkshire have warned of ‘grave consequences’ after it was reported that the leg of HS2 from the Midlands to Leeds could be axed.
Councils urged to only cut road verges twice a year 27/09/2019 Road verges should only be cut two times a year in order to protect wild flowers and wildlife, new guidelines have recommended.
Safeguarding shake-up 24/09/2019 With local safeguarding children boards being abolished, Neil Merrick finds out what new arrangements councils are setting up in their local areas.
PM urged to invest over £45m in the Midlands rail network 12/09/2019 The Prime Minister has been urged to get behind a multi-billion pound plan to ‘supercharge’ the Midland’s economy by reforming its rail network.
Whitehall announces £400m for rapid charging points 10/09/2019 The Government has launched a £400m fund to help develop rapid charging infrastructure points for electric vehicles.
HS2 proposals could bring £1.4bn of benefits, Midlands transport body says 09/09/2019 New plans submitted to the review of the controversial HS2 scheme propose directly connecting the city centres of Birmingham and Nottingham and Leicester and Leeds with high speed trains.
Council leaders calls for green light on HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail 03/09/2019 Council leaders have joined a new campaign to ensure the Government goes ahead with HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).
Cities make business case for air quality funding 02/09/2019 Leaders of cities with illegal levels of air pollution are calling for the Government to boost spending on air quality, arguing that a fund of £1.5bn could generate up to £6.5bn in returns.
Government welcomes plans to create West Midlands national park 08/08/2019 Whitehall has welcomed proposals to create a new West Midlands urban national park that would span more than seven cities and open up hundreds of miles of green space.
Two Black Country stations to reopen thanks to £10m grant 06/08/2019 Two stations are to be reopened in the Black Country thanks to a £10m Government grant after being closed for nearly half a century.
Councils accused of ‘criminalising’ businesses over rates arrears 05/08/2019 Local authorities are ‘criminalising’ struggling businesses such as pubs and shops by taking them to court over non-payment of business rates, a real estate advisor claims.
Birmingham CC and Capita ‘dissolve’ long-standing partnership 02/08/2019 Birmingham City Council has announced that its 13 year joint venture with Capita has been ‘largely ended’, reportedly saving taxpayers £44m.
FORS: supply chain compliance to ensure efficiency 22/07/2019 Rajinder Sharma explains how the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme helps local authorities to drive up best practice and strengthen its supply chain.
Homeless people denied access to healthcare, study finds 17/07/2019 Homeless people are being denied access to basic healthcare, a new study has revealed.
Harnessing the power of modular 15/07/2019 Adam Cunnington explains how local authorities can harness the power of modular to become a key player in helping to solve Britain’s housing crisis.
EXCLUSIVE: Brum's Baxendale quits for New Zealand 10/07/2019 Birmingham CC chief executive Dawn Baxendale is departing to take up a new post at Christchurch City Council in New Zealand after just over a year in post.
Birmingham CC to pilot ‘car free’ areas outside schools 10/07/2019 A scheme to ban vehicles from roads near schools at the start and end of the day is to be tried in Birmingham from September.
Air pollution ‘shortening the lives of children’, report reveals 08/07/2019 A new study has revealed that air pollution could be shortening the lives of children in Birmingham by seven months.
Our school places challenge 05/07/2019 A new report has warned the UK needs more than 600 new schools by 2022 to meet demand. Mark Robinson explores how local authorities can address the school place shortfall.
Minister announces £100,000 to boost town centres 02/07/2019 High Streets Minister Jake Berry has announced the latest round of funding to make shopping centres more attractive to business.
Birmingham City Council and Amey reach £300m deal 01/07/2019 Birmingham City Council has reached an agreement with Amey which will allow the outsourcing company to buy its way out of its highways contract for £300m.
Rebalancing the economy: our time is now 27/06/2019 Nigel Wilcock calls for a different approach to tackle regional imbalances in economic growth.
Birmingham to invest £778m to prepare for Commonwealth Games 26/06/2019 Birmingham is set to invest £778m to stage the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Government has confirmed.
Labour link funding cuts to homeless deaths 25/06/2019 Local government funding cuts are hitting areas with the highest levels of homeless deaths, according to a new Labour analysis.
Council-led programmes to fight childhood obesity launched 25/06/2019 The Government is to fund five council-led programmes to tackle childhood obesity.
Innovation is the new regeneration 24/06/2019 Rachel Dickie explains how a new joint venture will help cities across the country to create new ‘innovation districts’.
Councils hit out at clean air zone delays 19/06/2019 The UK's two biggest local authorities have blamed the Government for delays to introducing the country's first clean air zones.
Widening the property talent pool 17/06/2019 William Eichler finds out a new programme is encouraging young people to have a career in the property and regeneration sector.
Birmingham LGBT dispute: A challenge for policymakers 13/06/2019 Mark Whitehead examines the role of Birmingham City Council in helping to resolve the LGBT school row.
Recognition for council pair in Queen's Birthday Honours 10/06/2019 The leader and former chief executive of a district council have both received awards in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Domestic abuse victims more likely to develop a mental illness 07/06/2019 Women suffering domestic abuse are three times more likely than others to develop mental illness, according to a study.
Birmingham council granted interim injunction to protect school from protests 03/06/2019 A court order banning protests over sex education outside a Birmingham school is set to be reviewed next week.
Projects to develop new highways tech are launched 31/05/2019 A £22.9m programme has been launched with eight local authorities to develop new ways of building roads.
‘Significant’ variations in rates of dental visits, study finds 17/05/2019 Children living in areas of deprivation are more likely to visit the dentist compared to those in more affluent areas, a new study has revealed.
Child poverty is the ‘new normal’ in Britain, campaigners warn 15/05/2019 An estimated half a million more children are having their lives ‘limited by poverty’ today than at the start of the decade, the UK’s leading child poverty coalition has revealed.
Birmingham council apologises to union over waste dispute comments 30/04/2019 Birmingham City Council has apologised to Unite the Union over comments made during the recent protracted dispute with refuse collectors.
Whitehall warned not to ‘roll-back’ on devolution agenda 24/04/2019 Cornwall council has urged the Government not to ‘roll-back’ from the promise of greater devolution after Brexit.
How digitalisation is transforming Belfast into a leading economy 17/04/2019 Martin McFadyen explores how technical innovation and improved connectivity has helped Belfast and NI transform into a leading knowledge economy with global investment appeal.
Nearly 13,000 new classrooms needed by 2022 in England 10/04/2019 England will require an additional 12,835 school classrooms by 2021/22 to meet demand, new research has revealed.
Brum improvement team issues final damning judgement and walks away 02/04/2019 Birmingham City Council’s intervention team has issued a final, damning report on the crisis-hit council and walked away – despite admitting its job is not complete.
Councils urge Government to fund sprinkler installations 27/03/2019 Local authorities have called on the Government to fund the installation of sprinklers in high-rise buildings two years after the Grenfell tragedy.
Birmingham CC receives third warning of ‘financial mismanagement’ 26/03/2019 Birmingham City Council has defended its financial record after receiving its third auditor warning in four years.
Labour blasts 'savage' council cuts for poorer areas 21/03/2019 Local government cuts are hitting the North of England and the most deprived areas the hardest, the Labour Party has warned ahead of the upcoming local elections.
Whitehall lends partnership over £7m for Birmingham development 21/03/2019 The Government has agreed to a £7.45m loan in order to kick start the development of a brownfield site in Birmingham city centre.
Birmingham council and union ‘welcome’ end to refuse dispute 18/03/2019 Refuse collectors who took part in strikes in Birmingham are to be given £3,500 each in a settlement which both sides say has ended the long-running dispute.
Councils fear Swansea construction giant could be 'Welsh Carillion' 15/03/2019 Swansea-based construction giant Dawnus was today on the brink of collapse and expected to call in administrators Grant Thornton.
Birmingham faces 'major public health crisis’, council warns 14/03/2019 Birmingham City Council has been given the go-ahead to introduce a clean air zone to tackle what it has called a 'major public health crisis'.
Birmingham refuse strike called off 04/03/2019 Unions called off a planned strike by refuse collectors in Birmingham today after the city council lost a bid to have the action declared illegal.
Spending review: Councils braced for further austerity 01/03/2019 Councils are under financial pressure as never before and will need all the optimism they can muster to deal with it, says Mark Whitehead.
Birmingham to axe over 1,000 jobs due to ‘brutal’ Whitehall cuts 27/02/2019 Britain's biggest council says it is facing 'the most challenging period its history' after announcing a further round of huge cuts in its workforce.
Poor, urban areas see majority of homeless deaths 26/02/2019 Welfare cuts and a lack of social housing are driving the homelessness crisis which has resulted in hundreds of deaths, particularly in poor, urban areas.
Amey facing £200m Birmingham divorce bill 19/02/2019 Amey could be set to pay more than £200m to extricate itself from its troubled 25-year PFI contract with Birmingham after years of legal difficulties, according to reports.
Birmingham's winter of discontent 15/02/2019 With a series of one-day strikes to go ahead in Birmingham, Mark Whitehead explores what led to this long-running dispute over waste collection.
Union refused an injunction over ongoing bin dispute 15/02/2019 A series of one-day strikes by refuse collectors in Birmingham is set to go ahead next week after a legal challenge by the Unite union failed.
Solution to £8bn cost of congestion 'in city halls' 13/02/2019 Drivers in the UK lost an average of 178 hours a year due to congestion in 2018, costing £7.9bn, according to the latest data from INRIX.
Treatment cut despite ‘soaring’ alcohol-related A&E admissions 11/02/2019 Councils are reducing spending on alcohol and drug treatment services despite ‘soaring’ numbers of hospital admissions due to alcohol misuse, FOI data reveals.
Oxford Direct Services 08/02/2019 LEVC selects Oxford Direct Services for servicing of the world’s first purpose built electric black cab.
Union seeks injunction against Birmingham in long-running bin dispute 07/02/2019 Unite is taking high court legal action against Birmingham City Council for operating refuse vehicles without safety critical role.
Hundreds of Birmingham refuse workers to strike ‘weekly’ 05/02/2019 Over 300 refuse workers have announced they will begin two days of strike action a week in an escalation of the ongoing industrial dispute with the council.
Call for tourism tax review 05/02/2019 An inquiry into cultural investment in cities has called for a UK-wide review of the benefits of a tourism tax.
The risk of pipe and cable strikes 29/01/2019 Richard Broome draws on data from the company’s recent Digging Up Britain report to highlight how common a problem asset strikes and looks at what local government should be doing to stop them from happening.
Councils chosen to develop childhood obesity plans 28/01/2019 Practical plans to tackle childhood obesity are to be developed by 13 councils after they received funding from the government’s Trailblazer programme.
Investment in cycling could prevent 34,000 life-threatening illnesses, report finds 28/01/2019 Thousands of life-threatening illnesses could be prevented if major cities increased cycling rates to those seen in London since the turn of the millennium.
Birmingham City Council renews controversial waste disposal contract 17/01/2019 Birmingham City Council has approved a controversial waste disposal contract with Veolia, describing it as the ‘best option available’.
‘Pauper’s funerals’ cost councils £5.4m last year 09/01/2019 Local authorities spent nearly £5.4m on public health funerals in 2017/18, new research has revealed.
Council debates banning drones 04/01/2019 Coventry City Council is considering banning the use of drones on council land due to concerns over privacy and noise pollution.
New Years Honours for Rotherham 29/12/2018 Rotherham MBC commissioner Mary Ney and director of children’s services Ian Thomas have both been recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s honours.
Birmingham approves 1,400 homes for Commonwealth Games 21/12/2018 Birmingham City Council has approved the planning application for the accommodation for Commonwealth athletes.
Amey set to go private, report says 13/12/2018 Roads and services contractor Amey is set to be sold to a private equity firm in the New Year, it has been reported.
Top 100: Our most popular local government stories of 2018 11/12/2018 From council pay rises to troubled outsourcing firms, here is our countdown of the 100 most popular stories on LocalGov during 2018.
Whatever your budget, here’s how your council can mark Holocaust Memorial Day 11/12/2018 Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on 27 January. Claudia Hyde of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust explains how councils can mark the occasion.
Birmingham to build crime prevention into social housing developments 30/11/2018 Birmingham City Council has become the first council to join a national police-run scheme which will see crime prevention techniques built into all its new social housing developments.
The rise of predictive analytics in local government recruitment 20/11/2018 Why does data have such an important role to play in improving recruiting practices within the local government? Charles Hipps reports.
Report calls for 'reset' of Public Private Partnerships 16/11/2018 A strong leadership role from local government is essential for ensuring the success of regeneration schemes involving the public and private sector, a new report has argued.
West Midlands to invest £43m in ‘congestion busting projects’ 07/11/2018 Local leaders in the West Midlands will this Friday consider plans to invest £43m in projects designed to tackle the region’s congestion problems.
Plan to revive town centres in the West Midlands launched 26/10/2018 A new plan to unlock ‘funding, expertise and support’ in order to revive high streets across the West Midlands has been launched.
Housing development to result in loss of Birmingham-sized area of countryside 26/10/2018 Campaigners are warning that a proposal to build one million houses between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge would result in the loss of an area of countryside larger than Birmingham.
Council chiefs welcome decision to scrap borrowing cap 04/10/2018 Local government leaders have welcomed a move announced by prime minister Theresa May that the cap on council house building will be lifted.
West Midlands awarded £20m to make journeys ‘cheaper and quicker’ 03/10/2018 The West Midlands will pioneer new transport schemes to make journeys ‘quicker, cheaper and cleaner’ following a £20m funding announcement.
Liverpool hospital to be built despite Carillion collapse 27/09/2018 The building of the New Royal Liverpool Hospital, whose future was in question after the collapse of Carillion, is to restart, the Government has announced.
Councillor charged with posting ‘indecent’ messages online 26/09/2018 A councillor has been charged for posting allegedly ‘obscene’ and ‘menacing’ messages on social media.
What are councils spending on discretionary housing payments? 18/09/2018 Local authorities are spending record sums on emergency payments to households that otherwise face eviction by private or social landlords. Neil Merrick investigates.
Cities commit to procuring only zero-emission buses after 2025 14/09/2018 Birmingham, Greater Manchester and Oxford have all committed to procure only zero-emission buses from 2025 in a bid to reduce air pollution and make their cities ‘healthier.’
Market ‘best placed’ to deliver value for money for waste collection 12/09/2018 Local authorities should use competition to drive value for money for waste collections, representatives from the resource and waste management industry say.
Birmingham loses control of £1bn project as costs double 11/09/2018 Birmingham City Council has been forced to hand over control of its £1bn city centre regeneration, amid spiralling costs and governance criticisms, The MJ can exclusively reveal.
Birmingham ‘lacks’ leadership on SEND issues 11/09/2018 Birmingham City Council has said it is ‘very disappointed’ by the results of a special educational needs and disabilities inspection and said it would take urgent action to make ‘significant improvements’.
Manchester tops congestion league 10/09/2018 Manchester tops the table of the most congested English areas outside London
Council to review vaping scheme after exploitation accusation 10/09/2018 A deal between Birmingham City Council and a multi-national tobacco company to promote e-cigarettes has been branded 'a disgrace' by a government minister.
Council pays £50,000 to victim of care home grooming gang 10/09/2018 A former children's care home resident has received a £50,000 payout from Birmingham City Council after she claimed it failed to protect her from grooming gangs.
Councils sending bailiffs to 200 firms every day over unpaid business rates 28/08/2018 Councils are sending bailiffs to more than 200 businesses every day due to unpaid rates, a new investigation has revealed.
Vulnerable offenders increasingly referred to health services rather than prison 10/08/2018 Offenders with mental health, alcohol and drug abuse problems are increasingly being referred to health services as part of community sentences.
What does High Speed Rail really mean to you? 30/07/2018 Craig Wakeman, programme manager for the West Midlands Combined Authority’s HS2 Growth Delivery team, explains the real impacts HS2 will have.
Channel 4 announces list of potential locations for new national headquarters 24/07/2018 Channel 4 has announced that Leeds, Greater Manchester and Birmingham are still in the running to host its new national headquarters.
Birmingham councillor calls for action on dumped fridges 19/07/2018 A Birmingham councillor has called on the Government to do more to tackle the issue of dumped fridges.
The scale of council investment in commercial property 04/07/2018 A new study has revealed local authorities have invested £3.8bn in commercial property to save struggling town centres. Dr Steve Norris and Ed Cooke report on the findings.
Council funding gap to reach £8bn by 2025 03/07/2018 Local authority leaders have warned Whitehall that the next Spending Review will be ‘make or break’ for services as councils face funding gap of £8bn by 2025.
Councils withheld just £32m last year on underperforming PFI deals 02/07/2018 Councils withheld £32m last year from underperforming PFI providers, according to new research published today.
Eurocell 29/06/2018 Modus PVC-U windows from Eurocell have been specified for Orbit Housing’s Fordham House in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Council staff drop multi-million legal claims against Birmingham City Council 26/06/2018 A multi-million pound raft of legal claims over sex discrimination have been dropped by Birmingham City Council workers without explanation.
Watchdog names worse areas for food hygiene 25/06/2018 Many councils are struggling to meet their food hygiene responsibilities, according to new research by consumer watchdog Which?.
Unleashing our commercial potential 14/06/2018 Ken Lyon explains how Birmingham City Council is harnessing its considerable assets and skills to generate extra income.
Contractor ordered to pay Birmingham £50m in PFI dispute 13/06/2018 Amey Birmingham Highways Ltd has been ordered to pay Birmingham CC £50m in compensation in a long running dispute over a highways PFI, according to reports.
Six councils win share of £6.5m cycling fund 12/06/2018 Six councils have bid successfully for a share of a £6.5m fund aimed at making cycling ‘the natural choice’ of transport.
Local government figures celebrated in Queen's birthday honours 11/06/2018 The former interim chief executive of Birmingham City Council, Stella Manzie, has been made a Dame in the Queen’s birthday honours for services to local government.
Car pollution costs health services £6bn a year, study reveals 06/06/2018 Pollution from cars and vans costs £6bn per year in ‘health damages’, new research has revealed.
Councils criticised for banning anti-abortion protests 30/05/2018 Councils wanting to restrict protests outside abortion clinics have been challenged by a group of campaigners, including human rights activist Peter Tatchell.
Integrated health and social care starts with the network 22/05/2018 Darren Turner explains why having the right network in place is key to the succesful integration of health and social care services.
Councils welcome open source library for digital services 16/05/2018 Local authorities have welcomed a new open source library which will help them share digital services.
Keeping children out of care 01/05/2018 Five London boroughs are piloting a new payment-by-results model to help keep children out of care. Brigitte Squire explains more about the scheme.
Enoch was wrong, integration can work – if we get it right locally 20/04/2018 Steve Ballinger explores some of the challenges that local areas face when getting integration right today.
Tough decisions needed to protect commercial heart of cities 11/04/2018 As urban centres change transform, the priority should be on protecting and expanding the commercial space in city centres, rather than encouraging more residential development, argues Andrew Carter.
Work begins on Birmingham's 'cycle revolution' 10/04/2018 Amey has begun work on a £5.4m project in Birmingham to deliver a 4km two-way, fully segregated cycle route linking Selly Oak and the University of Birmingham with the city centre.
The gender pay gap: local government's national perspective 05/04/2018 Why do some councils have a gender pay gap and how are they going to address it? Mark Whitehead investigates.
Keeping children out of care 03/04/2018 Five London boroughs are piloting a new payment-by-results model to help keep children out of care. Brigitte Squire explains more about the scheme.
A new world of housing delivery 03/04/2018 Fraser Wells explains how a new type of partnership with the private sector is helping councils to share the risk of delivering new housing.
Digital business models could save public sector £46bn, think tank argues 28/03/2018 A reduction of duplicated administrative processes and adoption of digital business models could save the public sector billions per year, think tank claims.
Planning laws should be reformed to protect commercial space, think tank says 21/03/2018 Major cities in the North and Midlands are growing rapidly, but the Government needs to take action to protect the commercial space driving this growth, think tank says.
Labour council chiefs promise councils ‘ten new freedoms’ 20/03/2018 Labour’s council leaders promise to give councils ten new freedoms to build homes, schools and children’s centres on their party’s first day in power.
Edinburgh most attractive city for inward investment says report 20/02/2018 Investment potential shifts away from the South East as structural weaknesses around housing and infrastructure threaten UK’s most established centres, report says.
Can local government lead the world? 20/02/2018 Liz Zeidler explains why a new system has been launched to measure 'true' progress and prosperity.
Birmingham Council denies it will ‘suddenly’ move residents to new care providers 05/02/2018 Birmingham City Council has denied accusations they will move residents receiving social care services should their provider not complete the tender process.
Local government guide to social media 02/02/2018 Neil Merrick explains how local authorities can get the most from social media and avoid potential pitfalls.
Child poverty charities call for end to benefit freeze 24/01/2018 Child poverty charities are calling for an end to the benefit freeze as new figures reveal in some areas over half the children are growing up in poverty.
Ex-council deputy leader 'breached' code of conduct over parking fines 11/01/2018 The former deputy leader of Sandwell Council has breached the code of conduct for underselling a public toilet to a friend, and attempting to quash parking tickets for his wife and children.
Home carers take Christmas vote to strike 22/12/2017 Care home workers in Birmingham have balloted to go on strike in protest at job losses and new shift patterns.
Birmingham named next Commonwealth Games host city 21/12/2017 Birmingham has received an ‘early Christmas present’ by being selected as the host city of the next Commonwealth Games.
Top 100: Our most popular local government stories of 2017 13/12/2017 From council pay to the Housing White Paper, here is a run-down of the 100 most popular stories on LocalGov during 2017.
Compulsory purchase orders (CPO) 'vital' for urban regeneration 04/12/2017 The use of compulsory purchase orders (CPO) has decreased in recent years but they are still vital to facilitate urban regeneration, law firm says.
Councils make record £819m parking profit 27/11/2017 English councils made a record £819m from their parking operations in the last financial year, a new RAC report finds.
Sites of individual placement and support (IPS) trials for addiction named 22/11/2017 Seven council areas have been named as sites for individual placement and support (IPS) trials for drugs or alcohol dependency in community treatment services.
Survey reveals support for protected bike routes in cities 14/11/2017 Most people think more space should be given to cyclists on roads even when it means less room for other traffic, according to a survey.
Safeguarding the public at Christmas markets 14/11/2017 Gavin Hepburn explores what measures councils can implement to safeguard the festive markets.
Over 300,000 people are homeless in Britain, housing charity reveals 08/11/2017 Shocking new research by a housing charity has revealed that 307,000 people are homeless in Britain - more than the entire population of Newcastle.
UK cities ‘need housing and transport strategies’ 07/11/2017 UK cities are becoming more prosperous but success comes with a price tag of less affordable housing and longer commutes, according to research by PwC and Demos.
Birmingham proposes flexible ICT partnership 07/11/2017 A more flexible ICT partnership to save £43m by 2021 has been proposed by Birmingham City Council to replace the current joint venture.
80% of affordable homes lost due to legal loophole 01/11/2017 Nearly 80% of affordable homes are lost due to a legal loophole exploited by developers, housing charity reveals.
The only way is not up 27/10/2017 Could a low rise approach to the rental market play a part in solving the UK housing crisis? Dominic Martin explores what could be learnt from the US housing sector.
Inspectors find improvements in Birmingham's children's services 20/10/2017 Birmingham City Council is continuing to make progress with improving the quality of social work, inspectors have announced.
Report highlights growth in Greater Thames Valley region 20/10/2017 Nearly 37,000 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) were launched in the Greater Thames Valley in one year, a new report into the economic impact of the GTV has revealed.
Over 80% of councils leaving citizens exposed to ‘phishing attacks’, survey reveals 12/10/2017 Millions of citizens are exposed to the threat of phishing attacks, as new survey reveals 84% of local authorities in England lack adequate cyber defences.
Hull named ‘most enterprising place in Britain’ 22/09/2017 Birmingham has had to give up its crown as Hull replaces the west Midlands city as the most enterprising place in Britain.
Improvement panel to remain in Birmingham 21/09/2017 The team brought in to turn Birmingham City Council around has backtracked on its plans to withdraw.
Union suspends industrial action in Birmingham bin dispute 21/09/2017 Unite has suspended industrial action after the High Court ordered Birmingham City Council to withdraw redundancy notices it had served on 113 refuse workers.
Thousands of children not given specialist mental health care, report finds 18/09/2017 More than 50,000 children and teenagers are not being given the specialist mental health care they need, according to a new report.
Birmingham leader resigns from council 11/09/2017 The leader of Birmingham City Council, John Clancy, has stepped down amid growing pressure from the media and central government.
Birmingham selected as UK candidate to host Commonwealth Games 08/09/2017 Birmingham has been selected as the preferred UK candidate city for a potential bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Government has revealed.
Birmingham CC leader’s future in question over bin dispute 05/09/2017 Birmingham City Council leader was battling for his political survival today as he faced down calls to quit over the long-running bin dispute.
Birmingham bin strike to resume after council issues redundancy notices 01/09/2017 Bin workers in Birmingham are back on strike today after an agreement reached with the city council appeared to fall
Anti-radicalisation programme accused of Islamophobia 30/08/2017 The Government has criticised a report into its controversial anti-radicalisation programme for spreading what it describes as ‘falsehoods’ and ‘myths’.
Birmingham officers in warning over bin deal 25/08/2017 A row is brewing between Birmingham City Council’s management and senior councillors over how to end the long-running industrial dispute with bin men.
Council and police secure landmark group gang injunction 24/08/2017 The largest ever group gang injunction has been secured by Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police against 18 men.
Long-running bin strike in Birmingham is called off 17/08/2017 The seven-week bin strike in Birmingham has been suspended after trade union Unite agreed to further negotiations with the council.
‘Local industrial strategies’ needed to boost employment in cities, think tank says 16/08/2017 A think tank has called on the Government to devise ‘local industrial strategies’ in order to tackle unemployment and underemployment in the UK’s major cities.
The challenge of clean air zones 16/08/2017 With five cities being mandated to implement a charging clean air zone, what challenges are local authorities going to face in designing and implementing such schemes? Tom Henderson reports.
Birmingham bin strike could last until Christmas, union warns 14/08/2017 Birmingham City Council has publicly apologised to residents affected by an ongoing bin strike which could last until December.
Birmingham Council's scrutiny panel set to step back 04/08/2017 The team brought in to help Birmingham turn itself around has called on the secretary of state to let it step back in light of improvements and the new management team in place.
The risk of litigation 28/07/2017 Richard Clayton QC and Lee Parkhill outline the legal implications facing councils due to the community care crisis
Javid accused of ‘misleading’ MPs about funds for tower block safety 25/07/2017 Sajid Javid has been accused of misleading MPs when he said no councils had asked for extra cash to make their tower blocks safe following Grenfell disaster.
Government confirms talks over second West Midlands devolution deal 25/07/2017 Business secretary Greg Clark has suggested the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is on the brink of striking a second devolution deal with Whitehall.
Winners of £6.6bn HS2 contracts announced 17/07/2017 Ministers have announced the winning bidders to help build the first phase of HS2, awarding contracts expected to be worth £6.6bn.
Preventing the spread of extremism 30/06/2017 Prevent manager Waqar Ahmed delivers a reality check for the much-maligned counter-extremism initiative, arguing that while there are challenges to the programme, it has helped thwart potential attacks.
Capture it if you can: the billion-pound opportunity for councils 29/06/2017 Christopher Brigstocke explores how councils can use a Development Rights Auction Model (DRAM) to unlock development.
Queen's speech includes a new high speed rail Bill 21/06/2017 The Queen’s speech saw the Government prepare to take high speed rail to the North and reiterate commitments to develop the driverless and electric car industries.
Birmingham proposes to replace children's centres 20/06/2017 Birmingham City Council has launched a consultation on a plan to replace most of its children’s centres with system of ‘early years hubs’ and a network of community-based services.
RWM 2017 12/06/2017 UK’s leading non-domestic energy supplier sponsors the Utilities Keynote seminar theatre in the show’s new Supply & Demand zone.
Mayor Khan to hold vigil for victims of ‘cowardly’ terror attack 05/06/2017 The Mayor of London will hold a vigil today in memory of those killed in the weekend’s terrorist attacks as local leaders from across the country offer their support to the capital.
Refuse collection workers threaten strikes in Birmingham 31/05/2017 Refuse workers in Birmingham have started voting on strike action amid accusations of financial mismanagement and an overspend by the council of nearly £10m.
Glasgow CC faces accusations of discrimination in equal pay case 31/05/2017 Thousands of low paid women are set to make equal pay claims against Glasgow City Council after winning a court victory.
Crown Paints 23/05/2017 Sandtex Trade 365 proves its worth in cold-weather makeover.
Council ‘dissolves’ ICT joint venture 18/05/2017 Birmingham City Council has ‘dissolved’ a joint venture partnership that was designed to deliver ICT services across the council.
New mayors urged to prioritise inclusive growth 12/05/2017 One of the greatest challenges facing the newly elected metro mayors is achieving inclusive growth, new research has revealed.
Birmingham cracks down on ‘charity muggers’ 03/05/2017 Birmingham City Council has reached an agreement that will see a reduction in the number of charity fundraisers in the city centre.
Bus retrofitting 'much better value than diesel scrappage' 24/04/2017 Fitting older bus engines with environmental filters is a better use of for taxpayers’ money than a diesel car scrappage scheme, according to a new report.
Mayors: a powerful voice for local government? 24/03/2017 Will the rise of elected mayors lead to a rebirth of local democracy? Neil Merrick investigates.
Small town England must have ‘radical powers’ to make Brexit a success, says think tank 22/03/2017 Whitehall must grant small town England ‘radical new powers’ to revive moribund local economies if the country is to make a success of Brexit, think tank says.
Whitehall launches Midlands Engine ‘investment projects’ 15/03/2017 The Government today launched a new portfolio of investment projects showcasing investment opportunities in the Midlands region.
Senior councilor resigns following hijab row 03/03/2017 A council equality chief has stepped down from his role after being criticised for claiming a school had contravened the Equalities Act by banning pupils from wearing hijab headscarves.
Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP named top for economic growth 01/03/2017 Greater Birmingham & Solihull's local enterprise partnership top for economic growth, according to new figures.
Japanese knotweed: debunking the myths 28/02/2017 Although the damage caused by Japanese Knotweed is often exaggerated in the press, Dr Paul Beckett explains what councils should do to avoid being caught up in the knotweed litigation market.
Birmingham will need 'bold and tenacious' leadership to deliver financial plans 24/02/2017 Birmingham City Council will need 'bold and tenacious' leadership to deliver its latest financial plans, according to its Independent Improvement Panel.
Give councils power to charge most polluting vehicles to enter cities says report 24/02/2017 Councils are ‘vital’ for tackling air pollution in their local areas, and can use the planning system and business rate exemptions to do so, report argues.
HS2 to be given ‘green light’ 23/02/2017 HS2 is to be given the go-ahead today in a move supporters hope will deliver an additional £14bn to the UK economy.
Council finds ‘no basis’ to Trojan Horse allegations 20/02/2017 Allegations of a ‘Trojan Horse’-type takeover of a primary school in Oldham have ‘no basis’, council says.
Birmingham chief executive announces resignation 20/02/2017 The chief executive of Birmingham City Council has announced he is moving on after being part of the council’s ‘challenging journey of improvement and reform’.
School budget cuts will ‘damage’ UK economy, councils warn 16/02/2017 School funding cuts will ‘hinder’ the growth of cities and damage the UK’s economy in the long term, city councils tell Whitehall.
Birmingham approves £183m social housing investment 15/02/2017 Birmingham City Council has agreed a £183m investment package to improve its social housing stock.
Metro mayor must show they ‘mean business’ from day one 09/02/2017 The West Midland’s metro mayor should make tackling traffic congestion a priority in order to get a ‘quick policy win’ on assuming office, report says.
Regional cities enjoy ‘record levels’ of construction activity 01/02/2017 The UK’s regional cities are experiencing record levels of construction activity as real estate surveys reveal ‘buoyant’ developer sentiment.
Council to exempt care leavers from council tax 25/01/2017 Birmingham City Council today announced it is introducing a council tax exemption for care leavers to help ease the transition from care to independence.
Leicestershire top council for LGBT staff finds index 19/01/2017 Leicestershire County Council is the best local government employee for lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff, according to the results of Stonewall’s annual index.
Birmingham’s Qatari trade mission preparing city for ‘post-Brexit landscape’, leader says 18/01/2017 Birmingham City Council’s leader has hailed his trade mission to Qatar as a ‘significant step’ in the ‘battle to unlock millions’ in post-Brexit investment.
Wholly-owned company ‘best option’ for Birmingham’s children’s services 17/01/2017 A wholly-owned company (WOC) is the ‘best option’ for Birmingham’s Children’s Trust, a cabinet report says after the council’s children’s services were branded a ‘national disgrace’.
Westminster denies sending homeless residents to the Midlands 16/01/2017 Conservative-led Westminister City Council have categorically denied accusations they are sending residents in need of temporary accommodation to the Midlands.
Hundred year old tree to be axed in fight against terrorism 12/01/2017 Birmingham City Council is chopping down a one hundred year old tree as part of its new counter-terrorism measures.
£500,000 cuts threaten Birmingham museums 12/01/2017 Proposed council funding cuts could ‘significantly impact’ Birmingham’s position as a leading city for arts and culture, trust warns.
Call for PM to take ‘bold’ approach to solving social care crisis 11/01/2017 The prime minister must ‘urgently’ begin a cross-party process to find a long-term solution to the current crisis in health and social care funding, according to organisations and experts from across the sector.
London restaurants and cafes ‘most unhygienic’ in country 06/01/2017 The restaurants and cafes in London’s local authority areas are some of the most unhygienic in the country, according to a food hygiene website.
An evidence base for tackling social cohesion 04/01/2017 Professor Richard Webber explains how Big Data has been used to identify the level of diversity in every street in Britain and how councils can use this information to tackle social cohesion.
What to look out for in 2017 16/12/2016 As a turbulent 2016 draws to close what are the legal issues which loom on the 2017 horizon for local authorities?
Labour vows to double number of homes for rough sleepers 14/12/2016 Labour would double the number of homes ‘ring-fenced’ for homeless people if elected, the party announced today.
Getting to grips with social value 05/12/2016 Just why are councils still struggling to embed the Social Value Act into projects? Laura Sharman speaks to Lindsay Smith from Morgan Sindall to look at some of the opportunities and challenges presented by the Act.
Birmingham pledges to turnaround 'inadequate' children's services 28/11/2016 The new chair of Birmingham City Council’s children’s trust has insisted that the new model will deliver ‘accelerated’ change as inspectors highlighted continued failings within the authority.
Controversial Birmingham development plan to go ahead 25/11/2016 Whitehall has given the go-ahead to Birmingham’s plans to build thousands of homes on green belt land in order to address the city’s ‘acute’ housing shortage.
Autumn Statement: 'Billions' released for road and rail 23/11/2016 Philip Hammond continued the Government policy of investing in transport to lay a foundation for growth, with billions being released for road and rail.
Cities suffer ‘brain drain’ as graduates move to London 21/11/2016 UK cities are suffering a ‘brain drain’ as high-achieving graduates critical to driving economic growth flock to London.
Birmingham Council to face 'mammoth' task of balancing £49m overspend 09/11/2016 A £49m budget overspend by Birmingham City Council will mean balancing the books next year will be a ‘mammoth’ task, its improvement panel have warned.
Benefits freeze contributes to child poverty 09/11/2016 The benefits freeze and cuts to Universal Credit threatens to increase the number of children living in poverty, charities warn.
WJ 02/11/2016 Birmingham City Council’s highways partner, Amey, has launched a collaborative initiative with road marking specialist WJ to provide enhanced productivity and significant environmental benefits when carrying out recovery work on the city’s Red Routes.
Birmingham faces £712m health and social care ‘funding black hole’ 28/10/2016 Birmingham health bosses have drawn up a plan to transform the city's health and social care system in a bid to avoid an estimated £712m funding black hole in the next five years.
Councils urged to bid for £35m funding for environmentally-friendly vehicles 14/10/2016 The Government is encouraging councils to bid for funding from a multi-million pound package designed to boost the uptake of ultra-low emission taxis and cars.
Birmingham to support West Midlands business rates pilot 11/10/2016 Birmingham City Council is set to offer its support for a West Midlands-wide business rates pilot.
Greater Thames Valley’s economy ‘dwarfs’ the powerhouses 05/10/2016 The contribution of the Greater Thames Valley (GTV) to the UK economy ‘dwarfs’ that of the powerhouses of Greater Manchester and Greater Birmingham combined.
Birmingham bids for 2026 Commonwealth Games 30/09/2016 Birmingham has declared its intention to bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and has called on the entire region to support it.
How regions can keep their competitive edge 30/09/2016 Tim Smith MBE argues that connectivity and collaboration are key to keeping competitive edge post-Brexit.
Labour Government would ‘tackle’ housing crisis, Khan says 27/09/2016 A Labour Government would make ‘tackling the housing crisis’ the number one priority, says Sadiq Khan.
Tackling FGM at the local level 23/09/2016 William Eichler debunks some of the myths surrounding FGM, and explores how councils can best identify and support those at risk.
30 hours free childcare plans ‘doomed’ without proper funding 22/09/2016 Government plans to offer 30 hours free childcare ‘doomed’ without proper funding because nurseries would be forced to close down, warns school union.
Council to seize vacant land for developing 22/09/2016 Birmingham has adopted new powers to seize vacant plots from owners who refuse to develop housing as part of a plan to build tens of thousands of new homes.
Government house building figures 'ignore' 30,000 new builds, say pressure group 19/09/2016 Government house-building figures exlude around a fifth of all new build completions every year due to ‘flawed’ methodology, a new report finds.
Commission publishes changes to boundaries in Birmingham 07/09/2016 Birmingham will be represented by nineteen fewer councillors in the future, under proposals for the new electoral arrangements across the city.
Birmingham Council leader signs £2bn Chinese deal 07/09/2016 The leader of Birmingham City Council has declared his city is ‘open for business’ after signing a development deal worth up to £2bn with a Chinese company.
How will devolution affect homeless services? 06/09/2016 Alan Fraser argues that devolution can help reduce homelessness – but only with bold thinking.
Councils call for oversight of academy finances after string of abuses 26/08/2016 Council chiefs are calling for local oversight of all school finances following a series of abuses by academies and free schools.
Care home closures put 162 jobs at risk 18/08/2016 Britain’s biggest care home group is closing three of its homes putting over 150 jobs at risk because they are ‘operating at a loss’.
New programme will give 600 youths access to the arts, Whitehall claims 10/08/2016 A new programme promoting cultural engagement within disadvantaged communities will provide 600 young people increased access to the arts, the Government claims.
HS2 ‘wasteful vanity project’, campaign group says 29/07/2016 Prime minister Theresa May should scrap the 'wasteful' HS2 rail project, the TaxPayers' Alliance says.
Councils awarded £30m for environmentally-friendly buses 25/07/2016 Local authorities and bus operators have been awarded millions to buy low emmission buses.
New e-book ‘tribute’ to dedication of public sector workers 15/07/2016 An new online publication aims to show the best of what people in local government do in their everyday work.
Under-25s leaving care in Birmingham to be exempt from council tax 14/07/2016 Young people leaving care in Birmingham will not have to pay council tax following an independent commission aimed at tackling child poverty in the city.
Ofsted: Councils failing to protect vulnerable children missing from education 08/07/2016 Birmingham, Bradford and Luton are unable to protect children missing from education from harm, exploitation or extremist ideologies, Ofsted warn.
Brexit creates ‘policy vacuum’ on health and social care 06/07/2016 Brexit has left a ‘policy vacuum’ on health and social care that councils are looking to exploit, a senior NHS chair has said.
Watchdog warns HS2 could face delays 28/06/2016 The controversial HS2 railways scheme could be delayed amid concerns of an unrealistic timetable, an official report has claimed.
Former council worker jailed for fraud 27/06/2016 A former housing officer at Birmingham City Council has been sentenced to three years in prison for committing fraud against her employer.
Sunderland Council to transfer children's services to new company 23/06/2016 Sunderland has decided to set up a new organisation to deliver its children's services.
Cities of the future 21/06/2016 Sara Smith argues that cities must look to people not cars for inspiration.
Local government figures recognised in Queen's birthday honours 13/06/2016 Key figures in local government have been recognised on the Queen’s 90th birthday honours list for their services to the sector.
Sandwell children’s services facing move to voluntary trust 10/06/2016 Children’s social care services at Sandwell Council could be transferred to a voluntary trust, after being rated as 'inadequate' by inspectors last year.
Schools inspector blames 'complacency' for education failures in East Midlands 07/06/2016 Thousands of children in the East Midlands are being exposed to poor standards in education, according to the schools watchdog.
Birmingham’s children’s services to face more revelations 25/05/2016 Birmingham City Council’s under-fire children’s services department is to face fresh revelations in a documentary to be broadcast tomorrow night (26 May).
Birmingham Council's children's services to be taken over by a trust 25/05/2016 Children’s services at Birmingham City Council will now be run by a trust, after being branded a ‘national disgrace’ by inspectors.
Research reveals hike in cost of parking permits 23/05/2016 Councils have increased the cost of a residential parking permit by an average of 51% since 2011, according to new research.
London and Bristol crowned top 'smart cities' 17/05/2016 London and Bristol have been named the UK's top 'smart cities' in a new Index.
Ofsted identifies 100 illegal schools in England 17/05/2016 Councils must play their part in identifying illegal schools which may be promoting radicalism and extremism, the chief inspector has demanded.
Councils urged to take a more ‘active’ approach to integration 10/05/2016 Local authorities should publish annual measures of residential segregation as part of a ‘more muscular’ approach to managing ethnic and religious diversity, a new Civitas report argues.
Right to Buy extension to cost councils £26m a year 04/05/2016 The average English council will need to pay £26m a year to fund the Government’s Right to Buy extension, housing charity warns.
Birmingham’s shisha bars like ‘smog-hit Beijing’ 29/04/2016 Customers in some of Birmingham’s shisha bars experience pollution levels higher than those in ‘smog-hit Beijing’, report says.
Powers to tackle pollution should be devolved to councils, committee says 27/04/2016 Councils should be given powers to create Clean Air Zones to help stop 50,000 people a year dying early from pollution-related illnesses, says committee.
Councils 'eroding' Green Belt under Government pressure, says campaign 25/04/2016 There are over a quarter of a million houses planned to be built on the Green Belt despite the Government's manifesto commitment to protect rural spaces, new research reveals.
Research warns of 'hidden poverty' across country 25/04/2016 Although northern and Scottish cities have the highest concentration of vulnerable children and families, a new report has warned that pockets of ‘hidden poverty’ exist across the south and coastal areas.
'Exceptional circumstances' will see 6,000 homes built on green belt land in Birmingham 22/04/2016 Birmingham Council has been given the go-ahead to build more than 6,000 new homes on green belt land.
Birmingham considers clampdown on ‘chuggers’ 14/04/2016 Birmingham City Council is considering proposals that would see the number of face-to-face charity fundraisers in the city centre reduced by more than 70%.
Serious case review opened in case of murdered toddler Ayeeshia Jane Smith 12/04/2016 Derbyshire County Council have opened a serious case review into the circumstances surrounding the murder of 21-month-old Ayeeshia Jane Smith.
Railway developments could deliver 10,000 new properties, Government says 11/04/2016 The Government is calling on local authorities to draw up plans designed to develop housing and business around railway stations.
Former health secretary to head up Birmingham and Solihull health reforms 06/04/2016 Former health secretary Stephen Dorrell has been appointed to oversee the transformation of health and social care in Birmingham and Solihull.
Scottish council urged to settle equal pay claims 01/04/2016 Union members call on a Scottish council to settle outstanding equal pay claims they argue are being delayed because of a lack of ‘political will’.
Enterprise allowance kick-starts 80,000 new firms 30/03/2016 A Government scheme that encourages jobseekers to launch businesses has created more than 80,000 new firms in the last five years with Liverpool generating the most start-ups.
Birmingham's intervention panel to step down for six months 21/03/2016 The improvement panel at Birmingham City Council will take a six month break to allow the authority the chance to prove it has progressed.
Sandwell becomes final member of combined authority 10/03/2016 Sandwell has become the seventh and final council in the West Midlands to sign up to a proposed new combined authority.
Fast growing cities bid for devolution role 08/03/2016 The Government should give more help to medium-sized cities which are among the most economically vibrant and innovative places in the UK, according to a new report.
Banning Boycotts—Is history repeating itself? 02/03/2016 In 1988 Margaret Thatcher attempted to stop councils from boycotting apartheid South Africa. Today the Conservatives are trying to stop them from doing the same to Israel. William Eichler explores Whitehall's recent attempt to ban procurement boycotts.
£50m project to tackle youth unemployment in West Midlands 18/02/2016 A £50m project aimed at getting young people in Birmingham and Solihull into work has been approved by the city council’s cabinet.
Spending cuts put 25,000 council jobs at risk warns union 02/02/2016 More than 25,000 job cuts are being planned at 52 councils across the country, according to new figures published yesterday.
The ‘devolution revolution’ must be brought to the South West, local leaders argue 27/01/2016 Local authorities and the business community in the South West have called for more devolution in order to boost prosperity in their region.
Councils score highly in top 100 employers for LGBT staff 19/01/2016 Local authorities make up 15% of the top 100 employers for gay, bisexual and transgender staff, according to a new report.
LGA issues warning over ‘paint stripper’ skin cream 11/01/2016 Council leaders have warned the public about the dangers of buying highly toxic skin lightening creams after a number of trading standards teams seized banned products.
Rehab company to run children’s homes in Birmingham 07/01/2016 Birmingham City Council has selected the Priory Group to run five of its residential children’s homes.
Think tank warns poorer areas will struggle with new Living Wage 05/01/2016 Implementing the new National Living Wage (NLW) will be toughest in lower-paying city regions, according to a new report by the Resolution Foundation.
Ministers face legal action over air pollution plans 18/12/2015 Environmental lawyers are to mount a legal challenge against the Government over its failure to introduce Clean Air Zones in more cities.
Diesel drivers facing charges in five cities 17/12/2015 Old diesel buses and lorries could soon pay a charge for entering certain areas in Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Derby and Southampton, following plans to create new Clean Air Zones in these cities.
Birmingham residents asked for input on new ward boundaries 16/12/2015 Birmingham residents have been asked for their input in the drawing up of new ward boundaries.
Councils secure funding to help domestic abuse victims 11/12/2015 The allocation of £3.5m to support domestic abuse victims has been announced with the naming of 46 local authorities which placed successful bids.
Birmingham Council could cut 1,200 jobs 10/12/2015 Birmingham City Council has warned 1,200 jobs will be lost as it tries to find savings of £250m over the next four years.
Birmingham 'turning a corner' says progress report 08/12/2015 Birmingham City Council is ‘turning a corner’ but will need more time to restore itself as a ‘leader in local government’, according to the latest progress report.
Alumasc 07/12/2015 Alumasc's Euroroof Caltech waterproofing system has been installed on the roofs at California House, providing a significant increase to the operational life of this 42-flat retirement/sheltered housing complex in Bartley Green, Birmingham.
New plan for Midlands ‘engine’ could help create 300,000 jobs 04/12/2015 A new plan to make the Midlands an ‘engine of growth’ which could help create 300,000 jobs and boost the national economy by £34bn will be unveiled today at the University of Birmingham.
John Lewis boss secures role at the DCLG 18/11/2015 The managing director of upmarket department store chain John Lewis has been appointed to a top position advising local government ministers.
Delivering on digital 04/11/2015 Alan Mo outlines some the barriers facing councils looking at digital transformation
Fife Council reaches multi-million pound equal pay settlement 28/10/2015 Fife Council has reached a multi-million pound equal pay settlement with 1,400 low paid, predominantly female workers.
Public back increased spending on cycling 23/10/2015 Three-quarters of people want the Government to increase investment in making cycling safer, according to a new survey.
Sandwell votes to join combined authority 21/10/2015 Sandwell Council has voted in favour of joining the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
Can devolution boost council revenues? 19/10/2015 Waheed Nazir outlines how devolution agreements can kick-start projects and generate income for local authorities.
Sir Albert announces he is to quit as Birmingham leader 14/10/2015 Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council has announced he will step down from his post after pressure from his post amid growing pressure for him to quit.
Solihull signs up to combined authority 14/10/2015 Solihull Council has voted in favour of joining the West Midlands Combined Authority as a constituent member.
Councils urged to adopt 'data-driven' solutions 08/10/2015 New York can be a model for councils looking to drive ‘data-driven solutions’ locally, claims a Socitm briefing.
District councils should 'lead the way' in the new devolutionary landscape 08/10/2015 District councils should lead the way in ensuring devolution delivers improved services and outcomes for people and places through better collaboration, according to a new report.
Devolution deals should include power to tackle crime says Westminster 02/10/2015 Local government is entering the ‘most critical period’ in its history and must seize the opportunities offered by devolution, according to the leader of Westminster City Council.
UK’s worst areas for air pollution revealed 28/09/2015 Union leaders have called for urgent action on air pollution after publishing a list of 18 areas across the UK where levels exceed safe limits.
Poor leadership could delay West Midlands devo deal, minister warns 17/09/2015 A devolution deal for the West Midlands could be delayed because of poor leadership, local government minister Greg Clark has warned.
Cities should consider vehicle ban to cut pollution, says Defra 15/09/2015 London, Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Southampton and Derby have been told to consider banning some vehicles from their city centres to tackle air pollution.
Birmingham leader under fire over communications 14/09/2015 Birmingham City Council’s Labour leader has been accused of failing to communicate effectively over plans to transform the beleaguered local authority.
New parish council set for Sutton Coldfield 10/09/2015 Plans to create a new town council in Sutton Coldfield have moved a step closer, following Birmingham City Council’s recommendation to set up a new parish council.
Birmingham awarded improvement funding 01/09/2015 Birmingham City Council has been awarded a £4.37m grant to speed up work on its improvement programme.
Approval granted for Worcestershire’s £22m railway station 26/08/2015 Worcestershire County Council has granted planning permission for a new railway station as part of its Strategic Economic Plan to create 25,000 new jobs by 2025.
Councils refute 'wasting' millions on media monitoring 24/08/2015 Britain's biggest local authority has hit back at claims in a national newspaper that it has 'wasted' huge sums of money checking how it is reported in the media.
Multi-million pound PPP schools investment launched 18/08/2015 A £187m public-private partnership has been launched to revamp eight schools in the Midlands.
West Midlands warned it has been ‘outmanoeuvred’ by Greater Manchester 13/08/2015 The West Midlands has been ‘outmanoeuvred’ on devolution by Greater Manchester in the national push for a Northern Powerhouse, according to Birmingham’s former council leader.
Councils urged to 'step up' support for survivors of FGM 23/07/2015 Politicians and policy makers at all levels are being urged to act on a new report mapping out the prevalence of female genital mutilation across England and Wales.
West Midlands leaders agree power sharing deal 17/07/2015 Each of the seven councils in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is poised to take responsibility over a different regional portfolio.
Councils triple number of bus lanes fines since 2010 14/07/2015 Councils fined motorists at least £30m last year for straying into bus lanes, according to new figures.
West Midlands Combined Authority reveals its plans 06/07/2015 The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has published its plans to tackle infrastructure, economic growth and public sector reform across the region.
Birmingham equal pay claimants ‘died waiting’, claims law firm 25/06/2015 Birmingham City Council has been accused of taking so long to settle equal pay claims that former staff have died before receiving their settlements.
Awards glory for Cheshire West and Chester Council 19/06/2015 Cheshire West and Chester Council was last night named as winner of The MJ's Best Achieving Council category in a glittering awards ceremony attended by 900 guests.
LGA elects new president 16/06/2015 Lord Kerslake has been appointed as the new president-elect of the Local Government Association (LGA).
Council rules out combined authority referendum 15/06/2015 Coventry City Council has ruled out holding a referendum on its decision to consider joining the West Midlands combined authority, saying it would be too expensive and difficult to organise in the timeframe available.
Rocky road for Combined Authorities? 15/06/2015 Max Lempriere identifies four main challenges and lessons for councils creating Combined Authorities.
Parking permit postcode lottery sees councils charging £750 or 50p 12/06/2015 Motorists face a ‘postcode lottery’ on parking charges outside their own home, with some councils charging 10 times more than the national average – research reveals.
London borough seeks partnerships to build homes outside capital 10/06/2015 A London borough is planning to partner with other councils and build homes outside the capital, admitting ‘there isn’t enough space’ in its own boundaries.
Lincoln wins top scrutiny award 04/06/2015 Lincoln City Council has secured a top award for its project to tackle poverty locally.
Council duo inch closer to joining West Midlands Combined Authority 20/05/2015 A pair of councils has moved a step closer to joining the West Midlands Combined Authority, as town halls leap on Osborne’s devolution vows.
Council accused of 'social cleansing' over tenant relocation letter 06/05/2015 A London borough has been accused of ‘social cleansing’ after sending a letter offering to pay local tenants to move 129 miles away to Birmingham.
Birmingham deploys latest apps for election results 06/05/2015 Birmingham City Council is bang up to date with information technology for the General Election.
Teachers given training on radicalisation 06/05/2015 School and college leaders are to be offered seminars to help them stop young people being drawn into extremism and radicalisation.
Cameron tells councils to stop ‘picking on poor motorist’ 30/04/2015 David Cameron has urged councils to stop ‘picking on the poor motorist’ and introduce free parking in town centres.
Smart motorways 'confusing' motorists says charity 16/04/2015 There is still confusion surrounding the use of smart motorways 12 months after their introduction, according to road safety experts.
Government in Supreme Court over ‘illegal’ air pollution levels 16/04/2015 The Government could be forced to launch new air pollution plans following a hearing in the UK’s highest court today.
Councils call for grooming bans to prevent abuse 26/03/2015 Town hall chiefs are calling for new powers to help stop children being groomed for sex.
Government crowns 16 councils as ‘open data champions’ 25/03/2015 A group of 16 councils have been named ‘open data champions’ by government for their work to expand digital working.
University of Birmingham 23/03/2015 INLOGOV and 21st Century Public Management: Introducing a radically different Masters programme
Cameron voices ‘anger’ over Birmingham Library closure plan 20/03/2015 David Cameron has expressed ‘anger’ over planned cuts to opening hours at Birmingham Library put forward by the city council.
Birmingham reveals unprecedented housing plan 12/03/2015 Birmingham has unveiled its biggest ever house building plan to cope with a rise in population equivalent to Oxford over the next 16 years.
Protesters disrupt Birmingham’s budget meeting 04/03/2015 Protesters interrupted Birmingham’s annual budget meeting yesterday, shouting ‘shame on you’ as the council approved a £105m cuts package.
Eight cities discover their share of £114m cycling fund 02/03/2015 Eight major cities have learned what share of a £114m Government cycling pot they are set to receive.
CIPFA 24/02/2015 CIPFA’s Asset Management Planning Conference: 'Using assets to regenerate communities'
Councils attacked for food hygiene ‘postcode lottery’ 13/02/2015 Too many councils are failing to enforce food hygiene standards and London boroughs are among the worst offenders, according to a new study.
Three UK cities named among world's most sustainable locations 12/02/2015 Three of England's cities have been ranked ahead of New York, Tokyo and Rome in a list of the world's most sustainable cities.
Birmingham set to approve £58m council housing upgrade 10/02/2015 Birmingham City Council is poised to green-light home improvements for over 6,000 local authority properties under a £58m investment programme.
Devolution to cities could raise £222bn, says think tank 09/02/2015 Cities with stronger powers over tax and spending could raise an extra £222bn for the country by 2030, a report claims.
Antisemitic attacks in UK rise to highest ever levels 06/02/2015 The number of antisemitic incidents in the UK has reached its highest ever recorded level, as communities are urged to stamp out prejudice.
Council cleared of blame over death of baby twins 29/01/2015 A council has been told it was not at fault over the death of two babies last year after paramedics were unable to enter a block of flats.
Growth Deals expanded with £1bn injection 29/01/2015 The Government has invested a further £1bn in local Growth Deals, in moves Nick Clegg claims mark ‘the death of the culture where Whitehall calls the shots’.
Cities enter investment ‘beauty parade’ at Downing Street 28/01/2015 Three city region leaders were invited to Downing Street yesterday for a ‘beauty parade’ to present their regeneration projects to 50 UK and international investors.
Birmingham improvement panel announced 22/01/2015 The panel drafted in to help improve Birmingham City Council to work with the troubled authority has been announced.
How safe are your cities' roads? 14/01/2015 A new study reveals just how much each city spends on road safety, and what impact this has on accident rates.
Councils spend £5bn ‘re-hiring staff’ 14/01/2015 Councils are spending up to £5bn to rehire staff they have previously made redundant, a new investigation has revealed.
Birmingham hits back after ‘terror expert’ claims it is ‘totally Muslim’ 13/01/2015 Birmingham City Council has dismissed ‘curious’ comments made by a Fox News ‘terror expert’, who claimed the region was ‘totally Muslim’.
Birmingham revamps whistleblowing process 08/01/2015 Birmingham City Council has introduced a new policy to make it easier for whistleblowers to report their concerns.
Councils warned over breaking free school transport promises 08/01/2015 Local authorities have been urged to be wary of changing school transport policies without checking prior commitments after a council was told to reinstate a boy’s travel pass.
Talks begin to protect Birmingham’s library service 07/01/2015 Birmingham City Council has welcomed a proposal for the Library of Birmingham to become a regional centre for the British Library.
Country’s top cities named for new businesses 05/01/2015 Birmingham has been named the top-performing UK city for new businesses outside of the south east, in a historic year for start-ups.
The sector reacts to the finance settlement 19/12/2014 Our round up of reaction to yesterday's finance settlement for local government.
Top 100 local government stories of 2014 16/12/2014 See our countdown of the 100 most popular stories on LocalGov during 2014, with strike action and pay discontent dominating the headlines.
Council signs new joint-working deal with faith groups 12/12/2014 A council has become the first to sign a new 'Faith Covenant' with local religious groups, forming a contract for future collaboration.
Birmingham to cut 6,000 jobs under £300m saving plan 11/12/2014 Some 6,000 more jobs will be cut at Birmingham City Council over the next four years, under efforts to save over £300m.
Coventry will never be run from Birmingham, leader insists 11/12/2014 Coventry’s council leader has vowed the city will never be run from Birmingham if it joins the West Midlands combined authority.
Birmingham warned to 'radically' improve or face intervention 09/12/2014 Birmingham Council has been warned to ‘radically improve’ the way it is run and delivers services in an independent review published today.
Autumn Statement: Experts question £15bn road investment 03/12/2014 At the heart of the infrastructure strategy for this Autumn Statement is a £15bn spending plan for the strategic road network, together with £5.8bn for local road maintenance, £2.3bn flood defence investment and a new cash boost for cycling.
Historic 93 council bid to end casino-style gambling 28/11/2014 A coalition of 93 councils from across the country are today demanding the Government ends casino-style gambling on high streets.
Cities win support in historic cycling investment 27/11/2014 The single largest government investment in cycling will include a hundred million pound package to support riders in England’s cities.
Child sexual exploitation inquiry prompts renewed commitment from Birmingham 25/11/2014 Birmingham has emphasised its commitment to tackling child sexual exploitation after an inquiry found 132 young people were vulnerable to or experiencing abuse.
Tower Hamlets denies 'Trojan Horse' in borough 21/11/2014 Tower Hamlets has denied its schools were subject to ‘Trojan Horse’ style Islamic infiltration, following Ofsted inspections.
Council uses ‘innovative legal approach’ to protect vulnerable woman 20/11/2014 Birmingham City Council has secured injunctions against a number of men in what it described as a ‘ground-breaking approach’ to protect vulnerable people.
Birmingham to slash energy and water spending by a third 11/11/2014 A new utilities management strategy could see Birmingham City Council save almost a third of its annual £25million bill, according to a report.
Councils reveal West Midlands combined authority plan 07/11/2014 Birmingham and four Black Country council leaders have announced plans to unite as a West Midlands combined authority.
Greater Manchester set to win 'metro mayor' 31/10/2014 Chancellor George Osborne is set to announce plans for a new mayor for Greater Manchester, as devolution rhetoric builds before the General Election.
Birmingham sets out which services are at risk 23/10/2014 Birmingham City Council has warned it must make cuts of £300m more by 2018, saying next year’s budget will be the ‘hardest’ yet.
Public meeting to debate future of Birmingham City Council 22/10/2014 Birmingham residents are being urged to have their say at a public meeting being held next month as part of an independent review into the city council’s performance.
Report predicts six scenarios for local government in 2020 15/10/2014 Councils that fail to innovate and adapt to the tough funding climate will face a ‘slow and painful demise’ over the next five years, a new report has warned.
Report: Birmingham urged to hand down power over children’s services 14/10/2014 Birmingham City Council must devolve decision-making powers over children and young people’s services to its neighbourhoods if it is to tackle deep-seated inequality, a report has warned.
Pre-paid benefit card plan outlined by Iain Duncan Smith 30/09/2014 Welfare claimants could receive benefits on a pre-paid card to curb spending on ‘destructive habits’, work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has announced.
Parkeon 29/09/2014 Earlier in the year, Parkeon successfully tendered for the supply and installation of 43 Parkeon Strada Rapide terminals to Birmingham City Council.
Water-stinker! Firm heats Birmingham homes with ‘processed poo’ 29/09/2014 Gas from 2.5 million people’s ‘processed poo’ has begun to heat homes in Birmingham, under landmark moves by a water company.
Communities won’t accept ‘half-measures’ on devolution, cities warn 26/09/2014 The Core Cities Group has warned communities will not accept ‘half measures’ over devolution in a strongly worded letter to Government.
New education commissioner appointed to oversee Trojan Horse response 25/09/2014 Birmingham's beleaguered schools and academies are to be overseen by former chief inspector of schools Sir Mike Tomlinson.
Labour supports ‘any city’ that requests London-style transport powers 23/09/2014 Labour has pledged to ‘support any city’ that wants London-style powers over local transport and ticketing if it takes power in 2015.
Council investigates claim pupils received single chicken nugget for lunch 22/09/2014 A council is launching an investigation into claims local reception children received only one chicken nugget for their school lunch.
Birmingham to cut another 6,000 jobs 17/09/2014 Up to 6,000 council jobs are to be axed in Birmingham over the next four years, as the leader of the council announces its workforce will be dramatically reduced.
No notice Ofsted inspections announced for 40 schools 16/09/2014 Ofsted has begun 40 no notice school inspections in the wake of the alleged ‘Trojan Horse’ extremism scandal.
TPA: trade unions received £108m taxpayers’ subsidy last year 10/09/2014 Trade unions received a £108m subsidy from taxpayers in 2012-13, including £85m in paid staff time, according to a new report.
15 regions share £82m to tackle social isolation 08/09/2014 Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester are among 15 areas set to receive £82m of Lottery funding to reduce social isolation in 200,000 older people.
Review into Birmingham City Council gets underway 05/09/2014 An independent review into the size, leadership and financial planning of Birmingham City Council has begun today with a call for evidence.
Landlords in West Midlands to trial ‘right to rent’ checks 04/09/2014 Private landlords in the West Midlands will soon be expected to check whether prospective tenants are in the UK legally.
Disabled pound worth £212bn to high streets, says minister 27/08/2014 High streets have been urged to cater for disabled people, after figures suggested the ‘purple pound’ was worth up to £212bn.
Councils seize toxic cigarettes in illegal trade crack down 26/08/2014 Local authorities have seized millions of black market cigarettes containing high-levels of cancer causing chemicals as part of a crack down on illegal trade.
Birmingham appoints new children’s service director 20/08/2014 Birmingham City Council has appointed a new executive director of children’s services to spearhead ‘substantial change’ at the town hall.
Revealed: The top ten bizarre questions posed to councils 18/08/2014 A demand to know what plans are in place to protect Wigan from dragon attacks has topped the list of the wackiest Freedom of Information (FOI) requests sent to councils.
City sees record visitor numbers 13/08/2014 A historic year for tourism in Birmingham has seen a record 34 million visitors travelling to the city over the past twelve months.
Suicide victim was worried about ‘bedroom tax’, coroner finds 13/08/2014 A woman who committed suicide last year was suffering from ‘considerable anxiety and stress’ thanks to the ‘bedroom tax’, a coroner has ruled.
Call for Birmingham's children's chief to resign 07/08/2014 Birmingham City Council’s shadow cabinet member for children and family services has called for his counterpart to resign over the ‘abject failure of her department’.
Successful councils chosen for assets programme 06/08/2014 Twenty councils have been chosen to take part in a scheme designed to help them drive better value from their assets.
Core Cities and LEPs unite to boost business 31/07/2014 England’s largest cities have partnered with eight Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to boost national support for businesses.
Cities poised to hand diesel drivers extra charges 29/07/2014 London and other regions are understood to be looking at ways to curb emissions from diesel cars, including introducing extra charges, in efforts comply with clean air rules from Europe.
Record number of sites win Green Flag 29/07/2014 Britain’s parks and public spaces are awash with green after a record number of UK spaces were awarded Green Flag Awards.
Education commissioner to oversee Birmingham 23/07/2014 Birmingham City Council has welcomed Government plans for an education commissioner in the city, who will oversee local improvement.
Major cities launch new push for devolution 21/07/2014 England’s eight largest cities will tonight launch a major campaign demanding more financial freedoms for the country’s key urban areas.
Birmingham named as new HS2 construction HQ 21/07/2014 Birmingham is to become the headquarters for construction of High Speed 2 (HS2), in a move expected to support wide-reaching local regeneration plans.
‘Swathes’ of the country missing out on recovery 17/07/2014 Huge areas of the UK are missing out on the economic recovery, with the North East and Northern Ireland having employment levels way below the average, according to new figures.
Council chief hits back at Ofsted boss 14/07/2014 The chief executive of Birmingham City Council has hit back at the head of Ofsted after he attacked the authority in an appearance before MPs.
Councils share £60m for new homes via Government borrowing scheme 08/07/2014 The Government has announced 15 councils have secured £60m of finance to help build more than 1,000 new affordable homes.
CIPFA Finance Apprenticeships 27/06/2014 The CIPFA one year Apprenticeship Scheme recruits and trains ambitious young individuals as an alternative to university.
Councils' liabilities soar to £180bn claims new report 26/06/2014 Local authorities have long-term borrowings totalling £180bn and risk burdening future generations with debt, according to new research from the TaxPayers Alliance.
Birmingham renegotiates contract for £150m savings 24/06/2014 Birmingham City Council is expecting to find multi-million pound savings by renegotiating an ICT contract and taking its contact centre back in house.
Empty homes focus raises extra revenue for Birmingham 24/06/2014 The decision to remove council tax exemption for empty homes has helped generate £777,000 of extra revenue for Birmingham City Council.
Report: Glasgow ward hit five times harder by welfare reforms 23/06/2014 New research shows Scotland’s poorest communities have been hit hardest by welfare reforms with one area of Glasgow losing five times as much support as the least affected ward.
Councils push for powers over all local schools 16/06/2014 Powers to intervene in failing schools must be returned to councils if standards are to be upheld, according to local authority chiefs.
Birmingham Council could go bankrupt in 18 months, MP warns 13/06/2014 A MP has warned Birmingham City Council could go bankrupt in just over a year, as calls mount for a local leadership rethink.
After Trojan Horse - the moral imperative to care for our children 12/06/2014 In the aftermath of the 'Trojan Horse' findings, the Birmingham City Council chief executive outlines the authority's commitment to child-centred, values-based leadership.
Inspectors find Birmingham ‘failed to support’ schools protecting children from extremism 10/06/2014 Birmingham City Council ‘failed to support’ a number of schools in protecting children from extremism, Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw has said.
Cameron calls for ‘robust response’ to alleged Trojan Horse schools 09/06/2014 Education inspectors Ofsted will today publish the findings of ‘Trojan Horse’ investigations into alleged extremism in 21 Birmingham schools.
Birmingham failing city’s vulnerable children, says watchdog 23/05/2014 Birmingham Council is failing to protect children and young people and is hamstrung by ‘long standing and historical corporate and political failures’, according Ofsted.
Birmingham wins top gong at Chelsea 23/05/2014 Birmingham City Council and the Royal British Legion’s display at the Chelsea Flower Show has been awarded a gold medal.
Majority want a say on 20mph zones 20/05/2014 The AA has called for local authorities to consult residents before imposing 20mph zones, following a poll suggesting the majority of people want a say.
Councils 'firefighting' way through tough times, says report 20/05/2014 Many local authorities are 'firefighting' their way through cuts and focusing too heavily on reducing staff, according to a new report.
Chiltern planners send Ozzy batty 14/05/2014 Local planners in Chiltern DC have rejected a proposal from legendary heavy metal frontman Ozzy Osbourne to convert a barn on his Buckinghamshire estate into a two-bedroom home - because of ‘considerable evidence’ that bats and owls live in the grounds.
Free and fair elections? 23/04/2014 Following suggestions the availability of postal voting on demand leaves the electoral system open to fraud, what will this mean for the forthcoming local government elections?
Tackling physical inactivity in our local communities 23/04/2014 How councils can make a real difference to the' inactivity time bomb'.
Takeaway meat scare prompts prioritised council testing 17/04/2014 Councils are being asked to examine 300 food samples from takeaway restaurants, after lamb dishes across the UK were revealed to contain substitute meat.
Council leader: Ex-terrorism chief's appointment is missed opportunity 16/04/2014 The leader of Birmingham City Council has described the appointment of a former counter-terrorism chief to review the Trojan Horse allegations as a ‘missed opportunity’.
Birmingham brings in Trojan Horse advisor 15/04/2014 A former headteacher has been appointed to advise Birmingham Council amid allegations that hard-line Muslims have been attempting to take over the running of schools in the city.
Police overshadow councils in use of data gathering powers 09/04/2014 Less than 1 in 100 requests to use data gathering powers last year were made by local authorities, a report by the Commissioner for Interception has revealed.
Devolution ‘essential’ to national growth, Miliband says 08/04/2014 A future Labour Government would use greater devolution of power to drive national economic recovery, party leader Ed Miliband has confirmed.
Birmingham children’s services to be overseen by independent commissioner 28/03/2014 Running of Birmingham City Council’s children’s services will be overseen by an external commissioner under government plans to support local improvement.
Birmingham City Council’s pensions deficit will take 22 years to plug 26/03/2014 England’s largest council will take at least 22 years to plug its deficit with the £10bn West Midlands Pension Fund.
Birmingham Council ‘lost’ disabled child in system for four years 20/03/2014 Birmingham City Council ‘lost’ contact with a disabled child for four years, according to a report from the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO).
Councils sign declaration for social inclusion 18/03/2014 Leaders of local authorities across the country have pledged to work together to tackle social inequality.
Devolve powers to tackle youth unemployment, says LGA 18/03/2014 A third of young people could be out of work or underemployed by 2018 if councils are not given stronger powers, a report claims.
Council leader: Regional funding inequalities are scandalous 14/03/2014 A West Midlands council leader has branded regional funding inequalities ‘scandalous’.
Birmingham Council to sell off NEC Group 05/03/2014 Birmingham City Council has announced plans to sell off the NEC Group, which includes the National Exhibition Centre and two arenas.
South Lanarkshire Council reaches equal pay settlement 28/02/2014 South Lanarkshire Council has reached a settlement on its long-running equal pay dispute, involving more than 3,000 people.
'Bleak' day as Birmingham cuts 1,000 jobs 12/02/2014 Trade unions have reacted in dismay at the news Birmingham City Council is to cut a further 1,000 jobs, calling it a ‘bleak’ day for the local authority.
Councils facing ‘financial crisis’ warns Sir Albert Bore 12/02/2014 The leader of Birmingham City Council, Sir Albert Bore, has warned cuts to funding from 2015 will create a financial crisis for many councils, making it difficult to deliver statutory services.
LGA: Grant councils power to protect cyclists 10/02/2014 Cyclists could be better protected if councils were granted stronger powers to target dangerous drivers, leaders have said.
First 20mph speed limits come into force in Bristol 22/01/2014 All roads in central Bristol will now have a 20mph speed limit, following the success of two pilot schemes.
Adoption campaign begins in Birmingham 20/01/2014 Birmingham City Council has launched a campaign to locate local adopters and foster carers, deploying prime-time television advertising and a new website.
Birmingham Council could sell off assets to settle £1bn equal pay bill 15/01/2014 Birmingham City Council is to consider selling off assets to help meet the £1bn cost of equal pay claims.
Osborne says further cuts needed in year of ‘hard truths’ 06/01/2014 Britain can expect further government spending cuts as it contends with a year of ‘hard truths’, chancellor George Osborne has indicated.
Brandon Lewis accused of 'living in cloud cuckoo land' 19/12/2013 Backbench MPs have disputed Government claims that yesterday’s local government finance settlement is ‘fair to all parts of the country’.
Commission slates ‘disappointing’ Birmingham for missing audit deadline 12/12/2013 Spending watchdogs have singled out Birmingham City Council for censure after it failed to meet a deadline for delivering audited or unaudited financial accounts.
Birmingham Council to cut 1,000 more jobs 10/12/2013 Birmingham City Council has warned 1,000 more jobs will need to cut this year, as it tries to find savings of £840m by 2017/18.
Birmingham Council hits back at claims over Santa 04/12/2013 Birmingham City Council has hit back at claims that Santa has been axed due to council cuts.
Birmingham issues cannabis ‘scratch and sniff’ cards 03/12/2013 Residents have been issued with ‘scratch and sniff’ cards to recognise the smell of cannabis in a bid to crack down on the cultivation of cannabis in social housing
Councils' 'beggars' warning ahead of new immigration wave 02/12/2013 Councils have called for greater powers to deal with ‘aggressive beggars’ ahead of a possible influx of Romanian and Bulgarian immigrants in 2014.
City leaders seek fast-track to devolution and HS2 21/11/2013 Leaders of the Core Cities urge prime minister to expedite the delivery of both phases of HS2 rail project in call for financial independence.
Birmingham failed to tackle anti-social behaviour, Ombudsman rules 19/11/2013 A woman endured two years of anti-social behaviour from her neighbour due to failings by Birmingham City Council, the Local Government Ombudsman has ruled.
Birmingham children's services in Government takeover threat 14/11/2013 The Government has threatened to take over Birmingham City Council’s under-performing children’s services.
Is your authority a top health performer? 12/11/2013 A comprehensive guide to how each English local authority is performing in tackling ill-health.
Serious Case Reviews 11/11/2013 What is a Serious Care Review?
Councils back amendment giving 'teeth' to ASBO replacement 11/11/2013 A cross-party coalition of councils has today given public support for a proposed amendment to the Anti-social behaviour, crime and policing Bill, aimed at giving ‘teeth’ to the replacement for ASBOs.
Birmingham launches free super-fast Wi-Fi 06/11/2013 Super-fast free Wi-Fi is now available in Birmingham city centre, offering visitors unlimited data services across a 2.5 square mile zone.
Why 20 is plenty 25/10/2013 Sustrans welcomes Birmingham City Council’s public consultation for 20mph on 90% of the city’s roads.
Birmingham council consults on city-wide 20mph speed limits 22/10/2013 Birmingham City Council has begun its public consultation on introducing a 20mph speed limit on most of its roads.
O2 opens Local Government Digital Fund 21/10/2013 A telecoms provider has made £250,000 of support available for councils looking to develop technological solutions to local challenges.
JSA claimants fall by 40k over last month, figures suggest 21/10/2013 The number of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimants fell by over 40,000 during the last month, with Birmingham seeing the largest annual drop.
Briefing: National Children and Adults Services Conference 2013 16/10/2013 This year’s National Children and Adults Services Conference in Harrogate made the headlines.
Councils prepare legal challenge to ‘catastrophic’ HS2 11/10/2013 Ten local authorities will challenge the Government in Supreme Court next week over its High Speed 2 (HS2) project.
Minister warns councils to track teenagers properly 11/10/2013 Councils are being warned to properly track the activity of 16-18 year olds, after new figures revealed some councils have no information about their teenage population.
Regulating ‘chuggers’ out of existence? 10/10/2013
Birmingham agrees to settle equal pay bill 03/10/2013 An agreement to settle the backdated equal pay claim has been reached between Birmingham City Council and trade unions.
Council ‘unequivocally sorry’ for safeguarding failings 03/10/2013 A senior council officer has admitted that his authority’s apology for its role in the death of two-year-old Keanu Williams ‘may ring hollow’.
Council cuts will lead to surge in pest problems, association warns 02/10/2013 Funding cuts could lead to an increase in pest infestations, a new survey is warning.
Charities criticise Birmingham’s byelaw on chuggers 26/09/2013 A group of charities have hit out at a proposed byelaw in Birmingham, which would restrict street fundraising.
Birmingham Council plans 20mph speed limit on 90% of roads 23/09/2013 Birmingham City Council has announced 90% of its roads will have a 20mph speed limit.
Senior management shake-up at Birmingham announced 19/09/2013 Birmingham City Council has announced a restructuring of its top team.
Birmingham chief executive to retire 19/09/2013 The chief executive of Birmingham City Council has announced he is to retire in the new year.
Third of re-assessed councils miss child protection standards 18/09/2013 Ofsted have judged that one in three councils where inspectors have previously unearthed weaknesses in child protection services are still missing minimum standards.
Council and Ofsted criticised for failings over abuse at nursery 27/08/2013 Birmingham City Council and Ofsted failed to investigate abuse suspicions at Little Stars nursery, according to a serious case review published today.
Council failed to investigate abuse at Little Stars nursery, review finds 27/08/2013 A serious case review into abuse at Little Stars nursery in 2010 has been published, identifying failings by both the local authority and Ofsted.
Darling urges U-turn on 'foolish' HS2 commitment 23/08/2013 Former chancellor Alistair Darling has added his voice to calls urging the Coalition to scrap the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project.
Council use of bailiffs 'excessive' says debt charity boss 22/08/2013 Councils have called bailiffs to chase local tax arrears more than 1.8 million times in the last year, a national debt advice charity has reported.
Cuts undermining Big Society agenda, think tank finds 16/08/2013 Spending cuts are undermining the Big Society by weakening the powers of local authorities and charities, according to a think tank.
Watchdog urged to examine local government funding 15/08/2013 The leader of Birmingham City Council is calling on the spending watchdog to examine the viability of local government if the Government’s funding cuts go ahead.
Former council leaders claim House of Lords seats 02/08/2013 Three former council leaders will be among 30 new members of the House of Lords, Downing Street has announced.
Seven councils receive £1.9m to reduce B&B families 01/08/2013 Seven councils are to receive a share of £1.9m to cut the number of homeless families placed in Bed and Breakfasts.
Council leaders join HS2 taskforce 01/08/2013 The leaders of Birmingham, Sheffield and Trafford councils will all be part of the Government's HS2 growth taskforce, it has been announced.
Making diversity less divisive 31/07/2013 Local authorities and other public agencies have been complicit in disempowering ethnic minority communities by supporting a series of self-appointed community leaders who act as ‘gatekeepers’.
Birmingham leaves government public health responsibility deal 31/07/2013 Birmingham City Council’s public health chiefs have taken away their support for the Government’s responsibility deal on public health in protest at recent Whitehall decisions to backtrack on plans to introduce minimum alcohol pricing and plain packa
Councils lose HS2 appeal 25/07/2013 The Court of Appeal yesterday dismissed all appeals brought against the Department for Transport’s (DfT) decision to progress with High Speed 2 (HS2) by an alliance of 15 local authorities, HS2Action Alliance and Heathrow Hub Limited.
Councils made £270m from parking fines last year 15/07/2013 Councils generated £270m in parking tickets last year, according to figure uncovered through the Freedom of Information Act.
Local authorities - the new house builders 12/07/2013 If councils are to become the new house builders, what challenges must they overcome first?
LGiU: Whitehall silos could stymie neighbourhood budget expansion 09/07/2013 Ambitions to expand neighbourhood community budgets to a further 100 areas could be undermined by a lack of Whitehall support, expert warns.
Government extends community budgets programme 09/07/2013 Ministers have announced a further £4.3m funding package to extend the Neighbourhood Community Budget Pilots to a further 100 areas.
Claimants unprepared for Universal Credit, reports suggest 09/07/2013 The overwhelming majority of people likely to claim Universal Credit (UC) are not prepared to deal with the single-payment benefit reform by the time it is rolled out nationally, research has indicated.
Children missing out on the benefits of education 25/06/2013 Schools are not silos and we must ensure that all schools work together to raise standards for every child, says Andy Sawford.
Merton scoops MJ awards best performing council accolade 21/06/2013 London borough has been named the best performing council in the UK at the prestigious annual local government awards organised by The MJ.
Solihull and Greater Manchester LEP launch masterplan 20/06/2013 Solihull MBC and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership have launched a masterplan to create 100,000 new jobs.
Educational underperformance shifts to rural areas 20/06/2013 Educational underperformance has shifted from England’s inner-cities to leafy suburbs, rural and coastal areas, Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw has claimed today.
Number of council sick days rise in Birmingham 18/06/2013 Birmingham City Council has announced new measures to tackle staff absence after figures showed the number of sick days has risen to an average of 12.4 days a year.
Doing things differently 14/06/2013 Local authorities need to do things differently – and the Government can help by giving us new powers to deliver services in more innovative ways.
District councils role in supporting City Deals promoted 13/06/2013 A collection of articles on the role to be played by district councils in supporting the City Deal initiative has been published by the District Councils' Network (DCN).
Local Enterprise Zones to receive £100m infrastructure boost 10/06/2013 The Government is set to roll out a £100m fund for transport and infrastructure investment in Local Enterprise Zones, communities secretary Eric Pickles announced today.
Government back in court over HS2 10/06/2013 A group of 15 local authorities led by Buckinghamshire CC have taken the Department for Transport (DfT) to the Appeal Court today, in attempts to block the HS2 high speed Rail line.
Funding offered to 16 councils to 'raise their game' on homelessness 06/06/2013 The Government has urged 16 councils to reduce the number of families living in bed and breakfast accommodation.
Funding offered to 16 councils to ‘raise their game’ on homelessness 06/06/2013 The Government has urged 16 councils to reduce the number of families living in bed and breakfast accommodation, offering them a share of £2m to implement best practice.
Birmingham hits out over housing revenue cap 31/05/2013 Ministers have checked Birmingham City Council’s ambitions to develop 80,000 new homes by 2031 by arguing councils cannot go on ‘credit-card’ borrowing sprees.
Britain holding ‘welfare ghettos’, think tank says 21/05/2013 Towns across Britain hold ‘welfare ghettos’ where over half of working age residents are dependent on out of work benefits, a think tank has said.
TPA publishes town hall rich list 13/05/2013 At least 2,525 council staff were paid more than £100,000 a year in 2011-12, according to the latest ‘town hall rich list’ from the Taxpayers’ Alliance.
Councils have a higher population than previously calculated 02/05/2013 Government statisticians have upwardly revised by nearly half a million population estimates across 348 local authority areas in England and Wales - in light of the 2011 Census.
Birmingham city region LEP publishes strategy for growth 02/05/2013 The Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has launched a new strategy, which aims to establish the city region as the major driver of the British economy.
Where the grass is greener 30/04/2013 The British model of golf turfcare skills training is envied abroad but councils need to ensure the system isn’t driven into the long grass.
Birmingham plans £17m bid for ‘cycling revolution’ 22/04/2013 A bid for £17m of Government funding to transform cycling provision in Birmingham is being put before the city council’s cabinet today.
Birmingham plans aid for 2,000 residents hit by welfare reforms 17/04/2013 Birmingham City Council is uniting with voluntary organisations to provide co-ordinated support for citizens ‘hard hit’ by welfare reforms and taxes, councillors have said.
Analysing the CRC league table 10/04/2013 How local authorities can make meaningful conclusions from the recent carbon emissions league table.
Index reveals most congested cities in UK 05/04/2013 Bristol and Belfast are the most congested cities in the UK, according to new traffic figures.
Create national fund for urban development, think tank says 25/03/2013 A leading think tank report, supported by the European Investment Bank, has urged the Government to establish a national ‘fund of funds’ giving all cities access to regeneration cash.
Change of use strategy to create 1,200 social homes 19/03/2013 Around 1,200 social homes could be created across the UK through a £50m office conversion programme, real estate managers have announced.
Core Cities: We are ready and willing to grow 18/03/2013 The leader of Newcastle City Council looks ahead to a Core Cities cabinet meeting taking place in the city later this week.
Heseltine backs Greater Birmingham growth bid 18/03/2013 Lord Heseltine has calls on the Government to devolve more powers and money to the Greater Birmingham city region.
Heseltine calls for devolution in Birmingham 18/03/2013 Lord Heseltine has called on the Government to devolve more powers and money to the Greater Birmingham city region.
HS2 compensation scheme consultation 'so unfair as to be unlawful' 15/03/2013 The High Court today upheld a challenge brought against the Government’s proposed compensation scheme for High Speed Rail 2 (HS2)
Surrey named council of the year by iESE 12/03/2013 Surrey County Council has been named council of the year in the 2013 iESE Improvement and Efficiency Awards.
Harnessing public sector information 20/02/2013 Open Data has seen many local authorities embrace the idea of using information to their advantage in the continuing struggle to cut costs and increase efficiency.
Councils spend almost £2bn on high earning staff 20/02/2013 Nearly £2bn was spent last year on providing 28,754 local authority staff with wages of over £50,000, figures have revealed.
Camden council plans move for 200 poor families 15/02/2013 Camden LBC is set to move up to 200 low-income families out of capital to as far a field as Bradford, Leicester and Birmingham, claiming it can no longer afford to house them.
Traffex is back and registration is now open 14/02/2013 Traffex is back for another year and set to be one of the best yet
Library fund to support local businesses 12/02/2013 The DCLG has pledged to part-fund a £1.2m programme to transform six city libraries into ‘innovation incubators’ - which will help local residents create start-up businesses.
Business tourism fuels local and regional growth 07/02/2013
Haringey wins legal challenge over council tax reforms 07/02/2013 Haringey LBC has won a landmark High Court battle over its council tax benefit reforms, in a case that was widely seen as setting a precedent for the sector.
Haringey wins landmark council tax benefit legal battle 07/02/2013 Haringey LBC has won a landmark High Court battle over its council tax benefit reforms, in a case that was widely seen as setting a precedent for the sector.
Local authorities to help fund HS2 project 04/02/2013 The Department for Transport has revealed Local authorities directly benefiting from the HS2 project face additional costs.
Local authorities to help fund HS2 project 04/02/2013 Local authorities directly benefiting from the Government’s flagship High Speed Rail 2 (HS2) project face additional costs and the sacrifice of land to support the £33bn scheme, the Department for Transport (DfT) has revealed.
Core cities warn Government over council funding cuts 01/02/2013 Local government funding cuts are creating a financial crisis in England’s major cities that threatens to derail plans for local growth and public service reform, ministers have been warned.
Watchdog urges DCLG to prepare for the worst 30/01/2013 The DCLG must establish emergency intervention plans in case budget cuts and increased demand for services force a spate of town hall bankruptcies, government spending watchdogs warned today.
Second phase of HS2 revealed 28/01/2013 The prime minister will make the case for the £33bn High Speed Rail 2 project being an engine for regional regeneration today.
Second phase of HS2 revealed 28/01/2013 The prime minister will make the case for the £33bn High Speed Rail 2 (HS2) project being an engine for regional regeneration today, as he unveils details of phase two of the route in the midlands and north.
Energy projects receive £46m boost 25/01/2013 Over 130 local authority and third sector energy projects in England have been awarded a share of £46m in government funding.
The path to greater efficiency 23/01/2013 A new framework to help public sector organisations save time and money on the repairs, maintenance and construction of their property portfolio has been created in the West Midlands. Find out what it hopes to achieve.
Council leaders come together in Liverpool to talk cuts 18/01/2013 Council leaders from across England are meeting today in Liverpool to discuss the impact of government spending cuts.
Traffex to help local authorities ‘light the way’ 15/01/2013 Following the publication of the DfT’s Signing the Way paper, a new feature at Traffex 2013 will hep show how traffic signs may be illuminated in the future.
Birmingham's budget gap widens to £625m 14/01/2013 Birmingham City Council finance chiefs have calculated the authority's budget gap will increase by a further £20m to £625m, following last December's local government finance settlement.
Birmingham's budget gap widens to £625m 14/01/2013 Birmingham City Council finance chiefs have calculated the authority's budget gap will increase by a further £20m to £625m.
Study casts doubt on benefits of joint commissioning 08/01/2013 The perceived benefits of joint commissions in health and social care often lag behind the reality, according to a new report.
The back office: a train crash coming to a town near you 04/01/2013 Arguing for an end to back offices and target driven approaches, John Seddon outlines theories that could permanently alter management approaches.
Heseltine backs Birmingham's growth strategy 04/01/2013 Former deputy prime minister, Lord Heseltine, has backed a West Midlands-based pilot project to devolve Whitehall-controlled funding and responsibilities in support of driving economic growth.
MP damns ‘eye watering’ council chief pay-offs 02/01/2013 Compensation packages of £100,000 or more were granted to over 100 departing council officials last year, research suggests.
Flooding returns to UK with more expected 21/12/2012 Flooding has returned to the UK with parts of Hampshire experiencing high water levels and damaged defences yesterday afternoon.
Pickles announces long-awaited grant settlement 20/12/2012 CLG secretary Eric Pickles today announced ‘the greatest shake-up of local finance in a generation’ when he confirmed the grant settlement for English local authorities for 2013/14.
Out of the shadows 20/12/2012 A report into the ‘shadow state’ of Britain argues that a handful of large private companies have become too big and complex to fail, undermining the public sector.
Finance settlement: Pickles seeks to balance cuts with business rates 20/12/2012 Eric Pickles today announced ‘the greatest shake-up of local finance in a generation’ when he confirmed the grant settlement.
Council leaders fear for their cities in the face of cuts 19/12/2012 Local government leaders claim vital services are being put at risk by Government cuts while disproportionately hitting deprived areas.
Council leaders fear ‘looming financial crisis’ in cities 19/12/2012 Government cuts are putting vital services at risk while disproportionately hitting deprived areas and core cities, local government leaders have claimed.
Local public bodies improve financial accountability 14/12/2012 England’s local government bodies have been praised for the improved quality of their financial reporting by the Audit Commission.
Capita's winning ways fail to charm Birmingham 12/12/2012 Staffordshire CC and Barnet LBC agree deal with Capita, just days after Birmingham City Council called on its joint venture with the firm.
Birmingham’s saving requirements reach £110m 07/12/2012 Birmingham City Council has raised its next year saving targets by £40m, the leader of the authority has announced.
Inverclyde make £1.6m equal pay settlement 05/12/2012 Inverclyde Council will pay £1.6m to settle equal pay claims from 400 current and previous female employees.
Cities driving low carbon growth, think tank claims 04/12/2012 Cities are driving low carbon growth and supporting the development of a low carbon economy, a think tank claims.
HS2 challenge goes to High Court 03/12/2012 A coalition of councils opposed to plans for a new high-speed rail link (HS2) from London to Birmingham are in the high court today where their judicial review will be heard.
Call for national 20mph speed limit on urban roads 26/11/2012 Local authorities were today urged to adopt 20mph speed limits in residential areas and around schools.
Pickles announces recipients of £250m weekly bin fund 26/11/2012 Weekly bin collection funding worth £250m will be shared between a further 85 councils, local government secretary Eric Pickles has announced.
‘Good growth’ not all about GDP, report says 20/11/2012 The economic performance of cities should not just be measured in GDP figures as the public has different opinions on what makes a city successful, according to a new report.
Applicants invited for new research fellowship 12/11/2012 Public sector specialists are being invited to apply for a new research fellowship to study a pressing issue of public policy.
Birmingham faces huge equal pay bill 12/11/2012 Birmingham City Council, the UK’s largest local authority, faces a bill of £757m to settle backdated equal pay claims.
Birmingham faces huge equal pay bill 12/11/2012 Birmingham City Council, the UK's largest local authority, faces a bill of £757m to settle backdated equal pay claims.
TPA: Taxpayers funded unions with £113m 31/10/2012 At least 3,041 full time equivalent public sector staff worked on trade union duties at expense to the taxpayer last year, the Taxpayers’ Alliance (TPA) reports.
Councils take power 29/10/2012 With the reduction of household energy bills remaining high on council agendas, Thomas Bridge reports on how South Lakeland DC has been leading the nationwide collective switching trend.
Council cuts: ‘end of local government as know it’ 25/10/2012 The scale of cuts to local authority budgets will mean salami-slicing departments has ended and councils will have to look at wholesale axing of services, the leader of Birmingham City Council has declared.
Female staff win 'landmark' pay case 24/10/2012 Former female employees of Birmingham City Council can launch compensation claims over missed bonuses, Supreme Court rules.
Female staff win pay compensation battle in Birmingham 24/10/2012 Former female employees of Birmingham City Council can launch compensation claims over missed bonuses, the Supreme Court has ruled.
Second home figures revealed 23/10/2012 Cornwall holds the greatest number of second homes owned by people living elsewhere in England and Wales, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed.
Birmingham broadband plan opposed by telecoms firms 22/10/2012 Virgin Media and BT are taking legal action over the development of ultrafast broadband infrastructure by Birmingham City Council.
Child protection services at Birmingham deemed inadequate 19/10/2012 An unannounced Ofsted investigation has found Birmingham City Council’s children’s services to be inadequate and has demanded a series of improvements are made.
Centro chief calls for M6 toll to be nationalised 12/10/2012 Chief executive of transport authority Centro, Geoff Inskip, has called for the M6 toll road to be nationalised at a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.
Retro Expo - all you need to know about low carbon retrofits in one place 11/10/2012
Pickles wages war on unions 11/10/2012 Eric Pickles will rein in unions across the public sector by limiting time available for council officials taking part in union duties.
Conservative Party conference 2012: news roundup 10/10/2012 Main stories from Conservative Party conference 2012.
Cameron: public sector reform is battleground for next election 10/10/2012 MJ editorial director, Michael Burton reports on prime minister David Cameron's speech to the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.
Pickles vows to protect green belt 09/10/2012 Eric Pickles has announced that the green belt will be protected from development and retain its role in resisting urban enlargement.
Birmingham announces preferred bidder for energy scheme 09/10/2012 Birmingham City Council has named Carillion Energy Services as the preferred bidder for a £600m contract to retrofit 60,000 with homes with energy efficiency measures by 2020.
Pickles’ troubled family programme on target for 2015 09/10/2012 Communities secretary Eric Pickles is set to flag up progress in his department's troubled families programme in his speech this afternoon at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.
Council tax freeze just 'short term offer' 08/10/2012 Town hall bosses have warned that the offer of a council tax freeze for a third year running is just a ‘short-term’ offer.
Labour to set out its stall on localism 04/10/2012 Shadow local government secretary, Hilary Benn, is expected to hint at a highly-localised Labour policy on local government should his party win the next election.
Steve Freer steps down from CIPFA 01/10/2012 One of the public sector’s top finance experts, Steve Freer, has announced he will step down from his post in the next 12 months.
Councils receive £63m for reclaiming homes 28/09/2012 Local authorities have bought nearly 38,000 long-term empty homes back into use over the last year, earning themselves over £63m in New Homes Bonus funding.
How to, and how not to do overview and scrutiny 25/09/2012 With councils required to establish overview and scrutiny committees, George Jones and John Stewart what more is required.
Cities receive £12m to boost Green Deal 21/09/2012 Seven cities across England will benefit from a £12m fund to kick-start the implementation of the Green Deal.
Study warns elderly are excluded from decision making 20/09/2012 Elderly people moved from NHS treatment to care services at home are often kept out from decisions which affect them, a major new study reported today.
Prisk urges landlords to create ‘spark’ for home building 19/09/2012 Social landlords should be acting to deliver new social homes and private rented properties for tenants, housing minister Mark Prisk has said.
County areas should be given City Deals, says new report 06/09/2012 County areas should be given freedoms currently available to urban areas through City Deal arrangements, a report by Essex CC argues.
Universal credit pilots named 31/08/2012 Welfare minister Lord Freud has announced a final list of 12 local authorities, which will run pilot schemes for the new universal credit scheme.
Universal credit pilots named 31/08/2012 Welfare minister Lord Freud has announced a final list of 12 local authorities, which will run pilot schemes for the new universal credit scheme.
Labour challenges Conservative social home construction 28/08/2012 Conservative run local authorities are planning to build on average less than a fifth of the social homes set for Labour councils, a survey has found.
Legal challenge set for HS2 plans 30/07/2012 The timetable has been set for the legal challenges launched against ministers’ plans for a High Speed rail link (HS2) between London and Birmingham.
New future council pilots named 27/07/2012 Five new future council pilot schemes have been announced by the Local Government Association (LGA).
Shortlist for Universal Credit pilots announced 23/07/2012 Ministers have announced the names of 15 English local authorities short-listed for consideration as one of a dozen Universal Credit (UC) pilots starting nationally this autumn.
Transport powers pass to the regions 20/07/2012 New, ‘ground-breaking’ transport powers have been handed down from Whitehall to England’s core city-regions, following a further roll out of the Government’s City Deals announced on 5 July.
Boris wants to retain London's tax revenues 20/07/2012 Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, launches a commission examining how the capital could keep hold of a greater share of its tax revenues.
London must not be cash cow for rest of UK, claims Johnson 20/07/2012 Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has launched a commission examining how the capital could keep hold of a greater share of the tax revenues it generates.
Birmingham ‘cannot afford’ Government council tax cuts 19/07/2012 Birmingham City Council has warned that forthcoming council tax cuts could force them to reduce the provision of services and benefits.
Ministers extend city deals to eight core cities 05/07/2012 Ministers today announced a further six of England's largest cities have secured deals to gain more powers over economic growth.
Ministers extend city deals to eight core cities 05/07/2012 Ministers today announced a further six of England's largest cities have secured deals to gain more powers over economic growth.
CBI boss queries Government’s support for growth 28/06/2012 A leading business figure has questioned whether effective decisions can be taken to plan transport and secure inward investment following the abolition of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs).
Davey calls for collective switching across local government 27/06/2012 Energy secretary Ed Davey today called for a national roll-out of collective bargaining on energy prices across the local government sector in order to tackle rising energy bills.
Pickles welcomes scheme to reward residents for good behaviour 25/06/2012 The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead will reward residents who behave in a positive way with Nectar points under a new pilot scheme to incentivise.
UNISON calls for greater support of care facilities by local councils 18/06/2012 The Government must ensure that local councils provide adequate funding to keep care centres running, UNISON has announced.
Midlands councils and landlords join forces 08/06/2012 Councils and housing associations in the West Midlands have agreed to work together to help tenants prepare for forthcoming welfare reforms.
New fund launched to protect green spaces 22/05/2012 A new funding mechanism to protect public green spaces from spending cuts and enable the grass roots network of community groups for parks has been launched at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Voters reject elected mayors 08/05/2012 Voters have rejected David Cameron’s wish to have ‘a Boris in every city’, with referendums in eight out of ten major cities going against directly elected mayors.
Labour set to gain 700 seats as voters reject Coalition parties 04/05/2012 Labour looks set to emerge as the big winner from yesterday’s local government elections, with the party poised to gain around 700 local seats and control of 20 major authorities.
Balfour Beatty lined up for tram deal 04/05/2012 The latest stage of the £127m expansion of the Midland Metro tram service has seen Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering named preferred bidder.
Voters go to the polls in 2012 elections 03/05/2012 Experts are predicting a bad night for the Conservative Party as voting began at polling stations across the country today.
The cost of civic pride... 30/04/2012 Gleaming new civic buildings are popping up all over the UK, attracting international architectural awards as well as boosting civic pride. But how does a council justify spending £36 million or more on a building when its frontline services are bein
Council’s credit rating ‘strong for short term’ 19/04/2012 Councils’ credit rating could be affected if further cuts are made local government grant funding and authorities are unwilling to reduce spending, according to ratings agency Standard and Poor’s.
Leaders seek to sink fears over pensions crisis 16/04/2012 Council leaders have been quick to dismiss fears of a council pensions crisis, after the Tax Payers’ Alliance reported that UK authorities had a combined pension deficit of £54bn last year.
Birmingham reveals shortlist for £1.5bn energy scheme 03/04/2012 Birmingham City Council has announced a shortlist of four bidders for its pioneering ‘Energy Savers’ scheme to upgrade and improve local homes.
Ten council areas sign up to troubled-family scheme 28/03/2012 Council areas with the largest number of troubled families have signed-up to the Government’s payment-by-results scheme.
Leader urges councillors to ‘stop playing party politics’ 23/03/2012 The leader of Swindon Council, Councillor Rod Bluh, has claimed that ‘true local government’ will require local autonomy over public services.
Budget 2012: Osborne vows to prioritise road building 21/03/2012 Chancellor George Osborne vowed to prioritise new road building during his Budget speech in the Commons today.
Ministers announce further winners in building fund 19/03/2012 Ministers have announced over 200 stalled building development schemes that will receive funding under the Get Britain Building fund.
Exclusive: Leicester plans sell-off amid care home fears 10/02/2012 Leicester City Council’s controversial proposal to sell off its care homes follows serious concerns raised by its suspended director of adult services.
GMB slams councils for £1bn in uncollected tax 03/02/2012 More than £1bn of council tax and business rates has not been collected this year, trade union the GMB has claimed.
Councils and business bid for green bank 01/02/2012 Local government and businesses across the UK have sent 32 bids expressing interest in housing the Green Investment Bank (GIB).
Second wave of cities lined up for more powers 31/01/2012 Decentralisation minister, Greg Clark, vowed to deliver a second wave of ‘city deals’ this week – giving local authorities the opportunity to take control of strategic transport decisions.
Salford residents opt for directly-elected mayor 27/01/2012 Salford residents have voted to change its democratic structures paving the way for a directly elected mayor for the city.
TPA: Taxpayers pick up the bill for 'gold-plated' pensions 26/01/2012 The equivalent of £1 of every £5 in council tax goes toward local authority pension contributions, the Taxpayers’ Alliance has claimed.
Clark confirms mayors polling day 25/01/2012 Cities that opt for a directly elected mayor will go to the polls on 15 November, cities minister Greg Clark announced today.
In-house homes 20/01/2012 An in-house team at Exeter City Council is among those delivering the first batch of local authority properties in decades.
LocalGov.co.uk focus: HS2 18/01/2012 LocalGov.co.uk brings together articles on the development and approval of the Government's controversial high-speed rail HS2 scheme.
Poor local transport links ‘could hinder HS2’ 17/01/2012 Concern has been raised about the impact on local transport links of High Speed Rail Two (HS2) following transport secretary Justine Greening’s approval of the scheme.
Changes raise questions over city’s PFI 16/01/2012 Questions have been raised about local consultation and significant changes to the programme of Europe’s largest highways PFI project in Birmingham.
Birmingham in safe hands 16/01/2012 A £126.4m contract to turn a section of Birmingham’s M6 into a managed motorway has been awarded to Carillion by the Highways Agency.
Government saves £100m through improved property controls 13/01/2012 Ministers claim to have saved more than £100m in the first nine months of the financial year through greater control and rationalisation of central government property.
Health and care integration ‘proving elusive’ 12/01/2012 Health and council social care chiefs have admitted that integrating their structures will take longer than planned and that they should focus on ‘sharing culture and values’ instead.
Ministers braced for HS2 revolt 10/01/2012 Ministers are prepared for a revolt over the planned £32bn High Speed Rail 2 (HS2) project, which is due to be approved today.
Controversial HS2 rail link gets go-ahead 10/01/2012 The first phase of the HS2 rail link between London and Birmingham has been given the go ahead by Transport secretary Justine Greening today.
City councils’ warning over localisation of business rates 05/01/2012 A group of city councils has warned that Government plans to ‘localise’ business rates risk entrenching economic imbalances between the North and South.
Government announces 14 community budget pilot schemes 22/12/2011 The Government today announced the award of 14 'community budget' pilots for 2012 -ten more than the four originally planned – to give councils and communities greater powers to control their budgets and pool resources.
Government confirms mayoral referendum date 09/12/2011 The Government has confirmed that referendums on whether to hold mayoral elections will take place across 11 cities next May.
DCLG unveils community budget shortlists 02/12/2011 The Department for Communities and Local Government has unveiled two shortlists of areas contending for approval in one of two community budget pilots.
Talks resume after ‘largest strike for a generation’ 01/12/2011 Ministers and unions will meet around the negotiation table today following yesterday’s strike over pension reforms.
Birmingham loses equal pay fight 30/11/2011 Claims from hundreds of thousands of low-paid female local government staff have been given fresh impetus after Birmingham City Council has lost a landmark equal pay case.
Central and local government must take urgent action to avoid further riots 29/11/2011 The independent Riots Communities and Victims Panel claims that disturbances that hit UK cities over the summer could happen again unless central and local government take urgent action.
brum 14/11/2011 Birmingham City Council's chief executive has apologised to staff for the stress caused by public sector spending cuts, LocalGov.co.uk sister title the MJ reports this week.
Ministers unveil £500m boost for local transport 11/11/2011 Regional infrastructure and highway development schemes will receive a £500m cash boost from the Government, ministers revealed this week.
Ofsted finds increasing excellence in children's services 08/11/2011 Ofsted has reported an increasing number of councils providing excellent children's services, but there are still large variations in quality sector-wide.
Transport spend in London triple northern regions 07/11/2011 Transport spending in London is triple that found in the Midlands and north of England, figures have revealed.
£500m fund aims to boost regional growth 07/11/2011 Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has unveiled a £500m Government cash pot to boost regional growth through the creation of new homes and jobs.
Study finds Neet percentatges higher in the North 04/11/2011 Town and cities in the north of England have the highest proportion of 16 to 24 years-olds not in employment, education or training (Neet), a new study has revealed.
Cities quizzed on powers of elected mayors 02/11/2011 Residents, businesses and charities within the twelve English cities set to vote in referendums next May are being asked how much power elected mayors should hold.
Pickles urged to rethink business rate proposals 24/10/2011 The City Finance Commission has urged Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to re-think his proposals for the local retention of business rates.
City group calls for rapid merger of local budgets 24/10/2011 Ministers should stop experimenting with watered-down forms of the Total Place agenda and quickly transfer control over budgets for a wide range of local public services from Whitehall to town halls, an influential group of councils has reported.
City routes out quality services 11/10/2011 Regional transport authority, Centro, has launched a quality partnership scheme (QPS), which will span more than one-quarter of Birmingham’s bus routes.
Charging up for a green future 05/10/2011 Myles looks at some of the findings from the involvement in, Government-funded trials,such as the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme and Plugged-in Places Scheme.
Firms secure contracts for Birmingham masterplan 29/09/2011 Four construction firms have secured contracts as part of a potential £10bn development plan for the West Midlands regional framework.
Library closures face High Court challenge 29/09/2011 Somerset County Council and Gloucestershire County Council were accused at the start of a three-day judicial review of ‘failing to meet statutory obligations’ in making planned cuts to library services.
NHS bosses put their trust in Birmingham’s legal team 28/09/2011 Birmingham City Council’s legal services department has secured its place on an NHS framework contract, supplying 70 health trusts in the Midlands and South East.
Kettering's Furnace Lane project - A Sustainable showcase 26/09/2011 Kettering Borough Council have successfully transformed an old allotment site into a sustainable housing development. Peter Taberner finds out more about the Furnace Lane project.
CIHT conference delegates learn how to adapt 23/09/2011 The presidential conference of the CIHT was, in the words of its new president, David Gillham, ‘an experiment’.
HS2 and the planning process 23/09/2011 MPs' verdict on HS2 is likely to prove a key test for the Government’s streamlining of the planning process, says Dermott Calpin.
Teather launches 20 special needs and disabilities pathfinders 22/09/2011 Children’s minister Sarah Teather has launched 20 special needs and disabilities pathfinders covering 31 local authorities and their Primary Care Trust (PCT) partners.
Balancing acts 21/09/2011 Our planning system should encourage development and growth but it also needs to protect our environment, public spaces and heritage, says Jack Dromey
Corridors of Power 21/09/2011 Jake Addison, Liberal Democrat activist from Richmond, and Martha Glenn, Liberal Democrat member in Bath, are enjoying a cafe break at this week’s Liberal Democrat conference
Pay cuts ‘will damage employers’ credibility’ 21/09/2011 Cuts to workers’ basic pay and conditions risk doing long-term damage to local authorities’ credibility as an employer, Unison has warned, as further regional strikes are announced.
Birmingham council lawyers win extra government work 21/09/2011 Birmingham City Council’s legal services department has secured its place on an NHS framework contract supplying 70 health trusts in the Midlands and South East.
‘Cheaper rates’ to cover HRA reforms 21/09/2011 Councils will be able to borrow at cheaper rates to cover the cost of the Government’s housing revenue account (HRA) reforms, Treasury chief secretary, Danny Alexander, has announced.
Failures ‘may lead to more disorder’ 21/09/2011 Failure to assist ‘socially-isolated’ communities could lead to further riots across England, a senior government minister has acknowledged.
People 20/09/2011 Brian Bailey, director of pensions at West Midlands Pension Fund, has announced his retirement after 40 years’ service with Wolverhampton City Council.
Alexander boosts Housing Revenue Account reforms 19/09/2011 Councils will be able to borrow at cheaper rates to cover the cost of the government’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) reforms, Treasury chief secretary Danny Alexander has announced.
Lib Dems to float council tax refresh at conference 16/09/2011 Councils would be free to set their own levels of property tax under policy proposals being considered by the Liberal Democrats during party’s annual conference, being held in Birmingham this weekend.
Senior Lib Dem: Britain must tackle ‘enduring’ cohesion problems 16/09/2011 Local government minister Andrew Stunell has warned last month’s riots, and lingering support for the right-wing English Defence League, shows there are ‘enduring problems of cohesion and integration in communities up and down the land’.
The truth behind our convictions 15/09/2011 Policy makers would be wise to see these riots as part of a timeline that stretches back years. The problems didn’t just start last month or even last year, says Sean Brennan.
Tender success 14/09/2011 Birmingham City Council has secured over £1m additional income after signing a strategic 10-year contract for advertising from sites in prime locations.
Core cities’ powers 14/09/2011 England’s eight ‘core cities’ can make their case for extra powers from central government under new clauses in the Localism Bill agreed this week.
Sharing the advantages 13/09/2011 As councils explore every possible option for greater efficiency savings, The MJ and Fujitsu ask where the future of shared services lie. Heather Jameson reports.
Government needs local leaders says Bob Neill 13/09/2011 Minister Bob Neill has said that the Government is looking to local leaders to help deliver its decentralisation agenda in a new collection of essays by the New Local Government Network (NLGN).
Partnerships yield effective bus services 09/09/2011 Local transport minister Norman Baker has called for more partnership between local authorities and bus operators in a Commons debate on the bus industry.
Anglesey to piggyback on Birmingham FiT 09/09/2011 Frameworks created by Britain’s biggest council could help some of the country’s smallest local authorities with the cost and complexity of installing solar panels.
Downs lands LGA chief exec role 09/09/2011 Former chief executive of Shropshire CC, Carolyn Downs, has been confirmed as the new chief executive of the LGA.
Councils criticised over loss of data 07/09/2011 Technology experts have urged councils to improve their data management, after a comprehensive Freedom of Information survey revealed town halls had lost the personal details of more than 160,000 people over the past five years.
Pointing the finger 07/09/2011 As Darra Singh starts work on the new inquiry into the riots, Ken Clarke blames troubled families and a criminal underclass.
Councils’ data breaches expose 160,000 people, study shows 02/09/2011 Councils have lost sensitive data relating to more than 160,000 individuals in the past five years an investigation has revealed.
Former Ealing chief will lead riot probe 02/09/2011 The former chief executive of riot-hit Ealing LBC, Darra Singh, has been appointed to head the official inquiry into last month’s disturbances across England.
Birmingham announces active travel plans 01/09/2011 Birmingham City Council has unveiled a major initiative to boost active travel in the city.
Investors lured with social impact bonds 01/09/2011 Private investors are being encouraged to buy social impact bonds – part of a pilot scheme to help lift families out of poverty and deprivation.
Think tank calls for more mayor powers 01/09/2011 The Institute for Government has called for directly elected mayors to be given more powers.
Mayor’s fund to help riot-hit firms 01/09/2011 London mayor, Boris Johnson, has joined forces with some of the UK’s largest companies to launch a £3m fund to help small businesses affected by last month’s riots.
Darra Singh to head riot inquiry 31/08/2011 The former chief executive of riot-hit Ealing LBC, Darra Singh, has been appointed to head the official inquiry into last month’s disturbances across England.
The Highwayman 26/08/2011 The only way is… out of Essex, quickly
Government launches bond scheme to help families 26/08/2011 The Government is launching a new trial scheme today to raise £40m of investment to help get families out of poverty.
Challenging times 17/08/2011 Local authorities need to be alert to the wider implications that budget cuts can have on key, if not critical services, says Jackie McGuire
Where else to turn? 17/08/2011 Only local authorities have the flexibility and common sense to organise the practical help communities need during times of crisis, says David Walker
Dorset staff back changes to jobs 17/08/2011 Staff at Dorset CC have agreed to change their job terms and conditions to help ease the county’s budget problems – while Nottingham City Council has offered staff a choice of more holidays but lower pay.
Flexible approach brings reward 17/08/2011 Birmingham City Council’s joint ICT venture has deployed flexible working practices to transform the job prospects of people living in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the city, it has been announced.
Cockell highlights civic pride 17/08/2011 Sir Merrick Cockell has praised the role of councillors and the civic pride of communities responding to the riots and looting which hit parts of London, Birmingham, Manchester and other cities.
Staff praised for supporting peace event 17/08/2011 Birmingham City Council’s events staff were praised for their behind-the-scenes efforts in co-ordinating a community-led peace event with little more than 36 hours’ notice.
Service Birmingham announces flexible jobs boost 16/08/2011 Birmingham City Council’s joint ICT venture has deployed flexible working practices to transform the job prospects of people living in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the city, it has been announced.
Rioting spreads to other cities 10/08/2011 Rioting broke out in Britain’s second city and across other urban areas last night as the civil unrest witnessed for three nights in London looked to have spread further north.
City launches probe into ‘breach’ of supply rules 10/08/2011 Birmingham City Council has launched an inquiry into a breach of its own procurement rules, after officials failed to put out to tender a £250,000 contract with consultant, Price- waterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Housing services report sparks row 10/08/2011 The Audit Commission has clashed with Tory-controlled Birmingham City Council over a critical verdict on the quality of its housing services for council tenants.
Riots trigger fears over youth cohesion policies 10/08/2011 As local public bodies worked tirelessly to ‘reclaim the streets’ following riots and civil unrest this week, questions emerged over the extent to which deep-rooted youth disaffection with society contributed to this week’s shocking violence.
A child poverty trap 09/08/2011 So, the cap is finally out of the bag. We now know what the Government’s own advisers have been telling prime minister, David Cameron, about the likely impact of the coalition’s ill-considered plans to introduce an overall benefits cap of £500 a week
Over-stretched Met struggles to contain another night of unrest 09/08/2011 An over-stretched Metropolitan Police force has struggled to contain a contagion of youth violence following the most intense night of civil disobedience so far in London.
Slash VAT to reinvigorate high streets, says Labour 03/08/2011 Ministers must slash VAT rates and give residents a greater say over local retail sectors, if their plan to localise business rates is to reward town halls financially, Opposition MPs have warned.
Clamour for jobs 03/08/2011 More than 500 youth workers and education welfare officials have applied for 296 posts in Birmingham City Council’s reorganised children’s services unit.
Thousands of charities facing budget cuts 02/08/2011 More than 2,200 charities are facing budget cuts as councils reduce spending, according to a new report by the trade union backed campaign, False Economy.
Care homes accused of keeping cash after residents die 01/08/2011 Private care home operators have been accused of keeping thousands of pounds of local authority fees after failing to notify councils when residents die.
Treasury reveals location of enterprise zones 28/07/2011 The Government has confirmed the location of four enterprise zones in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and Sheffield.
People 27/07/2011 Jon Houlihan has joined leading executive recruiter GatenbySanderson.
Outsourcing move casts doubt on Capita targets 27/07/2011 Birmingham City Council’s decision to reverse controversial plans to ‘lift and shift’ 100 back office IT jobs to India has raised doubts into Capita’s ability to drive £135m efficiency savings from its Service Birmingham joint venture.
Transformation demands community budgets 26/07/2011 Community budgets should be rolled out nationally and given greater priority if we really want to transform the delivery of public services, says Elizabeth Fells.
Birmingham rages over wage cuts, but shelves offshoring plans 26/07/2011 Birmingham City Council’s plans to scrap paying bonuses to its own staff, axe differential overtime rates and end perks such as free parking risk putting low-paid carers below the poverty line, a union has alleged.
Birmingham rages over wage cuts, but shelves offshoring plans 22/07/2011 Birmingham City Council’s plans to scrap paying bonuses to its own staff, axe differential overtime rates and end perks such as free parking risk putting low-paid carers below the poverty line, a union has alleged.
Setting an agenda for the districts 21/07/2011 District councils are often seen as the unsung heroes of local government but they have a vital role to play in vibrant communities, says Steve Atkinson.
Invest to save ‘is Big Society key’ 20/07/2011 Politicians and public bodies are making a big ‘mistake’ by not investing in third sector capacity as they commission services under the Big Society banner, a leading charity chief has warned.
Whiteman move cuts options for LGA post 20/07/2011 One of the frontrunners to take over the top job at the Local Government Group has ruled himself out of the race by taking on a key post with the Government.
Diary 20/07/2011 Online streaming is off
Survey reveals England’s care home fees frozen or reduced 19/07/2011 The majority of councils in England have either frozen or cut their care home fees, according to a new survey by healthcare consultants Laing and Buisson.
Integration is the future in care and health 18/07/2011 Nicola Carroll looks at some of the highlights from the recent NHS confederation conference in Manchester.
Majority of people use car for airport 15/07/2011 The Government has probed low carbon transport alternatives for staff and passengers travelling to airports, following concerns about the amount of car use.
Opponents blast plans for high-speed rail 15/07/2011 Local transport schemes offer better value for scarce public money than plans for the High Speed Rail (HS2) line from London to Birmingham, a select committee inquiry was told this week.
IDeA chief Whiteman takes on Home Office role 15/07/2011 A front runner for the chief executive’s role at the LGA, Rob Whiteman, has been appointed new chief executive of the UK Border Agency.
Eric’s cryptic conference call 15/07/2011 Things are not looking good for finance officers, reading between the lines.
Can localism survive national infrastructure projects? 15/07/2011 Alan Goodrum and Cllr Martin Tett, whose Buckinghamshire councils are affected by HS2, wonder how far localism should impact on national infrastructure projects.
County progress across the board 14/07/2011 Leicestershire CC showcased its success in linking public health and local government at the Faculty of Public Health conference held at Birmingham University.
Building confidence 14/07/2011 Birmingham City Council has extended its repairs and maintenance contracts with Willmott Dixon Partnerships and the Mears Group, until September 2015.
Private Sector 14/07/2011 CB Richard Ellis has announced the appointment of three specialists from KPMG to spearhead the public asset team within the company’s government and infrastructure business.
Use joint buying power – CIPFA delegates told 13/07/2011 There needs to be some ‘sense and centralisation’ brought to the procurement process, according to the chair of the public accounts committee, Margaret Hodge.
Court rulings fail to stop authorities making cuts 13/07/2011 Councils have been able to press ahead with budget cuts, despite successful legal challenges two high-profile cases have highlighted.
Pickles announces move to put £500+ contracts online 13/07/2011 Communities secretary Eric Pickles’ campaign to open up local government to further transparency gained momentum last week, when he announced plans to put all contracts and tenders for more than £500 online.
Nottingham CC rejects elected mayor vote as ‘costly gamble’ 12/07/2011 Nottingham City Council has voted to oppose government plans to hold a referendum for an elected mayor next year, a move likely to further inflame tensions between the authority Eric Pickles.
Birmingham on course to slash carbon emissions 11/07/2011 Efforts to reduce carbon emissions in Birmingham have exceeded ambitious targets set by the city council, according to latest figures.
Cameron hails revolution in public service transparency 07/07/2011 Localism will create the 'fragmentation’ of public services and risks threatening value for money, chair of the Public Accounts Committee Margaret Hodge has claimed.
Pickles to extend council transparency plan 07/07/2011 Councils could be forced to reveal details of contracts worth more than £500, communities secretary Eric Pickles has revealed.
Birmingham says it can cope with £2bn debt 06/07/2011 Birmingham City Council has played down concerns over its ability to cope with rising debt levels after the authority revealed it was £2bn in the red at the end of the last financial year.
Diary 06/07/2011 Ed’s just so rock and roll
Diary 06/07/2011 All present and correct..?
‘No delay in chief’s recruitment’ says LGA 06/07/2011 The Local Government Association has denied a delay to shortlisting for its new chief executive, despite widespread rumours of a failure to draw up the candidate list last week.
‘Tackle’ Whitehall 06/07/2011 Decentralisation minister, Greg Clark, has urged councils and their partners to demand from Whitehall the right to run services currently outside their remit.
Chairman’s pledge 06/07/2011 The Local Government Association’s new chairman, Sir Merrick Cockell, promised a stronger, more confident association in his maiden speech to the LGA annual conference in Birmingham.
No more ‘begging’ for town halls, Pickles tells delegates 06/07/2011 Local government secretary, Eric Pickles, has told town halls they will no longer have to ‘come to Whitehall with a begging bowl’, once he has devolved new financial powers.
Clegg unveils plans to return business rates by 2013 06/07/2011 Councils could see the return of business rates as soon as 2013, after deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, unveiled plans for a Local Government Finance Bill in the current Parliamentary session.
Create ‘rebel’ LEPs to kick-start economies 06/07/2011 A leading employment adviser to prime minister, David Cameron, has urged councils and their business partners to set up ‘rebel’ local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) if a formal application is rejected by Whitehall.
People 05/07/2011 Sandwell MBC councillor, John Edwards, has been elected as chair of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority, which provides blue-light fire cover for almost three million people across the Black Country, Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull.
People 05/07/2011 Glyn Evans, corporate director of business change at Birmingham City Council, is to leave his post.
Members demand more parking spaces for the Street 01/07/2011 Councillors have told planners to include sufficient parking spaces in proposals for the £600m transformation of Birmingham New Street station to avoid further congestion in the city.
Ed Miliband's speech to the LGA conference in full 01/07/2011 Ed Miliband's speech at the LGA conference held in Birmingham
Eric Pickles speech to the LGA conference in full 01/07/2011 Eric Pickles speech from the LGA conference held in Birmingham.
Pickles closes LGA conference with debt of gratitude 30/06/2011 Local government secretary Eric Pickles has delivered the closing speech to the LGA conference in Birmingham, thanking councils for helping Britain avoid the fate of Greece’s economy by delivering a tough year of public spending cuts.
Lansley announces £1m for health and wellbeing boards 30/06/2011 Health secretary Andrew Lansley has announced an extra £1m to help get health and wellbeing boards off the ground.
LGA conference - live coverage 30/06/2011 This year’s LG Group conference ‘Localism works’, held at the Birmingham International Conference Centre, will go down in history as the first to be addressed by a serving prime minister.
Taking liberties with poster ban 30/06/2011 Councils are cracking down on leafleting by local arts groups and organisations such as the WI - yet are steadily increasing spending on their own publicity leaflets, according to a report published by the Manifesto Club.
Cameron playing ‘loose with the truth’ over NHS says Healey 30/06/2011 Shadow health secretary John Healey has accused the prime minister of being ‘loose with the truth’ over the Government’s plans to reform the NHS.
Maude and Serwotka clash as mass strike over pensions begins 30/06/2011 Up to 750,000 civil servants, teachers and lecturers began strike action over proposed penion changes today in co-ordinated action affecting schools, courts, job-centres and airports.
Diary 29/06/2011 Brum food justice
Councillors should be Big Society taskforce says local authority leader 29/06/2011 Oxfordshire CC leader claims England’s councillors, not Cabinet Office volunteers, should fill social entrepreneur void.
Stunell seeks to allay local business rate fears 29/06/2011 Communities minister Andrew Stunell has reassured councils there has been significant local authority input into the forthcoming localised finance regime.
Clark urges councils: bid to run Whitehall services 29/06/2011 Decentralisation minister Greg Clark has urged councils and their partners to demand from Whitehall the right to run services currently outside their remit.
Community call 29/06/2011 Westminster City Council leader, Cllr Colin Barrow, has made an impassioned call to ‘overcome the enemies of localism’ found in Whitehall and town hall alike, and accelerate the drive to community budgets.
PM praises sector’s success over savings 29/06/2011 Prime minister, David Cameron, has acknowledged that local government has been more effective at delivering public savings than Westminster – but warned controversial pension reforms were still ‘essential’.
The leader line up for the LGA 29/06/2011 Considering what a grim year this has been for the LGA, with huge cuts to its own budget as well as a sector shredded in the Spending Review, its conference this week has been a triumph for attracting the full deck of political leaders, Labour Party
Pickles seeks fresh accord with sector 29/06/2011 Communities secretary reveals move to make councils ‘85 per cent self-sufficient’
Localism means ‘letting go’ says new LGA chairman 29/06/2011 New Local Government Association chairman, Sir Merrick Cockell, called on the prime minister to meet and discuss localism.
Clegg announces community budgets expansion 29/06/2011 The Government is bringing back total place, with the expansion of the community budget pilots, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg told the Local Government Association conference in Birmingham today.
Business rates will be localised, says Clegg 29/06/2011 Legislation to return business rates to local control will come in this parliamentary session, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg told the Local Government Association conference in Birmingham today.
Former Birmingham chief joins CB Richard Ellis 29/06/2011 Former Audit Commission deputy chairman and Birmingham City Council chief executive, Sir Michael Lyons (pictured), has joined the government and infrastructure team at CB Richard Ellis.
Cameron defends pension reforms to the LGA 28/06/2011 Prime Minister David Cameron today gave a spirited defence of plans to reform public sector pensions condemning what he called a 'minority of unions' who are planning strikes on Thursday.
Shock of the new 28/06/2011 Cost, cuts and the future of audit along with Government plans for a radical overhaul of public services are all on the programme for the annual Cipfa conference says Dermott Calpin.
Bill Stickers is innocent ok! 28/06/2011 Council crackdowns on leaflets and posters are in danger of sanitising public space and killing off vibrant community life, contends Clair Fox.
Sir Merrick pledges a stronger LGA 28/06/2011 New Local Government Association chairman Sir Merrick Cockell has promised a stronger, more confident association in his maiden speech to the LGA annual conference in Birmingham today.
Cameron in last-ditch move to halt strikes 28/06/2011 Prime minister David Cameron is expected to urge all public sector workers to join council staff in delaying strikes over pensions when he addresses the Local Government Association conference in Birmingham later today.
My ambitions for the LGA and the sector 28/06/2011 Sir Merrick Cockell outlines his strategy for his term in office.
Consultant questions business case for HS2 27/06/2011 An independent review commissioned by the transport select committee has queried the business case behind the Government’s high-speed rail (HS2) proposals.
Merrick Cockell to be new LGA chairman 24/06/2011 Kensington and Chelsea RLBC leader Sir Merrick Cockell is set to become the new chairman of the Local Government Association.
People 22/06/2011 A senior manager who has played a key role in a recent, large-scale NHS reorganisation in the West Midlands has been appointed to a key Walsall MBC role.
Fighting local government’s corner 22/06/2011 The Local Government Group has been transformed by an unprecedented programme of change aimed at adding value to the sector and supporting councils, says John Ransford
Shadow mayors dropped from Bill 22/06/2011 Ministers have scrapped Localism Bill proposals requiring England’s 11 largest city councils to appoint shadow mayors, but added provisions forcing councils to publish comprehensive pay policies.
High Court stops county from shutting libraries 22/06/2011 Campaigners have stopped Gloucestershire CC from proceeding with planned cuts to its library service.
Shadow mayors plans scrapped 21/06/2011 Government proposals requiring England’s eleven largest city councils to impose ‘shadow mayors’ have been scrapped from the Localism Bill.
All change 21/06/2011 Dermott Calpin looks ahead at the Localism Works conference at the ICC Birmingham June 28-30
The brightest and the best 20/06/2011 Local Government Challenge is designed to spotlight the talents of a new generation of council managers – and now you can tune into it, reports Dermott Calpin
People 15/06/2011 Birmingham law firm Anthony Collins Solicitors, one of the largest and well known law firms in the Midlands region, has announced the internal appointment of three new partners.
Diary 15/06/2011 Philip’s gift of the gaff
Guidance on closing care homes unveiled 15/06/2011 The University of Birmingham has published a good practice guide to help councils deal with care home closures.
Give elected mayors more powers to drive economic growth, says IfG 15/06/2011 Elected mayors should receive greater powers, enabling them to take difficult decisions which support economic growth, a new joint report by think tanks, the Institute for Government (IfG) and Centre for Cities, suggests.
Profile: Life in the hot seat 09/06/2011 Rita Dexter is now the most senior woman in the world’s third largest fire and rescue service. Michael Burton talks to her about a career that began in Birmingham at the age of 16.
Diary 08/06/2011 Dash off those Eric facts
More grants to push local economies 08/06/2011 Decentralisation minister, Greg Clark, will hand a further 40 areas £20,000 each to develop a ‘neighbourhood plan’, designed to boost local economic growth.
Outrage over plan to outsource to India 08/06/2011 Birmingham City Council’s joint venture with Capita has come under fire from trade unions, after reports that the partnership was planning to outsource some of its jobs to India.
Creative potential 06/06/2011 Traditional approaches to improved efficiency are not enough, it is time for local authorities to take a more radical approach to the future, says David Henshaw.
Shadow authorities 06/06/2011 Government plans to impose mayoral referendums have not been thought out properly and should be abandoned, say George Jones and John Stewart.
Why neighbourhood planning is an opportunity for councils 03/06/2011 Last week the DCLG announced 40 new pilots –or what it terms as ‘front-runners’ – to trial neighbourhood planning rights outlined in the Localism Bill. DCLG decentralisation minister Greg Clark explains why he believes the new planning system will be
Birmingham strike ballot starts over pay and conditions 03/06/2011 Nearly 10,000 Birmingham City Council staff began voting yesterday on a strike ballot over changes to work and conditions, as tensions mount over plans to offshore 100 back office IT jobs to India.
Union fury at Service Birmingham’s ‘outrageous’ offshoring decision 02/06/2011 Unions have called on Birmingham City Council to halt plans to outsource more than 70 IT jobs to India, fearing the move could be ‘the tip of the iceberg’ for cost-cutting councils nationwide.
Renaissance cities 01/06/2011 A report by the City Finance Commission sets out an agenda for reform designed to revive our cities as centres for economic growth.
Blowing hot and cold 01/06/2011 A brightly-coloured ‘heat map’ which claims to show levels of local council spending is inaccurate and misleading, says Chris Game
Threat to privatise ‘sloppy’ election services 01/06/2011 Birmingham City Council leader, Mike Whitby, has reportedly threatened to privatise election services after two ballot boxes went missing during last month’s election.
Challenge goes live 01/06/2011 The first of five programmes highlighting stages in the 2011 Local Government Challenge has been broadcast on Policy Review TV www.policyreview.tv/lgchallenge.
Circus is a new star 01/06/2011 Birmingham City Council has celebrated winning the British Council for Offices refurbished/recycled workplace award for 1 Lancaster Circus.
Care ruling could be ‘far-reaching’ 25/05/2011 Charities and legal experts have warned that a High Court ruling against Birmingham City Council’s plans to cut adult social care funding could have far-reaching consequences.
‘Pay LGA chief less than £170k’ says latest candidate for chairmanship 25/05/2011 The next LGA chief executive should be paid ‘less than £170,000’, says the second council leader to announce he is standing as next chairman of the LGA.
Devolution plus 24/05/2011 If Scotland is to be given devolved tax powers, why not give similar powers to our big city-regions, asks Dan Corry
Finance commission calls for the return of the business rate 23/05/2011 A group of influential councils will today urge ministers to quickly hand new financial powers to local authorities – including the retention of business rates, new borrowing powers and control of merged public sector budgets.
Armed forces fast-tracked for council housing 23/05/2011 Members of the armed forces are being fast-tracked for council housing, according to local authority leaders.
Birmingham loses social care case 20/05/2011 Birmingham City Council’s plans to cut adult social care funding were ruled unlawful by the High Court yesterday.
Labour leads campaign to push for tougher laws to tackle fraud 18/05/2011 Opposition MPs were this week pushing ministers to adopt tougher laws on housing fraud, amid evidence that current regulations are too easily exploited.
Ofsted under fire over ‘tick-boxing’ 12/05/2011 A leading campaigner for greater transparency over council children’s services has told The MJ he has little confidence in assessments made by watchdog, Ofsted.
Frontloaded cuts hit north and midlands hardest, BBC survey reveals 12/05/2011 Frontloaded cuts have forced councils in the north and midlands to make sharper reductions than those in the south, the first post-spending review analysis of local authority expenditure has revealed.
Transformation from the IT crowd 11/05/2011 Mention the letters ‘IT’ to council chief executives and leaders and they are likely to stare into the middle distance or refer the query to the computer department on the third floor. For most senior executives, IT is definitely the ‘IT crowd’. Glyn
Female staff win latest stage in equal pay fight 11/05/2011 Female employees of Birmingham City Council have advanced their campaign for equal pay compensation, after an employment appeal tribunal in London found in their favour.
‘Clusters’ of LEPs may decide key transport issues 06/05/2011 Sub-national groups of local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) could be empowered by ministers to take key decisions on strategic transport issues, it can be revealed.
The blame game 06/05/2011 Local authorities have a good record when it comes to council tax collection rates, but we need to look beyond the ‘shock, horror’ headlines to get a more accurate picture, says Chris Game
Ministers eye LEP consortias for key transport and planning role 06/05/2011 Sub-national groups of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) could be empowered by ministers to take key decisions on strategic transport issues.
Cuts will spark ‘massive action’ 05/05/2011 Trade unions have warned of more strikes and cuts to frontline council services, as controversy surrounding the spending cuts continues.
Europe’s largest authority set to quit LGA 05/05/2011 Europe’s largest local authority, Birmingham City Council, is among 21 authorities which are currently on notice to quit the Local Government Association next year.
Legal ruling deals blow to city’s proposals to axe £1.4m funding 05/05/2011 Birmingham City Council’s plans to make multimillion-pound savings in its 2011/12 budget have been dealt a double blow by judges in the
Mapping out needs 20/04/2011 Poverty and affluence exist side in many areas leaving councils with little choice but to act as local instruments of social justice, suggests David Walker
Burstow names areas to pilot more ‘flexible’ care 20/04/2011 Health minister, Paul Burstow, has announced the six areas which will pilot a new scheme for adult social care.
Online services guide unveiled 20/04/2011 SOCITM Insight has published a guide to help councils increase the range of services they provide online.
New for old 14/04/2011 Better versions of existing services will not do the trick. We need more radical innovation, says Charles Leadbeater
Electoral swings and roundabouts 14/04/2011 The key theme for May’s council elections may be the scale of Labour’s continuing local recovery at the expense of the two coalition parties, suggests Chris Game
Sea change at Blackpool 13/04/2011 In contrast to its image as having long passed its sell-by date, the famous resort town of Blackpool is undergoing a huge renovation programme. Michael Burton was invited there for a visit by the council’s chief executive, Steve Weaver.
High Court ruling against Birmingham welcomed 13/04/2011 AdviceUK has welcomed the High Court’s ruling that Birmingham City Council’s decision to cut funding for 13 charities was unlawful.
Confirmed winner 13/04/2011 Amey has rolled out Pitney Bowes Business Insight’s (PBBI) asset-management system.
ADASS makes Hay new president 13/04/2011 A new president, vice-president and honorary secretary have been voted in by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS).
RGF funding goes north 12/04/2011 The north of England has benefited from the majority of the £450m regional growth fund (RGF), announced today by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg.
Southern areas keen to bid for LEP status 31/03/2011 Local enterprise partnerships (LEP) located in the home counties and the South East have eagerly embraced bidding for enterprise zone status, The MJ can reveal.
Miliband promises to defend communities against cuts 31/03/2011 Ed Miliband has launched Labour's campaign for council elections in England, saying the party will be the ‘first line of defence’ against unfair cuts to local services.
Carbon countdown for councils 31/03/2011 Nick Appleyard suggests that co-operation on climate change initiatives will provide a severe test of the Government’s commitment to localism
Going for growth 30/03/2011 Enterprise zones and fast-track planning for councils were a key part of last week’s Budget, saying ‘yes’ to development.Dermott Calpin reports
Troubled families targeted in pilot project 30/03/2011 The delayed second phase of what was known as Total Place kicks off this week, with the launch of 16 areas piloting community budgets.
Mayor wary over potential of ‘enterprise zones’ 25/03/2011 The mayor of the council overseeing London’s ‘enterprise zone’ has warned it is vital authorities and businesses managing the local growth plans learn the lessons of past failures.
Budget 2011: Osborne announces 21 ‘enterprise zones’ 23/03/2011 Twenty-one new enterprise zones - with significant planning, tax and business rate powers - will be established to help kick-start sub-national economic growth, chancellor George Osborne’s Budget has revealed.
Birmingham to build homes for ex-soldiers 17/03/2011 Birmingham City Council will become the first local authority in England to build family homes exclusively for ex-military personnel, officials have revealed.
Homes project begins 16/03/2011 Construction work on new council homes in Birmingham got underway last week.
Councils’ face housing ‘time 16/03/2011 Councils that house military sites could be forced to cover the huge cost of Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans to return 70,000 troops and personnel from overseas bases, and to axe a further 42,000 jobs, The MJ has learnt.
Rethink urged over pathfinder closures 16/03/2011 Labour said the Government should ‘think again’ about cutting funding to housing market renewal (HMR) pathfinders, after an Audit Commission review stated they had made ‘a substantial contribution’ to communities.
Midlands LEP ‘one of the biggest in the UK’ 09/03/2011 The Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership has become one of the largest in the country.
Councils prepare for 'super Thursday' 03/03/2011 Councils are busy preparing for an unprecedented round of elections on Thursday 5 May, not least of which is the first referendum to be held in the UK since 1975. Michael Burton talks to elections expert, David Monks, about preparations
Data chasm exposes frontline cuts burden 03/03/2011 Local authorities will be forced to axe billions of pounds’ worth of frontline services in 2011/12, after evidence obtained by The MJ suggested ministers’ favoured methods of protecting localities would cover just £2.1bn from an estimated cash shortf
Capita connects with expanding ‘pipeline’ 02/03/2011 Outsourcing giant, Capita, has announced a record bid ‘pipeline’ of £4.7bn, despite the public sector slowdown.
Birmingham agrees to £212m in cuts amid protests 02/03/2011 Birmingham City Council has signed off £212m in savings for the next year, amid protests similar to that seen throughout the country in the last few weeks.
Councils oppose HS2 route 28/02/2011 A coalition of councils has rallied together to oppose the Government’s proposals for a high-speed rail project (HS2).
Lifeline for CABs about to be axed 25/02/2011 Four Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) branches in Birmingham have been given a reprieve, following a meeting with the city council.
Cash for roads shows direction of DfT 18/02/2011 Road projects took precedent over public transport options, as transport secretary, Philip Hammond, revealed which local schemes had been given the go ahead to receive government cash.
Our funding system needs reform 17/02/2011 A new commission has been set up to push for a reformed funding system which allows city councils to benefit from their efforts to boost their local economies. Sir Stuart Lipton, its chairman reports on progress
Socitm: Councils yet to grasp the nettle on CRM 15/02/2011 Councils can make major savings by changing the way they manage customer contact, according to a new report from Socitm.
Capita extends contract to service Birmingham 09/02/2011 Support services group, Capita, has secured a five-year extension to its partnership with Birmingham City Council.
Three councils seek more powers to raise revenue 03/02/2011 Three city councils have signalled they will lobby the government for more powers to raise their own income.
Shapps: HRA subsidy system scrapped for self-financing 01/02/2011 Councils will have the power to manage their own housing stock in the future, after the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) subsidy system was formally scrapped, housing minister Grant Shapps has announced.
Reality cheque for Birmingham 25/01/2011
Pickles delays finance review announcement 25/01/2011 Communities secretary Eric Pickles has delayed making an announcement on the local government finance review.
We need proper opposition 24/01/2011 The coalition government means concerted opposition at local level is muted, which is bad for democracy, says Conservative councillor, Richard Stay.
Children’s boss exits 19/01/2011
Birmingham wins auditors’ praise after string of financial ‘mistakes’ 19/01/2011
Heseltine backs ‘directly elected chief executives’ 13/01/2011 Lord Heseltine has called for directly-elected mayors with chief executive powers to be rolled out across England as a way of reinvigorating provincial towns and cities.
Birmingham suspends children’s social care chief 13/01/2011 Birmingham City Council has suspended its director of children’s social care, Colin Tucker, with immediate effect.
Birmingham waste services hit by industrial action 11/01/2011
Hammond set to unveil HS2 plans 20/12/2010 Transport secretary Philip Hammond is set to unveil his preferred route for the HS2 high-speed rail line from London to Birmingham.
Confusion over directly-elected mayor proposals 17/12/2010 The Government has issued plans to encourage England’s 12 biggest cities to have a directly-elected mayor – but it remains unclear what powers they will have.
Extension agreed for Brum services 10/12/2010 Birmingham City Council has extended its contract with support services giant Capita until March 2021.
Ofsted identifies 12 councils’ poor performance on children’s services 09/12/2010 The majority of children’s services in England are up to standard but 12 councils are performing poorly, according to the government inspectorate.
Broadband boost for authorities 08/12/2010 Local authorities will be able to bid for government money to develop superfast broadband in their areas.
Green shoots for local economies 01/12/2010 Sustainability is not just about the environment. If approached proactively, the green agenda can offer a real boost to local businesses, jobs and supply chains, and make local areas more economically and socially sustainable too.
Councils defend CCTV spend 30/11/2010 Council chiefs have hit back after it was revealed that local authorities have spent more than £314m on CCTV cameras over the last three years.
Auditors slam 'poor value' M25 deal 29/11/2010 The National Audit Office (NAO) has criticised the Highway's Agency PFI deal to widen the M25 for being too expensive and too slow to implement.
Trams will drive Birmingham’s ‘vision’ 22/11/2010 A network of tram-style buses, based on a system used in the US state of Oregon, was unveiled in Birmingham this week, as part of the city’s new ‘vision for movement’.
Big Society is just clever branding 19/11/2010 Many of the Conservative proposals for Big Society were appropriated from the White Paper in 2008, says Hazel Blears
£1bn homes boost 17/11/2010 Birmingham City Council has welcomed the Government’s new £1bn pot of housing funding.
Birmingham sets out transport vision 12/11/2010 A network of tram-style buses based on a system used in the US state of Oregon was unveiled in Birmingham yesterday as part of the city’s new ‘vision for movement’.
Ex-chief for Mouchel 03/11/2010 BBC Trust chairman and former Birmingham City Council chief executive, Sir Michael Lyons, has become a senior director of struggling support services group, Mouchel
North ‘set to win from RGF boost’ 29/10/2010 Northern English regions are set to be the principal beneficiaries of the new £1.4bn fund set up to alleviate public sector job cuts, despite Treasury objections, it has emerged.
Ministers unveil regional white paper and approve 24 LEPs 28/10/2010 Coalition ministers have given the green light to 24 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) as part of their plan to boost Britain’s moribund local economies.
Electric cars power city’s green success 25/10/2010 Newcastle City Council’s progress in delivering its climate change strategy has been rewarded, as it retained the crown of most sustainable city in the UK.
Pioneers set to test community budgets 21/10/2010 Local authorities chosen to pioneer community-based budgets have welcomed the chancellor’s announcement this week that they are to launch from next April 2011.
CSR: Sixteen areas pilot pooled community budgets 20/10/2010 Sixteen areas are to pilot pooled community budgets from next April 2011, it was announced today in the Chancellor’s comprehensive spending review.
CSR to include place-based budget pilots 20/10/2010 The Comprehensive Spending Review will include the latest round of place-based budgeting pilots.
Squaring up for a TIF over funding 13/10/2010 Are recently-announced plans to roll out tax incremental financing the panacea for future urban infrastructure funding? Robin Mannering reports
Delivering connected communities 13/10/2010 Beyond 2010, a two-day public sector conference at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre, takes place on 20-21 October. Glyn Evans, who is chairing a ‘smart efficiencies’ seminar at the event looks at how technology is transforming cities
City calls a halt to asylum-seeker support 13/10/2010 Birmingham City Council has told Whitehall’s UK Borders Agency it will stop accepting asylum-seekers from next summer.
Councils urged: ditch ‘unnecessary’ diversity and climate roles 12/10/2010 Councils are spending £41m a year on four ‘unnecessary’ roles – including political advisers, European officers and climate change specialists – according to the Taxpayers’ Alliance.
Region welcomes plans to extend high-speed rail 08/10/2010 Local transport chiefs in the North West and Yorkshire have welcomed the Government’s plan to extend high-speed rail beyond Birmingham.
Capital dives in to test TIFs with waterfront project 08/10/2010 In one respect, the Government’s decision to allow councils to introduce tax increment financing (TIF) has elicited a universal response – traditional funding routes to kick-start new infrastructure have dried up, so alternatives must be looked at.
Back to work with a helping hand 07/10/2010 Birmingham City Council has called on the Government to consider its pilot scheme to help bridge the gap for those coming off benefits and into work.
DfE report hails success of local trials to fight poverty 07/10/2010 Ministers this week came under pressure to devolve responsibility for tackling child poverty to local authorities, as part of their plans for ‘placed-based’ budgeting, after council-led trials showed early signs of success.
Union leaders should get real 06/10/2010 Difficult decisions about reductions in staffing cannot be made without the involvement of local trade union branches, but their national leadership still acts as if we are in the 1970s, says Richard Stay.
Sign of the times 06/10/2010 The communities secretary has promised councils more power but less money. He tells The MJ his commitment to localism is deeper than gesture politics. Chris Smith reports
High-speed rail plans welcomed in the north 06/10/2010 Local transport chiefs in the North West and Yorkshire have welcomed the Government’s plan to extend high-speed rail beyond Birmingham.
Blue sky thinking in Birmingham 06/10/2010
Pickles calls on councils to ‘fundamentally re-think’ finances 04/10/2010 ‘Councils must fundamentally re-think their finances’ by merging services with neighbouring authorities – and forcing through changes to executive salaries - as they seek to slash costs, communities secretary Eric Pickles has told the Conservative Pa
Now is the time to be bold 01/10/2010 As the Conservatives prepare for their annual conference, Cllr David Parsons argues that councils need to take a step change into becoming facilitators of services, rather than providers.
Lessons from our own coalition 01/10/2010 The Conservatives meet this weekend at their annual conference in Birmingham, whose city council is also ruled by a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. One of the architects of the coalition, Cllr Alan Rudge, looks at the lessons learned.
Ed’s localism pledge 29/09/2010
Digital ideas to figure out efficiency 28/09/2010
Birmingham team trawls city in crackdown on illegal loan sharks 28/09/2010
Welsh finance chiefs vote in favour of CIPFA region 28/09/2010
District View 28/09/2010
Council rejects union's redundancy claims 27/09/2010 Sheffield City Council has rejected trade union claims it sent ‘redundancy notices’ to 8,500 of its staff.
Union slams Sheffield City Council for 'redundancy notice' sent to nearly 10,000 staff 27/09/2010 The GMB union claims Sheffield City Council has sent official ‘redundancy notices’ to 8,500 of its staff.
Clegg unveils plans for US-style regeneration funding 24/09/2010 Local authorities will soon be handed new borrowing powers through the introduction of US inspired tax increment financing (TIF) to kick-start stalled regeneration infrastructure programmes.
All aboard as the party bandwagons roll 23/09/2010 The Liberal Democrats’ conference this week kicks off one of the liveliest party conference seasons in years, not least of which is the election of a new leader at Labour’s event on Saturday and David Cameron’s first as prime minister. Robert Hill re
Clegg unveils new borrowing powers 23/09/2010 Local government this week celebrated major new borrowing powers promised by coalition ministers. But regeneration experts warned US tax increment financing (TIF) regimes had left some cities burdened with high debts and inequalities.
CLG faces '30%' cuts 17/09/2010 The Communities and Local Government (CLG) department is facing a budget cut of almost a third through the Comprehensive Spending Review, The Guardian is reporting today.
Lyons calls time on chairing BBC Trust 15/09/2010
New homes boost for Birmingham 15/09/2010
26,000 Birmingham staff 'threatened' with redundancy 13/09/2010 Birmingham City Council has been accused of putting all of its 26,000 non-schools workers under threat of redundancy.
We can help deliver more for less 13/09/2010
Call for statutory carbon budgeting 13/09/2010
Budgeting locally to cut carbon 09/09/2010 Local carbon budgets could play a major role in helping the UK meet its ambitious CO2-reduction targets, as Nick Appleyard explains
Pickles: 56 bids for 'radical' LEPs submitted to CLG 07/09/2010 Ministers today announced 56 bids for Local Enterprise Partnership status were submitted by the 6 September deadline.
Only 16 'free schools' announced 07/09/2010 Only 16 radical new ‘free schools’ have won the backing of the Department of Education, it has been announced.
Fraudster falls flat 03/09/2010 A council worker who took part in national sprinting athletics races while signed off work with a bad back has been found guilty of fraud.
Council 'athlete' guilty of fraud 03/09/2010 A council worker who took part in national sprinting atheltics races while signed off work with a bad back has been found guilty of fraud.
When it comes to efficiency, Birmingham means business 02/09/2010 As spending cuts loom, Europe’s largest local authority has already made huge efficiency savings, as Stephen Hughes explains.
Our vision for local government 02/09/2010 Labour leadership candidate and bookies favourite David Miliband outlines his local service priorities.
Co-ordinated campaign leads to 4.4% drop in knife crime 19/08/2010 Campaigns targeting teenagers and direct action by co-ordinated public services has led to a drop in the number of teen knife crime victims.
Meeting the place-based challenge 11/08/2010 Bill Cooper of KPMG and Ben Lucas of the 2020 Public Services Trust warn that many councils are not yet fully prepared to take on the new responsibilities of place-based budgeting.
A quart in a pint pot 05/08/2010 Andrew Kerr is now head of one of the new unitaries in the South West and is relishing the challenges to bring down overheads, as he tells Michael Burton.
The place-based test 05/08/2010 Many councils are not ready to implement place-based budgeting and must shift from their ‘comfort zone’ to co-ordinate radical Treasury plans for devolved public spending, policy experts have warned.
Lifetime council homes under threat 04/08/2010 Lifetime council homes could be scrapped and replaced with fixed-term contracts based on need, the Prime Minister David Cameron has revealed.
New power ‘should apply across the public sector’ 28/07/2010 Legal chief, Dr Mirza Ahmad,believes the power of general competence proposed in the next local government Bill should apply across the public sector – and not just to councils.
Directors ‘rising to challenges of providing personalised services’ 28/07/2010 Adult social care directors have already moved to meet the new challenges in health services.
Money talks save city £36m-plus 28/07/2010 Birmingham City Council has saved more than £36m after negotiating a series of contracts.
Union fears realised 28/07/2010 Unison has called for significant improvements to management practices in Birmingham City Council.
Give us the tools and we’ll do the job 28/07/2010 Place-based budgeting which draws from across the local public sector and is monitored not by Whitehall, but locally, could save millions, says Margaret Eaton.
Starved girl death ‘could have been avoided’ 28/07/2010 The death of a seven-year-old girl who starved to death in Birmingham could have been avoided, according to the first Serious Case Review to be published in full.
Cultural delight 26/07/2010 The Northern Ireland city of Londonderry was selected as the UK’s first city of culture this week, at a ceremony in Liverpool.
Less waste in slump 15/07/2010 The recession has been cited as the reason why 4.72% less waste was generated in Birmingham in 2009/10.
Birmingham faces up to squeeze with £230M savings 15/07/2010 Birmingham City Council, the UK’s largest local authority, says it will need to make £230m worth of savings over the next four years – and may need to axe more staff - as part of its contribution to public spending cuts.
Scrapping of BSF opens can of worms 15/07/2010 The Building Schools for the Future programme was scrapped last week, but this was only the beginning of the story. After errors in which projects had been axed, and political in-fighting over the cuts to school building, it has become an on-going sa
Public sector cuts ‘will widen North-South divide’ says survey 09/07/2010 Public sector job cuts will fall disproportionately on urban ex-industrial areas of Britain, widening the North-South divide, says a new study.
Firm shrugs off fears over public spending 01/07/2010 The chief executive of outsourcing giant Capita has shrugged off fears about massive cuts to the public sector.
Director retires after 40 years 30/06/2010 An Aberdeenshire Council director has retired after 40 years of public service. Charles Armstrong, the council’s director of corporate services, joined Aberdeenshire when it was formed in 1996 as head of corporate finance, and soon became director of
Why we entered the challenge 30/06/2010 Four finalists and the six other shortlisted entrants give their views on the Local Government Challenge.
MoJ announces courts closure plan 29/06/2010 The Ministry of Justice is seeking views on the closure of 103 Magistrates’ Courts and 54 county courts deemed under-used or inadequate.
June Budget: Capital spending protected 22/06/2010 Capital spending funds have been spared in George Osborne's 'unavoidable' emergency Budget.
June Budget: Support for local rail projects 22/06/2010 The emergency Budget has given the nod to four local rail projects while a large regional growth fund will be set up as the coalition tries to build its way out of the national deficit.
Government axes 12 capital projects worth £2bn 18/06/2010 Capital projects worth billions of pounds were cancelled or suspended by ministers this week, prompting a furious reaction from commentators.
Appeal 'is a waste' 17/06/2010 Public sector union Unison has called on Birmingham City Council to drop its appeal against the recent equal pay judgement by the Birmingham Employment Tribunal.
Let’s just get on with it 16/06/2010 Whatever new name applies to Total Place the priority now is for the public sector to get on and implement it, says Stephen Taylor.
UNISON calls for B'ham to drop equal pay appeal 09/06/2010 Public sector union UNISON has called on Birmingham City Council to drop their appeal against the recent equal pay judgement by the Birmingham Employment Tribunal.
What next for Total Place? 02/06/2010 Almost a month into the new government, questions arise over the future of Total Place. Does this mean this is the end of the policy?
Pickles puts block on audit chief’s pay offer 02/06/2010 Communities secretary, Eric Pickles, has vetoed the appointment of the new chief executive of the Audit Commission, in a bid to tackle rising public sector salaries.
Former town hall chiefs among civil service top earners 01/06/2010 A number of former town hall chiefs feature in a list of the highest-earning senior civil servants published by the Cabinet Office.
City’s bid banks on star qualities 26/05/2010 Birmingham twins, James and Oliver Phelps, are hoping their star roles in the Harry Potter films will add a little magic to the council’s bid to win the coveted City of Culture title in 2013.
Second pay victory for Unison 26/05/2010 Unison has won its second major victory in a month, in a landmark equal pay ruling at an Employment Appeal Tribunal in Scotland.
Unison wins second equal pay battle 21/05/2010 Unison has won its second major victory in a month in a landmark equal pay ruling at an Employment Appeal Tribunal in Scotland.
Upping the ante in Hull 20/05/2010 Hull’s target to drive up school attainment needed a kick-start, so the council came up with a range of proposals to attract newly-qualified teachers Judith Harwood explains.
Now comes the reckoning 06/05/2010 While the main political parties have avoided being honest about how they will tackle public finances nationally, the truth now has to come out, says Michael Burton.
Election ‘reality gap’ clouds localism plans 06/05/2010 Local residents are wary of politicians’ plans to reform public services, and few want direct involvement in how they are run, a leading think-tank has revealed.
Birmingham ruling casts a shadow over single status 05/05/2010 An employment tribunal last week ruled in favour of women workers fighting for equal pay against Birmingham City Council. Heather Jameson reports.
Public sector contracts boost Amey’s pre-tax profits 70% 05/05/2010 Pre-tax profits at contractor, Amey, soared by 70% in the last year, according to the latest financial figures.
Surrey has China in its sights 05/05/2010 Surrey CC has sealed a deal with one of the world’s fastest-growing cities, in a bid to boost business.
Villagers build barricade to stop travellers site 04/05/2010 Residents of a West Midlands village formed a barricade to prevent travellers from setting up an illegal camp during the bank holiday weekend.
Public spending central to final leaders’ debate 30/04/2010 Public spending formed a key part of the final party leaders' BBC debate held in Birmingham last night with Gordon Brown insisting cuts could jeopardise recovery.
World-wide coverage for ballot 29/04/2010 Birmingham City Council is to present live online coverage of this year’s local and general election, including live blogs, video footage and the results as they come in on 6 and 7 May.
Tribunal backs Birmingham equal pay claim 29/04/2010 Birmingham City Council could be forced to pay out £600m in equal pay claims, after an employment tribunal found thousands of female staff were entitled to the same pay as men.
Union gets backing 28/04/2010 A Birmingham employment tribunal has backed Unison’s claim that thousands of women working for Birmingham City Council are entitled to earn the same pay as men.
Good value pays off 21/04/2010 Birmingham City Council has saved £30m by awarding maintenance contracts for council housing to companies which have demonstrated quality and value for money. All new contracts will run to October 2015.
Give city-regions metro mayors says think-tank 14/04/2010 An independent think-tank has called for metro mayors to be introduced in city-regions across England.
Cash diversion may allay £3.6bn homes debt fears 01/04/2010 Criticism of Whitehall plans to force £3.6bn of new housing debt on to local government could be short-lived, if ministers agree to fund a backlog of Decent Homes cash, The MJ has learned.
Opposition questions £1bn transport spend 01/04/2010 The opposition has lambasted the Government for committing more than £1bn towards a glut of local transport projects in the run up to the election.
A vision of localism 01/04/2010 Last week's report by the 20:20 Public Services Trust outlined radical proposals to devolve powers, which are finding favour with all three political parties, reports Mark Conrad.
Devolve powers now urges trust 26/03/2010 Ministers should immediately devolve control of key public services to major English cities and counties – such as Manchester and Kent – in return for a reduction in total spending across those areas, a major new report has claimed.
Birmingham wins £600m for highways PFI contract 26/03/2010 The country’s largest highways PFI contract is set to begin after the Government announced more than £600m of funding today.
Birmingham sacks six social workers 22/03/2010 Six social workers have been sacked by Birmingham City Council following a catalogue of failings in the children’s services department.
High speed rail gets first critics 12/03/2010 A coalition of local authorities have hit out at the Government's plans for a high speed rail line from London to Birmingham.
Cities unite to drive inward investment 11/03/2010 Councils are set to use a global property expo to launch a massive inward investment drive.
Charges fears 11/03/2010 Corporate manslaughter charges could be brought against Birmingham City Council over the failings, which led to the death of seven-year-old Khyra Ishaq.
The democracy of partnerships 11/03/2010 The accountability of partnerships can create problems for local democracy, say George Jones and John Stewart
Aid for Bull fighters 04/03/2010 Birmingham City Council will freeze rental rates for traders at the Bull Ring market, to help them through the current tough economic times.
‘Overworked’ staff fears 04/03/2010 Social care reforms risk increasing the burden on overworked council employees, which could drive more valuable staff away, new research claims.
The lessons so far from the Total Place pilots 03/03/2010 With ministers now scrutinising reports from the 13 Total Place pilots, Michael Burton reports from a recent MJ/NSA conference on Total Place.
Tories launch speedy action 26/02/2010 A number of Tory councils have defied the Conservatives Party’s stance on high-speed rail by joining bipartisan talks on the London to Birmingham route.
Birmingham awaits serious case review outcome 26/02/2010 Birmingham City Council awaits the outcome of a serious case review following the death of a seven-year-old girl who was starved to death by her mother and stepfather.
Governance system ‘failing’ says Bichard 26/02/2010 Feedback from the 13 Total Place pilots shows the current system of governance is ‘dysfunctional’ and failing the public, according to efficiency chief Sir Michael Bichard.
Job cuts protest 25/02/2010 Hundreds of local government workers this week protested over Birmingham City Council’s plans to make 2,000 job cuts.
Birmingham moves to limit job cut fears 24/02/2010 Birmingham City Council has moved to alleviate trade union concerns of savage job cuts as it approved its annual budget.
Union fury as Birmingham announces 2,000 job cuts 17/02/2010 Birmingham City Council has revealed it will axe up to 2,000 jobs during the next financial year.
Government rejects ‘jobs for the boys’ claim 17/02/2010 Cabinet Office sources this week defended the department’s decision not to advertise 2,300 new civil service posts externally, after critics said redundant local government workers should be allowed to apply.
Further council job cuts expected 15/02/2010 Town halls are likely to slash more jobs this year, as the public sector suffers from the post-recession economic ‘lag’.
Birmingham 'set to axe 2,000 staff' 11/02/2010 Birmingham City Council could axe up to 2,000 jobs over the course of the next financial year.
Martin Hill named councillor of the year 09/02/2010 Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill has been named council leader of the year in the first ever LGIU/CCA councillor awards.
Social care investment ‘key to efficiency’ 08/02/2010 Social care should be seen as an economic investment in order to fix a ‘fundamentally broken’ system, according to Number 10.
Read me like a book 04/02/2010 A new initiative involves real people acting as ‘books’ in their local libraries, with the public learning from them. Rob Whiteman describes how the idea worked out in his London borough
Minister to step down - in bid to be Birmingham mayor 03/02/2010 Birmingham Erdington MP, Sion Simon, has announced he will step down from parliament and as a minister to pursue ambitions to become the city’s first mayor.
Birmingham signs up to carbon cutting campaign 03/02/2010 Momentum continues to build with the campaign to cut carbon emissions as Britain’s biggest council signs up.
Agents of change 25/01/2010 A pioneering change agents’ programme to develop staff skills has been initiated by Birmingham City Council. Its cabinet member responsible for HR, Cllr Alan Rudge describes its progress.
Workers warned of threat to jobs 22/01/2010 Staff at Birmingham City Council, Europe’s largest local authority, have been warned the authority ‘cannot employ people for the sake of it’.
Looking beyond the frontiers to assess who is doing best 22/01/2010 Following’s last month’s Comprehensive Area Assessments, Ben Page considers how well councils are doing, if they remove some of the obstacles to performance.
Birmingham staff await employment policy review 19/01/2010 Staff at Birmingham City Council, Europe’s largest local authority, have been warned the authority ‘cannot employ people for the sake of it’.
Cities’ prospects uneven in wake of recession 18/01/2010 The recession has widened the gap between UK city economies, according to the Centre for Cities' annual economic index.
Councils perform badly on housing 06/01/2010 Councils are performing badly on housing, according to evidence from the first round of the new inspection regime from the Audit Commission.
Three candidates enter race to head LGA Labour Group 05/01/2010 Three councillors have stepped forward to replace Sir Jeremy Beecham as head of the Local Government Association Labour Group.
Auditors deliver a Christmas stuffing 17/12/2009 The Audit Commission has hit out at councils taking too long to publish their audited accounts, in the run-up to the Christmas break.
Cultural battle 17/12/2009 The final 14 battling to become the UK’s first City of Culture in 2013 have been announced by the Government.
Less red tape to deliver 16/12/2009 Local government started out in the 19th century, faced with big challenges to address – urbanisation, widespread poverty and limited access to the basic necessities of life.
Glasgow first Scottish city to roll out charging network for hybrid vehicles 16/12/2009 Glasgow is the first Scottish City to have been chosen to participate in the Joined-Cities Plan
Electric start to vehicle trial 15/12/2009 Cllr Paul Tilsley, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, has launched the first stage of a UK-wide electric vehicle trial.
Perfromance: CAA flags up top-performing councils 11/12/2009 Councils and their partners are performing well on transport and environmental issues, according to the Audit Commission’s first-ever Comprehensive Area Assessments (CAA).
Birmingham sets ‘bold’ climate targets 10/12/2009 Birmingham City Council has published its own declaration on climate change, revealing a number of bold targets concerning sustainability.
Think-tanks’ ‘unique’ link 10/12/2009 Two top local government think-tanks are to join forces in the new year.
Highways: Hard choice about to make life easier for drivers on M6 04/12/2009 England’s latest hard-shoulder running scheme was opened this week by transport minister, Chris Mole.
'Green bus' winning councils unveiled 04/12/2009 Local authorities and bus operators across the country have been awarded £30m to buy new low-carbon buses, enabling them to save up to 10,000t of carbon dioxide.
Savings find home 03/12/2009 Birmingham City Council has saved £30m after awarding housing maintenance contracts to four companies lasting until 2015.
Birmingham throws gauntlet down to other councils on climate change 03/12/2009 Birmingham City Council this week published its own declaration on climate change revealing a number of bold targets concerning sustainability.
There are more ways to tango 02/12/2009 More outsourcing is not always the right answer to public spending pressures, says John Tizard
Eco village scoops Euro award 02/12/2009 Birmingham’s Summerfield Eco Village has scooped a European award for its environmental achievements.
Smurfit Kappa takes on Heil 30/11/2009 Smurfit Kappa recycling has recently taken delivery of a new Heil Front End Loader
Highways: Use road pricing to pay for infrastructure say experts 20/11/2009 Wider use of road charges and tolls should be considered by public bodies struggling to finance infrastructure projects beyond the recession, leading academics have suggested.
Ten key lessons from the Total Place pilots 20/11/2009 Stephen Taylor and Phil Swann pull out ten key messages from the Total Place pilots which they believe will transform local government service delivery if implemented.
Councils 'losing' care children 19/11/2009 A new survey has found that at least 145 children have gone missing from council care homes in the past year.
Reducing rodent damage in RCVs 16/11/2009 Vehicle engineers are employing sophisticated investigation techniques in order to reduce vehicle downtime and cut the cost of repairing damage to refuse collection fleets caused by rodent damage.
birmingham 16/11/2009 Birmingham City Council has admitted it could have done more to prevent a crowd surge when boy band JLS performed at the city’s Christmas lights ceremony.
Credit crunch research calls for re-think over PFI funding 13/11/2009 Problems public bodies have encountered in delivering PFI projects during the recession are beginning to abate but the market still requires new sources of finance to ensure it remains stable, new research has suggested.
Use road charging to finance infrastructure, sector told 12/11/2009 Wider use of road charges and tolls should be considered by public bodies struggling to finance infrastructure projects beyond the recession, leading academics have suggested.
Brum departure 11/11/2009
Learning from abroad about community cohesion policy 11/11/2009 Birmingham City Council’s Alan Rudge describes a visit to Birmingham’s sister city, Chicago, as part of his work on community cohesion
North Tyneside chief to head up Wiltshire unitary 10/11/2009 North Tyneside MBC's chief executive, Andrew Kerr has announced he is to leave the authority to take up a post at the head of the new Wiltshire unitary authority.
Transport: DfT unveils studies to deliver DaSTS 30/10/2009
Regeneration: Approval expected for new urban park<br> 30/10/2009
No-one is at home 30/10/2009 As demand for housing intensifies, communities are still scarred by the blight of empty properties, says Steve Grimshaw
Birmingham to shed 800 posts 27/10/2009 The equivalent of 800 full-time posts are to be lost at Birmingham City Council as the authority tries to plug a £2.2bn financial hole.
Most LGPS members ‘live in poorest areas’ 21/10/2009 Most town hall pension scheme members live in the most deprived areas of their locality, a regional study has discovered, casting doubts on claims council staff enjoy gold-plated retirement benefits.
‘Hotspots’ targeted in drive to cut threat of repossession 14/10/2009
Figuring out where the savings have been made 08/10/2009 Following last week’s efficiency statements, released by the communities and local government secretary at last week’s Labour Party conference, Heather Jameson looks at some of the topline figures
A new association is born 08/10/2009 The role of what used to be committee clerk – and today, democratic services staff – has changed radically. Now, a new association rfor people holding this position is about to be launched, as John Austin explains
We admit it, we are failures, says Birmingham 07/10/2009
Democratic services’ new association 07/10/2009
Mortgage rescue scheme’s ‘flexible’ rates 07/10/2009
Birmingham website 'most improved' 06/10/2009 Birmingham City Council's maligned £2.8m online project has been named the most improved council website of the past year.
Flexible rates for mortgage rescue scheme confirmed 06/10/2009 Flexible grant rates will be available in the future for the government¹s Mortgage Rescue Scheme, the Homes and Communities Agency has announced.
Birmingham accepts childcare criticism 05/10/2009 Birmingham City Council has today accepted damning criticism of its children's social care service.
Labour receives pre-conference boost 01/10/2009
Chiefs urged to be involved in 2010 pay talks 01/10/2009
First thoughts on the new inspection regime 28/09/2009 With inspections under the new CAA well under way, The MJ/Audit Commission roundtable on CAA last week brought together the inspectors – in the form of commission chief executive, Steve Bundred – and some of those awaiting the verdict to discuss expe
Tories will pay town halls to build coucnil homes 24/09/2009 Local authorities will be given financial incentives to build new housing if the conservatives win the general election.
NHf name Lib Dem MP Taylor as new chair 24/09/2009 Matthew Taylor MP has been named the new chair of the National Housing Federation, after being elected for a three-year term at the organisation¹s AGM in Birmingham. He will stand down as an MP at the next election.
Show homes 24/09/2009 As work gets under way on 2,000 new homes, Ted Czerniak hopes it is just the start of a wide-scale council building programme demonstrating local government’s community leadership role.
Opt-out ‘not an option’ 24/09/2009 Employers’ head, Jan Parkinson, has warned that attempts to opt out of the national pay bargaining system could be both costly and unlawful.
Highways: £58m M6 revamp makes early start 22/09/2009
Councils hailed as ‘unsung heroes’ of the downturn 18/09/2009 Beleaguered local authorities were this week lauded as the ‘unsung heroes’ of the recession by a senior Cabinet minister, who revealed Whitehall sceptics had previously doubted councils’ ability to deliver on key policies.
Councils can opt out on pay says lawyer 17/09/2009 Local government lawyer Mark Greenburgh has thrown down the gauntlet to councils threatening to back out of this year’s pay deal, by claiming they probably can.
Lyons looks back at his legacy at 60 17/09/2009 As he celebrates his 60th birthday this week, Sir Michael Lyons steps away from the daily cares of chairing the BBC Trust to talk to Heather Jameson about the subject still close to his heart – local government.
Housing teams are busier than ever 17/09/2009 The recent Audit Commission report claiming local authorities are neglecting housing maintenance in favour of new build ignores its own evidence says Cllr Gary Porter.
Transport: MMAs put councils in the driving seat 11/09/2009
Cities unite in electric vehicle pilot 10/09/2009 An £11m electric vehicle plan has been launched, which will see nine cities nationwide accelerating the deployment of plug-in points for the low carbon vehicles.
Pay difficulties look set to become a political football 09/09/2009 As local government negotiates a tough pay settlement, Brian Strutton reminds us not to forget the local authority staff.
Denham approves Multi-Area Agreements 09/09/2009 Councils across the country have been given new powers to work together to help people through the recession and cut carbon emissions.
Highways: City limits damage with £5.5m boost 04/09/2009
Home-grown transformation programme 02/09/2009 Sheila Espin explains how Birmingham’s Housing Transformation Programme is improving services in the city.
Councils pay £1M each for trips and falls compensation 26/08/2009 County and unitary authorities have paid out an average of nearly £1M each in compensation to people who have tripped on pavements
New Birmingham community gardens unveiled 26/08/2009 Marks & Spencer, environmental regeneration organisation Groundwork West Midlands, Renfrew Square Residents Group and Castle Vale Community Housing Association have unveiled two community gardens at Renfrew Square, Castle Vale in Birmingham.
Local paper leaders want Minister to act on council freesheets 21/08/2009 The Newspaper Society, which represent Britain's local media industry, has written to local government minister Rosie Winterton requesting a meeting over fear that council publications are killing of local papers.
Why a total future must not be a total farce 19/08/2009 As the Total Place agenda gathers pace, The MJ held a round table event with local authority chief executives and some of their partners to understand more about the barriers and benefits of joining up – and what will happen if they don’t. Heather Ja
Councillor to head up ‘Baby P’ board 19/08/2009
LGA unveils new board members 18/08/2009 Shireen Ritchie, a senior councillor at Kensington & Chelsea RBC, has been confirmed as the new chair of the LGA’s children and young people board.
Transport: Heathrow opposition challenge takes off Councils and campaign groups battling expansion at London’s Heathrow Airport have won the right to mount a legal challenge, as civil servants signalled the third runway could be shelved. The High Court has confirmed it will allow a legal challenge against plans to build a third runway at Heathrow, which will be heard in open court later this year. The three-day hearing will challenge the parliamentary statement made by then-transport secretary, 14/08/2009
Retailers call for more high street support 14/08/2009 Retailers have urged communities secretary John Denham to continue and deepen support for high street stores.
New breakaway blow to national pay framework 12/08/2009 The future of local government’s national pay bargaining framework was in doubt this week, after it was revealed concern over this year’s proposed settlement crossed the political divide.
Why we believe the pay offer is a public relations disaster 12/08/2009 Birmingham City’s Cllr Alan Rudge, cabinet member responsible for equalities and HR, explains why his council is so opposed to the revised pay offer.
Can local government learn from history? 12/08/2009 Awareness of history can be important in local authorities for practice and policies in the present and for plans for the future, say George Jones and John Stewart.
Employers defend revised pay offer to town hall unions 10/08/2009 The employers’ negotiator has defended their handling of the tortuous pay talks with council workers.
Councils win right to fight Heathrow runway 07/08/2009 Councils and campaign groups battling Heathrow’s expansion have won the right to mount a legal challenge as civil servants signalled the third runway could be shelved.
Leisurely new start 06/08/2009 Two local government management consultancies have announced they are to merge.
Roads to recovery 06/08/2009 Birmingham City Council has finalised a £2.7bn PFI deal to modernise its roads network.
Pilots will aim to test delivery of public services 06/08/2009 The way Whitehall allocates resources to departments delivering local public services will be studied in depth by 13 new pilot schemes, designed to identify more effective and efficient ways of providing services.
Troubled children's services team on road to improvement 06/08/2009 Birmingham City Council has welcomed recognition by the Government that its maligned children's services department is on the road to improvement.
Birmingham announces preferred highways PFI bidder 06/08/2009 Birmingham City Council has today announced Amey as the preferred bidder for its long-awaited £2.7bn highways private finance initiative (PFI) contract.
Council website £2.2M over budget and 3 years late 05/08/2009 Birmingham City Council's new £2.8M website, set to be unveiled at the end of the month, was originally scheduled for February 2006 at a cost of £580,000.
HCA sets out community engagement commitment 03/08/2009 The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has set out its commitment to community engagement, and how it will utilise its Single Conversation business model to empower communities
Parties split in storm over revised pay offer 30/07/2009 A deep split has emerged between local government leaders over the employers’ decision last week to increase the pay offer to unions.
South West opts for its own Total Place pilot 22/07/2009 Fears that the timetable for the 13 Total Place pilots to report is too elastic have been highlighted in a decision by a group of South West councils to fund their own pilot programme.
£1.5m environmental refit will save city tonnes of cash 22/07/2009 Two giant tower blocks are set to become low-carbon hubs in a £1.5m energy refit by a joint partnership.
Chief with a track record 22/07/2009 Former medal-winning athlete, Andrew Kerr, tells Heather Jameson about life in the North East, and how he plans to weather the recession.
McDonald's launches litter reduction scheme 16/07/2009 McDonald’s has assisted in removing litter from city centres in pilot schemes in Birmingham and Manchester.
The Association of Directors of Children’s Services slams new guidance on child protection 10/07/2009 The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) has slammed new guidance on child protection which will mean increased scrutiny on directors of children's services from chief executives and leaders.
Environment: Birmingham plans tree preservation 09/07/2009
Skills imbalance may cripple cities 09/07/2009 Cities with a low-skilled workforce will be hardest hit by the recession, according to an employment research body.
The sweet taste of success 01/07/2009 Famous as Northamptonshire CC’s ‘strawberry lady’, Katherine Kerswell, takes over the presidency of SOLACE this week. She tells Heather Jameson about her career.
MPs urge infrastructure tax change 01/07/2009 Councils should forge ahead with US-style regeneration regimes, or face ‘many years’ of urban decline, MPs warned this week.
uncomplicate your event witha local government unconference 30/06/2009 Arun Marsh finds a DJ and people brimming with ideas at a very different conference - LocalGovCamp
Let’s raise our game 24/06/2009 In his first article as a regular contributor to The MJand LocalGov.co.uk, Stephen Taylor says that a focus on improving the performance of less productive staff will help councils maintain services during budget cuts
The shape of things to come 17/06/2009 How are council chief executives preparing for the downturn in grant funding? Joan Monro explains what happened when the IDeA asked nine chief executives for their views.
Jobless figures reveal national split of employees losing work 10/06/2009 LGA leaders have reiterated their call for sub-regional management of the recession after new figures exposed vast differences in the impact of the recession within England.
War on waste 'heats up' 08/06/2009 The Government today revealed funding for a number of projects to create energy from organic waste
An eye on the past and the future 04/06/2009 If the public still tend to have a stereotypical view of the fire service then meeting fire chief, Vij Randeniya, will rapidly change their minds, says Michael Burton.
How regulation can both protect and serve 03/06/2009 Getting tough on red tape, meeting tight efficiency targets, helping businesses through the recession, and protecting the consumer – it sounds like Mission Impossible. But, a round table debate organised in Birmingham by The MJ, the Local Better Regu
Short-listed projects vie for Britain’s top national planning prize 02/06/2009
Highways: Intelligent move for smart Birmingham 29/05/2009 Birmingham plans to become the UK’s first ‘intelligent city’ for transport by 2014.
Cities put pressure on Darling to launch TIF regimes 29/05/2009 Pressure on chancellor Alistair Darling to introduce US-style regeneration funding schemes intensified this week, when four major town halls called for the roll-out of tax increment financing (TIF).
Finance directors urged ‘to do more’ to show their capabilities 28/05/2009 Public sector finance directors, including those in local government, must do more to merit a place at the ‘top table’ of their organisation, leading consultants have reported.
Cameron joins the localist bandwagon 28/05/2009 David Cameron this week responded to the UK’s democratic crisis by promising to devolve significant powers to councils, as MPs seek to assuage public anger over Westminster’s ‘unethical behaviour’.
Councils making waves to beat sharks 27/05/2009 Councils are stepping in to help families as fears rise over the use of loan sharks during the recession.
The best and worst of times 26/05/2009 The latest SOLACE Foundation Imprint pamphlet considers how councils can tackle the recession. Heather Jameson looks at the advice.
City leaders set out their vision for the future 21/05/2009 This year’s Global City conference took place in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, which has set out a 25-year vision to be a sustainable city. Michael Burton reports from the event whose sessions ranged from city branding and immigrati
Chiefs face new expenses probe 21/05/2009 Council chief executives could face the same public outrage as MPs, after a national newspaper asked to see their expense claims.
Whitby survives leadership challenge at Birmingham 19/05/2009 Birmingham City Council leader Mike Whitby has fought off a bid to overthow him at the helm of Europes biggest council.
RDAs ‘pivotal’ to car industry revolution 18/05/2009 Regional development agencies will be pivotal in modernising the UK car industry, according to a top expert advising the Government.
Will the next big council buzz word be ‘decommissioning’? 13/05/2009 The public spending crisis means difficult decisions will need to be taken about whether to provide some services at all, rather than simply salami-slicing them.
Innovation wins awards 08/05/2009 Top awards were announced at last week’s PPMA conference for innovation in HR services.
Extra £15.5m for bodies offering advice during downturn 08/05/2009 The Cabinet Office has made an extra £15.5m available to small organisations providing vital consumer services – such as debt management and employment advice – in the 50 areas of England most at risk of increased deprivation during the recession.
Necessity will be the mother of reinvention 08/05/2009 With the world economy in turmoil, how can communities come to terms with the rapid changes taking place? asks Michael Ward, in advance of a major conference next week.
Super-sized cities must get real powers 07/05/2009 Exclusive: Alistair Darling’s Budget revealed the UK’s first two city-regions – but now the real work begins. Hannah Brown asks what needs to be done to make these devolution experiments a success
An uphill struggle for reform 06/05/2009 The push towards ‘total place’ will encounter huge institutional barriers, but these must be faced now, not in 2011, when the next CSR begins says Michael Burton.
Highways: Birmingham extends shared lane trial after ‘positive’ results 01/05/2009 Birmingham City Council has agreed to extend a car share lane trial for a further year, while permanently removing a bus lane on another major road.
Local elections were ‘free from major fraud’ 01/05/2009 Local elections held last May were ‘free from major incidents of fraud’ according to a report published today by the Electoral Commission.
Councillors join in moves to assist troubled motor industry 30/04/2009 Councillors from across the UK have joined forces with their European counterparts to support the ailing motor industry.
Weathering the ‘perfect storm’ 30/04/2009 The recession means councils will have to work much harder to meet efficiency targets, help with the consequences of unemployment, and maintain frontline services. Mark Conrad reports, in the aftermath of the Budget
New deal means £250M for communities 27/04/2009 Over £250 million to tackle crime, stimulate educational achievement and boost job opportunities in England's most deprived communities has been announced by Communities Minister Baroness Andrews.
United we stand 24/04/2009 Councils are working hard to help local firms through the recession, British Chambers of Commerce chief, David Frost, tells Michael Burton, on the eve of its annual conference.
Studies question funding streams 24/04/2009 This week’s Budget has put the spotlight on a series of pioneering cross-boundary efficiency studies into the way public money meets local need.
Transport: Pensioners queue up to take advantage of free bus travel 23/04/2009
Darling rolls out the next efficiency drive 23/04/2009
Statutory city regions: Conurbations vie to become city-regions 20/04/2009
Highways: City roads hit the skids 17/04/2009
Regulation, regulation, regulation 16/04/2009 Striking the right balance between community protection and allowing business to get on with its job of creating wealth emerged as one of the key themes at a recent round table event in London, organised jointly by SOLACE and The MJ, discussing that
Big cities see largest job losses 16/04/2009
Put paid to the pay rows 15/04/2009 In the current economic climate, we should revisit the Councillors’ Commission’s plans for a national remuneration scheme, says Declan Hall.
Putting integrity in poll position 15/04/2009 The Government focuses too much on election turnout, when there are far more worrying issues to contend with, say George Jones and John Stewart.
Cities outside london take biggest recession job hit 14/04/2009 Large cities outside of the capital have seen the biggest job losses over the last year.
Highways: Sheffield seeks bidders for £2bn PFI deal 09/04/2009 Ministers have given the go ahead to Sheffield City Council to hunt for a bidder for its £2bn highway maintenance private-finance initiative, after signing off its outline business case.
Traffic management: New chapter for guide 03/04/2009
A new £193 million library for Birmingham 03/04/2009
Beacon top job mystery 02/04/2009 Government plans to reform the Beacon scheme have been questioned, after senior figures were overlooked for the post as chair of the panel overseeing the new system.
Unique link for finance teams 27/03/2009 Birmingham City Council has crossed the divide with central government, to strike a unique deal with the Department of Communities and Local Government sharing financial expertise.
Credit crunch clouds obscure the sun at Cannes 26/03/2009 Michael Burton went to Cannes to check out the mood among UK and international delegates for the 20th anniversary of one of the world’s largest regeneration and property events.
Highway bids submitted 25/03/2009 The best and final offer (BaFO) bids to manage Birmingham’s highways maintenance PFI contract have been submitted to the city council.
National award for safety-first councils 25/03/2009 A pioneering partnership of two local authorities has earned a prestigious award for its top-notch commitment to the health and safety of its employees, businesses and partners.
The twittering classes 18/03/2009 A little bird has migrated from across the pond and is causing a stir in local and national politics over here.
Will eco-towns further the aims of sustainable development 12/03/2009
A quiet funeral in March 12/03/2009 As the final CPA fades, David Prince claims it was not all bad – but do the public really care?
It’s crunch time for services 11/03/2009 Val Earle considers why the current economic crisis might be the kick-start needed for real council transformation.
Will Tories help or hinder drive for efficiency? 11/03/2009 As we edge closer to a new Conservative Government, Richard Stay considers what efficiency will look like if the Opposition comes to power.
Boris goes on offensive to promote London 11/03/2009 Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, was among representatives of UK local authorities and development agencies determined to promote their projects this week to international investors, despite the downturn.
Battlelines are drawn 11/03/2009
Fury over Government’s ‘discredited’ rent policy 11/03/2009
Councils urged to take a stand on empty homes 11/03/2009
Finance: Government offers £1bn to bail out PFIs as cash dries up 06/03/2009
Taking a lead 04/03/2009 As pressure builds within councils to tackle climate change, it is becoming clear that many leaders don’t have the skills to promote such an uncharted agenda. SOLACE Enterprises aims to change the status quo, as Petra Barnby reports.
Looking into the crystal ball 04/03/2009 Michael Burton reports on a conference last week which looked at the future pattern of public spending and councils’ own role in filling the budget gap.
Up side of the downturn 04/03/2009 As more and more top-class professionals are laid off, and better candidates compete for fewer jobs, council bosses should see the economic downturn as an opportunity to attract the next generation of talent. Petra Barnby reports.
Radical shift needed to avoid ‘decade of cuts’ 04/03/2009 Councils face a decade of cuts due to zero and minus grant settlements, unless there is a radical shift in public funding allocation, leading experts have warned.
Changing the rules just isn’t fair play! 04/03/2009 Both the Government and the Conservative Party have still got a lot to learn from the public’s lack of interest in directly-elected mayors, suggest George Jones and John Stewart.
Government’s war against terror goes into the classroom 02/03/2009 Further education colleges are set to become the latest frontline in the Government’s battle against terrorism.
Few shifts in Conservative Party policy 26/02/2009 The Conservative Party has unveiled its plans for local government in its Control shift Green Paper. Heather Jameson reports.
Telford & Wrekin Council to withdraw from City Region 25/02/2009 Telford & Wrekin Council has announced that it is pulling out of the Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country City Region with immediate effect.
Union warns against social enterprise staff transfers 18/02/2009 Local government’s largest trade union has warned Whitehall against plans to transfer staff to social enterprises, as ministers seek new avenues of public service provision.
Tory will explain his party’s devolution plans 18/02/2009
Harsh weather gives a lesson in managing risk 12/02/2009 Parents attacked councils last week after some ordered a blanket closure on all schools in anticipation of the extreme snowfall. Petra Barnby reports
The minister who doubled up as mayor 12/02/2009 The French justice minister, Rachida Dati, may have made headlines internationally for her complicated political and private life, but of interest to local government is how she combined the role of minister with being mayor of a Paris district, says
Government moves to give councils more clout in battle against gangs 11/02/2009 Whitehall officials have leapt to the aid of local authorities blighted by gang violence by proposing a new law allowing councils to restrict the movement of gang members around localities.
Archial Group shortlisted for Glasgow mega-campus 06/02/2009 The Archial Group has been shortlisted as one of five architectural practices bidding for the £300 million New Campus Glasgow project.
Archial Group shortlisted for £300m Glasgow project 06/02/2009 New Campus Glasgow is an ambitious plan to develop a world-class learning facility, led by Glasgow's four city centre colleges; Central, Metropolitan, Stow and Nautical Studies.
Skills & Training: Recession eases recruitment problems 05/02/2009
Birmingham’s children’s services under Government watch 02/02/2009 The children’s services department at Birmingham City Council has been placed in the Government spotlight.
Transport: £11M to improve Solihull’s services 30/01/2009
Two roles, split by a common language 28/01/2009 Working across the boundaries of a council and a PCT can be tough, but Deb Clarke explains to Heather Jameson how she has risen to the challenge.
Commissioning finds its place 28/01/2009 Bold political and managerial leadership is needed to meet the economic challenges of the downturn and to secure value for money in service delivery, contend John Tizard and Robert Hill.
Fired up for change 22/01/2009 Birmingham is taking the threat of climate change seriously, and introducing a series of measures aimed at curbing the city’s carbon emissions, explains Neville Summerfield
Senior staff get recognition in New Year’s Honours 14/01/2009 Twenty-one council workers had their work formally recognised in the New Year Honours’ List.
Only 3% of council members are BMEs says latest census 14/01/2009 Councillors continue to be ‘stale, pale and male’ despite pressure to make them more representative of the public according to latest figures.
Communities will suffer from a slowdown in retail-led development, warns BCSC 14/01/2009
Are you connected? 14/01/2009 Municipal wireless broadband access is vital for economic and social regeneration, but who will foot the bill? asks Michael Burton, reporting on a recent conference.
Housing provision 14/01/2009 Janet Sillett describes how councils have once again found a role in local housing provision.
Despite the recession, traffic management and parking see continued investment by the public and private sector 13/01/2009
New Years Honours: list of council staff honoured 05/01/2009 CBEs, OBEs and MBEs in the local government world
New Year's Honours: Coughlan awarded CBE 05/01/2009 John Coughlan, Hampshire County Council's Director of Children's Services has been awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours List.
New Years Honours: list of council staff honoured 05/01/2009 CBE, OBE and MBEs in the local government world
Councils urged to inspire young with street names 22/12/2008 The New Local Government Network think tank has told councils they should name streets after local heros to inspire residents.
Skills: New skills college for Birmingham 18/12/2008 A multimillion-pound engineering academy is planned for Birmingham, in a bid to fill the skills gap.
Our solutions to the credit crunch 18/12/2008 Urban renewal faces a lost decade because of the credit crunch unless solutions are found within the next few months, a major conference heard last week. Michael Burton reports.
Group slams councils’ £1M publicity bill 15/12/2008 The average council is spending nearly £1M a year on publicity, according to the Tax Payers’ Alliance.
Business leader accused of 'misleading public' on Heathrow expansion 05/12/2008
How partnerships should 03/12/2008 The recession will create new pressures to deliver services through public-public and public-private partnerships, and gain from their economies of scale. John Tizard offers some advice for local authorities and agencies on how partnerships can help
Councils have power to promote well-being and sustainable development 28/11/2008 Councils can make a positive contribution to a more sustainable society by using legal powers that enable them to promote local interests, according to a report by the Universities of the West of England and Birmingham.
Pre-Budget Report: Local government response 24/11/2008 Local government experts and finance chiefs have warned the Treasury’s tough efficiency targets will heavily impact on councils.
Survey shows councils’ contempt for empty rates 24/11/2008
Waste management: 8% drop in biodegradeable municipal refuse going to landfill 20/11/2008
Injunction or ASBO? 19/11/2008 Birmingham City Council has pioneered the use of injunctions to tackle gang culture – but how does that fit in with ASBO legislation. Nicholas Dobson explains
Diverse ideas to keep Luton cohesive 19/11/2008 As the UK heads for recession, there is a danger that councils may face more pressure on cohesion issues as residents come under pressure. Heather Jameson hears what Luton is doing to tackle the issue
Heading for home closures 19/11/2008 Closing care homes is never easy, but there are legal pitfalls which can be avoided, claim Nicola Williams and Trish D’Souza
EU urged to clarify rules over digital competition 19/11/2008 Local authorities have urged the European Commission to clarify anti-competitive rules which they claim are stifling efforts to reduce the digital divide for poorer residents.
Environment: Bristol tops UK city sustainability league which exposes North-South divide 18/11/2008 Bristol has been named the UK’s most sustainable city in a league table characterised by a North-South divide.
Library deal 14/11/2008 Birmingham City Council has named construction firm Carillion as the main contractor for its £193m library in Centenary Square.
Councils monitor CTFs 13/11/2008 Councils have had a key role in helping Whitehall monitor the child trust funds (CTFs) of over 21,000 youngsters.
Unison calls on Government to fund housing projects 12/11/2008
Transport: Councils’ borrowing idea to finance Metro 12/11/2008 The West Midlands conurbation’s local authorities want to pay for the Midlands Metro extension and other transport upgrades by borrowing against estimated new business rate income created by introducing the infrastructure.
LSPs 'can't afford to ignore benefits of sustainable development' 11/11/2008
Transport: ‘Lack of vision’ accusation prompts DfT Green Paper 07/11/2008
Union turns fire on £2bn consultancy bill 06/11/2008 Town halls spent £2bn on consultants and agency staff last year, according to new figures.
Think big to make real savings 05/11/2008 The next round of efficiency savings requires real transformational change, says Stephen Hughes, who describes Birmingham City Council’s own agenda to release some £1.5bn of cashable savings over 10 years
Legal set back in battle to curb Birmingham gangs 05/11/2008 Birmingham City Council has called for government help, after a bid to tackle gang violence was dealt a blow by the courts.
Greenbelt the size of Birmingham would go under current plans, warn campaigners 03/11/2008 An area of greenbelt land the size of Birmingham will be swallowed up under government plans to build new homes, rural campaigners have warned.
Site sales face shortfall 31/10/2008
Highways: Police resume patrols on Birmingham car-share route 31/10/2008 Birmingham City Council has asked police to resume patrols on its sole car-sharing lane. The dedicated lane, along the A47 Heartlands spine road, is only supposed to be used by vehicles carrying at least two people during the morning rush-hour.
Parking: Crackdown will leave criminals feeling blue 23/10/2008
Plugged In 16/10/2008 Local government buildings were once beacons of civic pride. They were physical demonstrations of community leadership, a sense of place, and impressive gathering points for local communities.
Sourcing - are the benefits matching the promises? 08/10/2008 Put out more flags! Each month, a new shared service, outsourcing or joint venture deal is announced, accompanied by loud fanfares. Grand promises are made, but just what is really being achieved? Eric Bohl explains.
Tory Party Conference: Conservatives backtrack with return to sub-region policy 07/10/2008 Shadow communities secretary, Eric Pickles, has indicated growing Conservative support for sub-regions, city-regions and elected mayors.
Tory PartY Conference: Tories rail against third Heathrow runway 07/10/2008 Tory plans to build a high-speed rail link instead of a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport would take ‘thousands of car journeys off our roads’, according to the shadow transport secretary.
Chilly reception for 02/10/2008 Shadow chancellor George Osborne’s plan to ‘freeze’ council tax for two years has been dismissed as flawed, unaffordable and likely to damage local services.
UK child poverty revealed 01/10/2008
Praise for councils who beat targets 01/10/2008
Accepting liabilities 01/10/2008 The Government has said it will help councils settle their equal pay liabilities. Mark Conrad reports
Buying into in-sourcing 01/10/2008 To buy in or not to buy in, that is the question. At least it was when council leaders and academics met at the Institute of Local Government Studies in Birmingham University, invited by APSE, to discuss how far councils should outsource their servic
Cameron: I will free councils 01/10/2008
Tories would scrap Heathrow third runway in favour of high speed rail 29/09/2008 A third runway at Heathrow airport would be scrapped by a Tory government in favour of a high speed rail line.
Core city focus at the conference 25/09/2008 While the focus this week has been on the politics of the Labour conference, another vision was also apparent, namely, the physical regeneration of the centres of England’s core cities.
The bells toll for Norfolk’s districts 25/09/2008 In the first of three articles examining the Boundary Committee’s proposals for new unitary councils in Norfolk, Devon and Suffolk Dermott Calpin looks at the proposals for Norfolk.
Cameron’s Conservatives woo the town halls 25/09/2008 As the Conservatives gather in Birmingham for their party conference, Heather Jameson considers the party leadership’s policy towards local government.
Housing target ‘will be missed by years’ 24/09/2008 The Government could miss its target of building three million new homes by 2020 by up to nine years, David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, has warned.
Cabinet’s ‘Midlands success’ 17/09/2008 Midlands council leaders and chief executives have praised Prime Minister Gordon Brown for his decision to hold a cabinet meeting in Birmingham.
County chief is latest to take up senior Whitehall position 17/09/2008 Carolyn Downs is to step down from her £140,000 a year post as chief executive of Shropshire CC at the end of the year to join the Ministry of Justice.
Budget loss ‘down to bad financial predictions’ 17/09/2008 Wolverhampton City Council has admitted its budgetary planning is not ‘an exact science’ after a £5m black hole emerged in its accounts.
Soap Box 17/09/2008 As we enter party conference season, with Labour trailing the Conservatives by 20 points and its leader’s popularity plummeting, the Conservatives can go to Birmingham with the odds on at least eight to 10 years of Tory government from 2010. But what
Global losers need help says study 10/09/2008 Politicians must be more honest about the winners and losers in the new global economy, say the authors of a new study.
Laying down the law locally 10/09/2008 Before councils get excited about plans to let them introduce their own byelaws without Whitehall consent first, Chris Game reminds us of the pitfalls ahead.
Under the influence? 03/09/2008 What makes people believe they can influence local decisions? Tracey Murray and Pam Dixon looked at some of the solutions in the Birmingham City Council area
Transport: Operator’s offer fare exchange to promote buses 29/08/2008 Bus operator, Go North East, is to suggest offering free bus passes to drivers in exchange for their old car, at a transport conference next month.
Traffic management: UK congestion falls as credit crunch bites 28/08/2008 The price of fuel and the credit crunch have had an pleasant unepxected effect on the nations roads - cutting traffic jams on motorways and trunk roads by 12% over the last year.
More than 60 post offices to go in latest run of closures 28/08/2008 Royal Mail is to close more than 60 branches, across the midlands and Wales in the latest cull of post offices.
Highways: April scheduled for start of Birmingham PFI contract 28/08/2008 Birmingham’s private-finance initiative highways contract is on schedule to begin in April next year, with issues over union demands now largely resolved.
Architects' new HQ to become Birmingham's 'greenest' mixed-use development 15/08/2008 Work has started on what will be Birmingham’s ‘greenest’ mixed-use development in the heart of the city’s historic Jewellery Quarter.
Birmingham Council a long way from home on waste leaflet 14/08/2008 Birmingham City Council has been left embarrassed after a leaflet about recycling rates proudly showed off a picture of Birmingham, Alabama.
Development: Rising prices threaten grand projects 14/08/2008 Large-scale public sector infrastructure projects could face delay or cancellation due to ‘significant’ increases in costs, according to RICS’ Building Cost Information Service (BCIS).
Peer Groups Come of Age 13/08/2008 Peer reviews have proved a popular hit with councils and are arguably the most important and enduring of the legacies of the Improvement and Development Agency.
New online game makes you flooding tsar 08/08/2008 An online game allowing players to take charge of flood policy has been launched in an attempt to help users understand the UK’s risk of flooding.
End this hypocrisy over China 07/08/2008 As the Olympics get under way this week, Claire Fox praises UK local authorities for extending the hand of friendship to their Chinese counterparts compared with the demonisation of China by the Western media
Union blasts Leeds City Council over 'horrific' equal pay contracts plan 05/08/2008 A plan to dismiss over 1,000 council workers and re-employ them only if they accept new contracts, including wage cuts, has been described as ‘horrific’ by union representatives.
Birmingham City Council in 'last ditch bid' to save city's post offices 04/08/2008 Birmingham City Council is making one final bid to halt post office closures in the city as the six-week consultation period comes to an end.
£500,000 windfall to improve residents' homes 04/08/2008 A £500,000 windfall will upgrade the homes of hundreds of residents across east Birmingham.
Battening down the hatches 31/07/2008 As the UK faces up to the possibility of recession, local authority managers must keep their nerve, as Mark Conrad has been finding out
An unfair cover-up 31/07/2008 A long-standing, upper-tier local authority chief executive, who wishes to remain anonymous, delivers a broadside against the information commissioner for what he believes are double standards in forcing councils to reveal tiny details of officers’ s
Birmingham partnership scores 30/07/2008
Birmingham bust up over pay reviews 30/07/2008
Highways: Shouldering network burden 28/07/2008
The politics of partnership 25/07/2008 Delivering services in local government has moved on dramatically in the past decade. John Tizard looks at the political difficulties of services supplied across different public and private sector agencies
Should LSPs be 25/07/2008 Michael Burton reports from a round-table discussion last week on accountability and partnerships
Commission blasts Birmingham for ‘lack of realism’ over savings 23/07/2008
Gambling Commission feels it's good to talk 16/07/2008 The Gambling Commission has called on councils to keep 'talking to us' as the deadline for new legislation approaches.
New book on localism 08/07/2008 Think-tank NLGN has published a new book about local government and the future of devolution.
Bimringham City Council extends Vertex deal 07/07/2008 Birmingham City Council has extended its contract with Vertex to deliver contact centre services to until March 2012 in a deal worth £40m.
£6.8 million to help repair England's places of worship 04/07/2008 The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and English Heritage (EH) have launched a package of grants worth £6.87 million for essential repairs to Grade II listed churches and chapels across England.
South Tyneside named best authority in MJ Awards 04/07/2008 The best local authority in the UK has been officially confirmed as a northern metropolitan council, South Tyneside.
Birmingham and Bristol City Councils join forces in a successful building control partnership 26/06/2008
Why mayors don’t get our vote 23/06/2008 George Jones and John Stewart argue why they are opposed to directly-elected mayors
Birmingham starts work on its greenest stock to date 20/06/2008 Birmingham social housing residents can look forward to living in some of the greenest and cheapest houses to run in the City after work has started on a pioneering £16 million showcase development scheme in Warstock.
IT firms urged to integrate student data 17/06/2008 Partnership for Schools chief executive, Tim Byles, has called on IT companies to seamlessly integrate data on students.
Mitie war chest to finance takeovers 06/06/2008 Cleaning and support services company, Mitie, has revealed a £300m war chest for future acquisitions.
City signs up Capita for joint operation 06/06/2008 Capita’s joint venture with Birmingham City Council – Service Birmingham – has been appointed by the local authority to run its call centre operations.
Two housing associations appointed to tackle overcrowding 05/06/2008
The momentum gathers for mayors 04/06/2008 As the government moves to put directly-elected mayors back on the agenda, Michael Kenny looks at the benefits of strong leadership
Highways: Few diversions in quest to replace Oxford viaduct 29/05/2008
Council leaders defend child protection 29/05/2008 Local government leaders have defended their handling of child protection cases after condemnation by the mother of Victoria Climbie.
Choose your partner wisely 28/05/2008 John Tizard gives some essential guidance on how authorities should weigh up the best route to a strategic service-delivery partnership
B’ham pledge after tragedy 28/05/2008 Birmingham City Council’s chief executive has sought to reassure a local MP who branded the authority ‘totally heartless’, after a local girl starved to death.
CCTV cameras ‘set to double by 2018’ claim industry insiders 27/05/2008
Birmingham review case of girl who 'starved to death' 23/05/2008 Birmingham City Council has met this morning (Friday 23 May) to look into the circumstances behind the death of seven-year-old Khyra Ishaq.
Court threat over bids 22/05/2008
Transport: Trade body urged to drive ‘broader communications’ 22/05/2008
A hidden gem for renewal 19/05/2008 One of England’s most deprived areas, North Solihull, has been hidden by the wealth of the borough’s more desirable locations. This juxtaposition has led to a failure to secure government funding for wide-scale regeneration, but has led to the creati
City plans a brighter future for children 16/05/2008 A plan to invest millions of pounds in providing brighter futures for all of Birmingham’s children is being put to city councillors to help improve the lives of children and young people in the area.
Poll aftermath delays White Paper roll out 15/05/2008 The local government White Paper faces a delay due to the turmoil of the Government and plans to re-group after the local elections.
Olympic borough races north to appoint chief executive 06/05/2008
Waste:New recycling plant to open in Birmingham 02/05/2008 A new facility, designed to recycle 30,000t of disposable nappies annually, will open in Birmingham later this year.
Birmingham YMCA awarded £1.5million to build new community facility 25/04/2008
A new centre for partnerships 24/04/2008 A new centre to provide research and advice on the developing partnership agenda has been launched in Birmingham. Michael Burton talks to its first director, John Tizard
An elected Mayor for every major English town and city 24/04/2008 The Government should introduce elected mayors in every major town and city in England, according to a paper for the latest edition of ppr, the quarterly journal of the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr).
Lords battle over asylum funding 23/04/2008
Into the smoke 16/04/2008 The new chief executive of Westminster City Council comes from a career in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Michael Burton talks to him about moving from the shires to the cauldron of city local government
New strike in Birmingham 16/04/2008 Birmingham is poised for standstill, with the second council strike in as many months coinciding with the first national teachers’ strike in 21 years.
Anger over Brighton Centre delay 15/04/2008 Brighton and Hove City Council has accused the Government of stalling over plans to redevelop the Brighton Centre conference venue.
Record entries give judges a tough task 09/04/2008
Soap Box 09/04/2008 While Ken and Boris battling to become London mayor will attract most attention in coming weeks, the electorate has important business to attend to Up North...
Prince Charles' model village 'is a bit of an ego trip' 04/04/2008 Residents of the Prince of Wales's model village are divided over a Cabinet minister's suggestion that their homes were born of a royal ego trip.
Why councils are key to our regional economic agenda 02/04/2008 This week the Government published a consultation paper on the planned new regional economic role for local authorities outlined in last summer’s sub-national review. John Healey outlines why he believes councils are key to the new economic agenda
Human rights pledge to protect care home residents 28/03/2008
Shake-up planned for pupil referral units 27/03/2008 The Government has announced plans to make all secondary schools join behaviour partnerships.
Wight chief poached 27/03/2008
Isle of Wight's Duckworth fulfils Olympic ambition 25/03/2008 Isle of Wight chief executive Joe Duckworth has been headhunted after just two years in the job to become the new chief executive of the Olympic London Borough of Newham.
‘Progress’ in pay disputes 20/03/2008 Trade union Unison has said progress is being made in its ongoing dispute with Birmingham City Council over pay.
Council launches crackdown on loan sharks 13/03/2008 Stockport Council has joined forces with a pioneering team to tackle illegal money lending.
Soap Box 12/03/2008 Good chief executives don’t come cheap these days. Ged Fitzgerald will be on £190,000 when he moves from Sunderland City Council to Lancashire CC in June...
Call to end waste 11/03/2008
Streetscene: Birmingham announces £11bn ‘vision for the future’ 07/03/2008
Blears’ rally call at conference 05/03/2008
‘Time to act now’ 05/03/2008
Birmingham workers suspend strikes 29/02/2008 Industrial action by Birmingham City Council workers has been suspended while trade unions hold talks with employers.
Big city leader 27/02/2008 The former leader of Birmingham City Council from 1984-1993, Sir Richard Knowles, died at the age of 90 last week after a 27-year career in West Midlands local government that ended in 2000. Here Roger Taylor, the former chief executive of Birmingham
Labour’s winning partnership 27/02/2008 On the eve of Labour’s spring conference in Birmingham this weekend, Nathan Yeowell says that it’s time to celebrate the effectiveness of Labour’s own winning central:local partnership
Crisis talks stave off strike action 27/02/2008
Well connected 27/02/2008
Coventry faces payout following equal pay verdict 21/02/2008 Coventry City Council could face a major pay-out after hundreds of its employees won an equal pay claim at a tribunal.
Let’s party! 21/02/2008 There has been much cynicism over the influence of party loyalties in scrutiny, yet, for councillors, the party remains a valuable source of support. Jessica Crowe considers the balance
trike dilemma 20/02/2008
Brum unions await 13/02/2008
Security takes a knock after technical fault 13/02/2008
Quangos ‘dominated by London and South East’, according to research 12/02/2008
Birmingham New Street station secures £400M investment 12/02/2008 The Government has confirmed investment of almost £400m in Birmingham’s New Street station.
Transport: Research boosts case for Metro expansion 07/02/2008
Parking: Brighton hikes charges to finance pensioner travel 07/02/2008
Hr: City hit by one-day strike fails to resolve pay dispute 07/02/2008
It's getting better all the time 06/02/2008
Money Matters 06/02/2008 Local government finance is, at times, obscure, even to those within the sector. Yet, it has perhaps the greatest influence on the vibrancy and strength of local government...
Birmingham workers may repeat strike 06/02/2008 Workers at Birmingham City Council have signalled they could stage more strikes in their protest against wage restructuring.
Gypsy and traveller needs assessed 05/02/2008 A year-long study has assessed the accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers in the Moorlands and four other Staffordshire areas.
Highways: Birmingham plugs PFI gap with Tarmac 31/01/2008
Birmingham staff vote for stike action 31/01/2008 Plans to restructure Birmingham City Council, the country’s biggest council, have been hit by a staff walk-out.
Birmingham staff to strike over pay restructure 30/01/2008
Take your partners 30/01/2008 Local authorities are vital to making partnerships between schools work, writes Robert Hill. And they will be even more important in future
Top performers’ fury at jibe over ‘inefficiency’ 30/01/2008 Top-performing councils have reacted furiously to allegations by local government minister, John Healey, that they are lagging behind in efficiency savings – claims which have put a new strain on central-local relations.
Shard vision shared 25/01/2008
Kids’ broadband breakthrough 25/01/2008
A new wave of regeneration 22/01/2008 Place-shaping is chance to build a bridge between economic and social regeneration, and close the gap between rich and poor. But only if councils are brave enough to be more creative, argues Neil McInroy
Getting a handle on design 21/01/2008 New developments in door and window furniture design, particularly bespoke designs, can offer local authorities performance advantages and improved aesthetics.
Crowded housing 21/01/2008 Overcrowding has a damaging impact on people’s lives, affecting family relations, child development, education and health. Fortunately, a number of measures are being undertaken to reduce these problems in local authority housing.
What price representation? 16/01/2008 An adviser to the Councillors’ Commission, Sir Rodney Brooke, argues for a better financial deal to encourage more people from different backgrounds to become councillors
North stars 16/01/2008
Goods idea floated 16/01/2008
Highways: Birmingham traders see red over tough traffic restrictions 10/01/2008
Markets could be a force for change 09/01/2008 All the indications are that local government will be expected to take efficiency one step further in 2008 and start to look at ways to make money and use assets more effectively. Heather Jameson reports
Birmingham unveils plans for Longbridge 09/01/2008
Reputation derailed 09/01/2008
Leading example 09/01/2008
No hard-shoulder running for M25 08/01/2008 The M25 will not be part of the hard shoulder running scheme to be rolled out by the Department for Transport.
Jumping in feet first 12/12/2007 Starting a new job as chief executive may be daunting, but spare a thought for Mary Orton, who faced foot-and-mouth and Jeremy Clarkson in her first few weeks at Waverley DC. Jamie Hailstone reports
Birmingham bites back after ‘the quiet man’ goes on the offensive 12/12/2007
Northern cities still lagging behind rivals ‘down South’ 12/12/2007
Market site could net city £300m 12/12/2007 Birmingham City Council looks set to get a £300m windfall in the new year, following the sale of the Digbeth wholesale markets site.
Keeping staff requires skill 10/12/2007 Local authorities are facing a critical skills shortage as experienced staff come up for retirement.Suzanne Cumberbatch finds out what they are doing to address the problem
Highways: Salt with spaghetti proves to be an unappetising mix 06/12/2007
Association defends £450m spend on authorities’ PR 05/12/2007
Tax payers' group slams council publicity spend 04/12/2007 Research by the TaxPayers’ Alliance claims council spending on media and promotional work is now double the amount spent in 1997.
Waste: Councillors consider consolidation centres 30/11/2007
West Midlands adult social care services continue to improve 28/11/2007 People whose councils provide or arrange their social care are benefiting from improved services for the fifth successive year.
Canadians hosts 21/11/2007
£150M BOOST FOR BIRMINGHAM REGENERATION SCHEME 20/11/2007 A Birmingham social enterprise has scooped £150m worth of Government-backed funding for voluntary and community organisations, to help regenerate a deprived inner-city area.
£150M BOOST FOR BIRMINGHAM REGENERATION SCHEME 19/11/2007 A Birmingham social enterprise has scooped £150m worth of Government-backed funding for voluntary and community organisations, to help regenerate a deprived inner-city area.
Transportation: UK dates confirmed for Exor TMA seminars 16/11/2007
Exploit your powers, Healey tells big eight 15/11/2007
Bandana ban man 14/11/2007
Councils ‘owed’ cash 14/11/2007
Cities declare action plans to tackle climate change 08/11/2007 Three major English cities are set to develop tailored action plans to slash their CO2 emissions under a new scheme, the Low Carbon Cities Programme.
Healey launches regeneration report 08/11/2007 Local Government minister John Healey has launched a report on the regeneration successes in Britain’s eight ‘core cities’.
Standards go local 07/11/2007 When local government lawyers meet next week for their annual conference, one of the issues on the agenda will be the new developed responsibilities for local authorities for investigating complaints and standards. Michael Burton talks to David Princ
Our cities are our strongest brands 07/11/2007 Wally Olins is one of the UK’s foremost experts in branding and founder chairman of Wolff Olins, brand consultant. Here, in the week when English core cities meet for their annual event in Nottingham, he gives his views on how cities should brand the
Leaders step up migrant debate 07/11/2007
Parking: Appeals quash 80% of PCNs in London and Birmingham 02/11/2007 More than 80% of penalty charge notices were quashed in central London and Birmingham last year following appeals to the independent parking adjudicator.
Highways: Success for hard shoulder scheme 02/11/2007
Tee-ing up for improvement 01/11/2007
Film festival will put Birmingham on road to international stardom 30/10/2007
Transport: City set to welcome small yellow taxi that’s actually green 25/10/2007
Highways: Motorways serving top UK cities ‘least efficient’ report claims 25/10/2007
Public / Public Partnership working 23/10/2007
In praise of civic renaissance 17/10/2007 Britain’s urban centres have undergone a fantastic regeneration in recent years. Robert Hill celebrates local government’s role
Zep legend Plant rocks town hall 10/10/2007
Cardiff announces wireless city roll-out plan 09/10/2007 Cardiff City Council has become the latest local authority to roll out its wireless network as part of its plans to become a ‘wireless city.’
Legendary launch 05/10/2007
Wireless cities set for roll-out 04/10/2007 Within five years every major urban area in the UK will have wireless broadband which will be a massive boost for local authorities in tackling their transformation agendas, an international conference heard.
Street Broadcast 03/10/2007 Street Broadcast is a national, community and emergency messaging system provided free to local authorities.
Brum awarded huge PFI deal 03/10/2007
City councils ‘must adopt’ wi-fi vision 03/10/2007
Midlands win energy prize 01/10/2007
Building on energy lessons 01/10/2007
Council with a sporting chance 28/09/2007 As one of the Olympic boroughs, Waltham Forest LBC is about to become the next high-profile council, at least if its leader, Cllr Clyde Loakes, has his way. He talks to Michael Burton about its improvement journey.
Highways: Shires claim ‘two-tier’ funding formular neglects rural areas 28/09/2007
Transport: Kelly pledges support for handing more powers to 28/09/2007
Largest UK council PFI gets Government funds 28/09/2007 The Government has approved credits for the UK’s largest local authority PFI deal covering highways maintenance at Birmingham City Council.
Delivering advice 26/09/2007
City hotspots go wireless 21/09/2007 The roll out of wireless networks in partnerships with local authorities is set to transform city council services and give residents online access outdoors. Next week, A Europe-wide congress will look at the latest developments in municipal wireless
Give us the tools 21/09/2007 Sir Simon Milton wants to see a new understanding of the relationship between councils and Parliament
BT connects 21/09/2007
Waste: Criticism over councils’ uncharitable move 20/09/2007 A number of local authorities are flouting the law by charging charity shops for waste disposal costs, according to the Association of Charity Shops.
Birmingham agrees pay structure 17/09/2007
£1m fund to fight city gangs 13/09/2007
Talking homes 13/09/2007
Some left short in equal pay deal 13/09/2007
Regeneration: Joint approach needed to revitalise cities 13/09/2007
Companies say devolution is key to rejuvenating cities 12/09/2007 Business chiefs have called for a bigger role in working with local authorities to help regenerate Britain’s cities. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) calls for more devolution to city regions to allow councils and businesses to work together.
Human rights row after launch of lie-detection system to stop fraud 12/09/2007 Human rights campaigners have raised concerns about two pilot schemes using telephone lie-detection systems in order to crack down on benefit cheats.
Infrastructure: South east councils dispute claim for urban growth 07/09/2007 South east councils have disputed government inspectors’ claim that large-scale new urban extensions will be sustainable and are needed to secure new infrastructure.
Transport: Bradford is top trade base 07/09/2007
All power to sharing 05/09/2007 The change to the Scottish local government landscape last May obscured the fact that a major proportion of English councils also run without overall control or with power sharing. Chris Game looks at the figures
Why the courting must get serious 05/09/2007 The third sector is being heavily wooed by ministers as a potential key supplier of local services. But there are still too many bureaucratic and financial obstacles to its full participation in local delivery says Rod Aldridge
Bosses wary of management consultants 05/09/2007
Streetscene: Joint approach to target city’s graffiti hotspots 30/08/2007
Finance: Group backs SBRs to fund infrastructure projects 30/08/2007
More cash for flood hit councils 27/08/2007 Floods Minister John Healey has released more money to help 39 flood hit councils
Tackling the blight of under-achievement 23/08/2007 A report from the Department for Communities and Local Government has highlighted the under-achievement of young, British, black men, and the huge opportunities of this can be reversed. The MJ's Chris Smith investigates.
Dancing to a different tune 16/08/2007 So what to councillors and morris dancers have in common? Quite a lot, says Chris Game.
Top union’s claims over failure to collect £760m council tax are rejected 15/08/2007
Uncollected council tax rises to £760M 14/08/2007 The amount of council tax not collected by councils has risen to over £760M, according to an analysis by public services union GMB.
Lyons BBC appointment slammed by Lords 07/08/2007
New Street revamp 'vital' for Birmingham 06/08/2007
Airport sale takes off 01/08/2007 Seven councils in the West Midlands have given the green light to the sale of a major stake in Birmingham International Airport.
Flooding: Deluge of praise for emergency services in response to crisis 27/07/2007 Emergency planning teams across the latest flood-hit regions ‘responded well’ to the deluge and local authorities have won praise from flood recovery minister, John Healey.
Flooding: Insurers say flood damage bill could pass £2bn 27/07/2007
Local transport chiefs welcome rail White Paper 25/07/2007 Local authority and transport bosses have welcomed Government plans for major new investment in railway infrastructure to upgrade stations, expand capacity and improve train safety and reliability.
A window on the Lords 18/07/2007 A recent House of Lords ruling has declared care homes are not a public authority. Nicholas Dobson explains.
Cadbury fined £1million for distributing Salmonella-contaminated chocolate 17/07/2007 Cadbury Ltd has been fined a total of £1M for distributing chocolate products contaminated with Salmonella. They were also ordered to pay costs totalling £152,000.
PluggedIN 13/07/2007 John Ransford says the upbeat mood of the recent LGA conference must continue if councils are to make a real difference to local communities.
‘LIGHTWEIGHT’ CAMERON FAILS TO IMPRESS 12/07/2007
Birmingham builds on its Chinese links 11/07/2007 An international bid to increase inward investment from Chinese companies has been launched by Birmingham City Council.
Parents hear of tutor dangers 11/07/2007
Cameron: Councils on the front line in the war against anti-social behaviour 09/07/2007 Tory leader David Cameron has outlined his vision of councils being at the forefront of the war against social breakdown and anti-social behaviour.
Blears launches democracy drive 06/07/2007 New communities secretary Hazel Blears is to announce plans for communities to set spending priorities.
Go greener, Birmingham council told 06/07/2007
EXCLUSIVE: LGA confusion over community kitties 05/07/2007 Communities and local government secretary Hazel Blears' plans to devolve funds to the public have caused chaos at the LGA annual conference in Birmingham this week.
Lyons hits back at Inquiry critics 05/07/2007 Sir Michael Lyons, the man charged by ministers to review local government finance, has hit back at critics who claimed his long-awaited report was shelved.
Small unitaries top CPA tables 05/07/2007 New research uncovered by local government weekly The MJ has revealed that smaller prospective unitaries have the lead over their larger county counterparts.
Blears makes her mark 05/07/2007 New communities and local government secretary, Hazel Blears, has lost no time in making her mark by announcing this week 10 pilot projects to give the public a say in council budget planning.
LGA to ‘up its game says new chair Milton 04/07/2007
When size matters 04/07/2007 Few councils are as affected by the double whammy of local government reorganisation and the sub-regional agenda as Halton Council, a unitary based around Widnes, by Merseyside. Michael Burton paid them a visit.
Sir Simon calls for commission on health 04/07/2007 New LGA chairman Sir Simon Milton has invited party group leaders to set up a cross-party commission to look at the feasibility of locally-run health services.
New LGA chairman 03/07/2007 Westminster City Council leader Sir Simon Milton will be confirmed this week as the next chairman of the Conservative-led Local Government Association following a ballot of council leaders.
Private care home residents ‘not protected’ 02/07/2007
Summit postponed until Brown names names 02/07/2007
Running man 02/07/2007 Andrew Kerr once embarked on a career as an athlete, until illness forced him to curtail it. When he then took up a job as a stadium manager, he never dreamed that his new profession would take him to the top of the greasy pole as chief executive of
What next for Brown's first 100 days? 28/06/2007 LGA chair Lord Bruce-Lockhart looks ahead to see what Gordon Brown's first 100 days could bring
Hyder Consulting announces 47% rise in operating profit 27/06/2007 The engineering, design and management consultancy, Hyder Consulting, has announced a 47% rise in operating profit.
Birmingham leader issues challenge to PM Brown 27/06/2007 The leader of Birmingham City Council, Cllr Mike Whitby, has challenged incoming Prime Minister Gordon Brown to make Birmingham and the other large cities a key priority of his premiership.
What the Tories have in store 21/06/2007 Lord Heseltine’s cities task force submission to the shadow cabinet Cities renaissance: Creating local leadership has put the spotlight back on Conservative policies for local government, says Gordon Keymer.
Flooding: Inadequate drainage and funding blamed as floods hit homes 21/06/2007
Centre for Cities rejects Cities Taskforce proposals 19/06/2007 Dermot Finch, Director Centre for Cities, has rejected Michael Heseltine's idea to elect 'super mayors' with wide-ranging powers to tackle the problems of regeneration in UK cities.
Council’s pledge to keep car jobs in Coventry 14/06/2007
Transport: West MIdlands stalls on congestion charging 14/06/2007 West Midlands congestion charging plans are in the balance, it emerged at Tuesday’s Traffic Management Parking 2007 conference in Manchester.
The best of British 13/06/2007 We must walk the fine line between tolerance for migrants and retaining the identity of our indigenous communities, comments Ruth Kelly, secretary of state for communities and local government,
25 tonnes of extra cigarette rubbish expected on UK streets 05/06/2007 Local authority are bracing themselves for an increase in the current 122 tonnes of cigarette litter is dropped every day across the UK after the national smoking ban come into force on July 1st.
Parents get £9m to boost learning 30/05/2007
Copy MySpace says mandarin 30/05/2007 Council websites should model themselves on community Internet hubs such as MySpace, according to a senior government adviser.
Investment boosts local employment 29/05/2007
Money matters 25/05/2007
The mayor’s made for Mansfield 25/05/2007 Mansfield DC has a directly-elected mayor, a system which is ideal for the authority, its managing director, Ruth Marlow, tells Heather Jameson
‘Seed fund’ will invest in the value of new business technology 22/05/2007
Road pricing Bill due before Commons 22/05/2007 A bill allowing councils to put forward road-pricing schemes will be put before the House of Commons today. The measures, included in the draft Local Transport Bill, would allow local councils to introduce schemes on a trail basis.
Nottingham summit will highlight sustainability issues 21/05/2007
Councils wary over airport sale 17/05/2007
Local Government Channel Council Worker of the Year awards. 16/05/2007
The Blair legacy 10/05/2007
Birmingham's amazing 'disappearing' postal voters 02/05/2007 About 20,000 voters have gone from the postal votes register in the wards in Birmingham - it is widely believed that more rigorous checks into electoral fraud may have been the catalyst.
UK cities being flooded with illegal imports & counterfeit goods 01/05/2007 Designer sunglasses, counterfeit cigarettes, preserved meat and thousands of kilos of tobacco have been seized by HM Customs within a month - investigators say this represent the 'tip of the iceberg' for UK cities.
Nick Jones is new Traffic Comm issioner for Wales 30/04/2007 The Secretary of State for Transport has appointed Nick Jones as the new Traffic Commissioner for Wales. He starts work on May 1st, 2007.
Referendum bid rejected 25/04/2007
Birmingham to prosecute Cadbury over Salmonella scare 24/04/2007 Birmingham City Council is to prosecute Cadbury Schweppes after an outbreak of Salmonella that forced the confectionary company to recall 1 million chocolate bars.
Sweet success for factory 23/04/2007
Two-way traffic 19/04/2007 What is interesting about the appointment of Sir Michael Lyons to chair the BBC, is his career since he stepped down as Birmingham City Council’s chief executive.
Exeter’s happy return 19/04/2007 Exeter chief executive, Philip Bostock sees unitary status as part of a long tradition of self-rule which dates back to the 16th century.
Road User Charging idea rejected by over half of the UK's road industry 16/04/2007 A record 64% of the UK's road industry is against Road User Charging as a method of cutting congestion & environmental damage says the first major on-line opinion poll for visitors and exhibitors to Traffex / Parkex. This conclusion has emerged fr
Life 13/04/2007 Sir Michael Lyons scarcely had time to draw breath after producing his 400-page report before finding himself back in the headlines again as the next chairman of the BBC. He talks to Michael Burton.
Transport: Member backs firm over bus security 12/04/2007
For whom the poll tolls 11/04/2007 This year’s heady round of local council elections in England and Scotland will coincide with polls for the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly, making it the biggest single test of national public opinion this side of a full general election. Der
Lyons named new BBC chief 10/04/2007 Former Birmingham City Council chief executive, Sir Michael Lyons, has been named as the new chair of the BBC Trust, Downing Street has announced.
Tesco is left high and dry 04/04/2007
Shetland pay deal ‘on hold’ 04/04/2007 Shetland Council has been forced to withdraw its plans for a single-status pay scheme, after failing to reach an agreement with unions.
Record numbers line up for The MJ honours 04/04/2007 A total of 92 projects in 15 categories have made it into the shortlist for The MJ Local Government Achievement Awards 2007, with a further 86 being commended.
Lyons tipped to be new BBC chief 04/04/2007 Sir Michael Lyons, the man asked to carry out a three-year review of local government for ministers, has declined to comment on speculation that he will become the new BBC chairman.
Lyons keeps coy about rumours of heading up BBC 04/04/2007
Fifteen deprived areas pathfinders get £32M 03/04/2007 Fifteen urban areas across Britain are in line for £32M funding as part of a scheme to give local areas a greater role in getting people back to work.
Delight over homecare response 28/03/2007
Girl wins payout 22/03/2007
Traffic management: Special emergency routes sought 19/03/2007 Whitehall has called on local highway authorities to agree special routes for emergency service vehicles where ‘severe’ traffic calming is not installed.
Streetscene: Birmingham takes the City’s crown for cleanest place in Britain 18/03/2007
Bulldozers move into Eastside 18/03/2007
Coffin works will get new lease of life 18/03/2007
Vacant sites 18/03/2007
Mayors backed 14/03/2007
Sunderland scoops £3M to tackle social exclusion using IT 14/03/2007 Sunderland has been awarded over £3M to deliver its plans to use computer and internet services to tackle social exclusion.
Highways:Small cities to miss investment 12/03/2007 Major city regions stand to benefit from Sir Rod Eddington’s proposal to reprioritise Britain’s £18bn annual transport budget, while smaller, less economically buoyant areas in the UK could miss out on investment resources, according to a new report.
Core Cities Housing Group meets in Bristol 09/03/2007 The acute shortage of suitable housing in UK cities is now being addressed by a ‘think tank’ called Core Cities made up of local authority professionals from England's major cities outside London
Brum school triumph 07/03/2007
Birmingham seeks 35,000 voters 07/03/2007
Finance: Planning gain supplement 'unlikely to work' claim MPs 01/03/2007
Highways: UK's worst road is a turn-off for motorists using the A12 01/03/2007
Red tape is ‘stifling’ transport funding 28/02/2007
Recruitment drive 28/02/2007
Hello to the bye-laws 28/02/2007 New powers to enact bye-laws without Whitehall permission could be a boon to local authorities’ ‘place-shaping’ role, but require careful consideration, according to George Jones and John Stewart
Capita chief slams ‘sluggish’ reforms 28/02/2007 The chief executive of local government contractor Capita has reportedly accused the Government of dragging its heels over public sector reform.
Bureaucracy is 'stifling' transport improvements 27/02/2007 Britain’s transport problems will not improve unless the Government loosens its grip on the finances available to cities and towns, an all-party group of MPs claims.
Birmingham's £110 million bonus for tenants 26/02/2007
Panorama investigates assaults on NHS staff 26/02/2007 An estimated 75,000 NHS workers were victims of violent assaults by patients last year, according to a investigation by the BBC’s Panorama show to be aired tonight.
£110m investment package 23/02/2007
Down to business 23/02/2007
Woolas to speak at LG Communications conference 21/02/2007 Local government minister, Phil Woolas, will speak at this year’s LG Communications conference in Birmingham on 23rd-25th May, 2007.
The latest CPA scores 21/02/2007
Airport call 16/02/2007
United he stands 16/02/2007 Jamie Hailstone meets the boss of Telford and Wrekin, a man with a mission to get his authority involved in all aspects of local life, including football
Science Cities: model the future 16/02/2007
Shortlist for property portfolio 16/02/2007
Transport: Ministers rule out special treatment for for rural buses 16/02/2007 The Government has ducked calls for quality bus contracts to be made easier to draw up outside England’s largest conurbations.
Winter service: Teams ‘well-prepared’ for cold snap 16/02/2007
Scan technology to save NHS “millions” 16/02/2007 The Government hopes to boost efficiency and save the National Health Service millions in extra bed days with the introduction of patient identifying bar coding technology.
Birmingham's zero tolerance brings results 13/02/2007 Birmingham City Council has upholded its 'zero tolerance' of counterfeiting and other illegal rackets in the city.
5 terrorism suspects face City of Westminster Magistrates court 09/02/2007 Five men have been charged under the Terrorism Act 2006 and the Terrorism Act 2000 following police raids in Birmingham.Local Muslim communities feel racial tensions have been raised with the recent spate of arrests.
Selling Marketing 09/02/2007
Environment: Newcastle tops UK league for noise 09/02/2007
Second chief in three years quits Waltham 07/02/2007 Waltham Forest LBC has lost its second chief executive in three years, after Jacquie Dean announced this week she had quit for ‘personal and family’ reasons.
Science Cities: model the future 06/02/2007
Newcastle tops noise list 02/02/2007 Which is the noisiest city in the UK? London? Manchester? Southampton? In fact, it's Newcastle, according to a report by Ear Institute at the University College London, and Widex, a Danish hearing aid manufacturer.
Balfour Beatty in bid to buy airport 01/02/2007 Balfour Beatty could be on the verge of buying Leeds Bradford International Airport, just months after it purchased Exeter International Airport for £60m.The construction firm is believed to be on a shortlist of bidders for the airport, which is owne
Recycling stars 24/01/2007
Ministers unveil 40 'respect' areas 24/01/2007 The Government has named its ‘first wave’ of 40 respect areas that will serve as champions for tackling anti-social behaviour.
Flooding: Government launches pilots to assess urban risk 23/01/2007 Fifteen new projects are to consider how the risk of intra-urban flooding can be reduced, in the face of an expected increase in development and heavy rainfall, by overcoming barriers to its effective management.
Grand designs 12/01/2007
Unhealthy outlook 12/01/2007
MITIE effort pays off 12/01/2007
Civica acquires asset management specialist VTSS 11/01/2007 Public sector software and services group Civica UK, has bought VT Software Solutions from VT Group plc for £3M.
The balloon is up for wireless cities 10/01/2007 They sound ‘teccy’ and ‘geeky’ but actually, the acronym ‘wi-fi’ and the phrase ‘wireless cities’, are less about technology and all about social inclusion, employment and sustainable communities.
Making friends and influencing people 10/01/2007 No-one has explained why it was essential to issue the White Paper on local government in October.
Grand designs 10/01/2007
Lyons pours cold water on dash for unitaries 09/01/2007
City’s joint approach 09/01/2007
Lyons plays the waiting game 09/01/2007 The latest delay over the Lyons review has disappointed the LGA, reports Heather Jameson
Lyons’ roar 08/01/2007
Free the mayoral chains 20/12/2006
Birmingham seat goes to Labour 20/12/2006
Jobs boost for 13 councils 20/12/2006
Forget funding says Sir Michael 20/12/2006
Three for Brum 20/12/2006
Refuse worker wins payout 20/12/2006
birmingham in the eye of the storm over tornado 18/12/2006
Keeping communities in the best of health 18/12/2006
Developers urged to kick-start £80m property market 18/12/2006
New business link for £400m boost 18/12/2006
Transport: Timely reminder for Whitehall 18/12/2006
HR: City launches crackdown on huge bonuses paid to workmen 18/12/2006
Parking: Councillors ready to clamp down on illegal clampers 18/12/2006
£150m for schools 18/12/2006
Road charging is now ‘inevitable’ 18/12/2006
Ministers bend to Lyons 14/12/2006 The Government has caved in to pressure over Sir Michael Lyons’ review and pledged him a publication date for his report – but it could be as much as three months away, Whitehall sources have revealed.
Putting a dampener on structure 13/12/2006 Few have commented on the local government White Paper’s new option for political structures – the directly-elected executive.
Winter welcomes report 13/12/2006
New schemes to help disabled 13/12/2006 Birmingham should give greater priority to sustainability and climate change issues to protect the social and economic future of the city, according to a highly-critical report.
Streetlighitng: Act casts a shadow over light pollution obligations 12/12/2006 Amendments to the Environmental Act mean authorities are now duty-bound to retrospectively look at how badly-placed lights affect people’s quality of life, it was claimed this week.
Environment: Birmingham urged to ‘go green’ 12/12/2006
Transport: Another year of growth as patrons hail an alternative to car 01/12/2006
Sixties swinger 01/12/2006
A lesson in participation 01/12/2006
Why standards still matter 01/12/2006
Research predicts bleak future for buses with rising fares and new cuts in services for the regions and cities iusing fares an 01/12/2006
BT deal plugs city into wi-fi network 01/12/2006
Airports add value to local economies 01/12/2006
Choice for cities 01/12/2006
Birmingham to pilot ethics plan 01/12/2006
Transport: Green light for red routes 30/11/2006
Clarification 30/11/2006
Chamber of horrors - a recruitment problem 27/11/2006
City puts faith in initiative 24/11/2006
‘Borrow’ to meet equal-pay debt 24/11/2006
Best in a disaster 20/11/2006
City launches crackdown on huge bonuses paid to workmen 16/11/2006
Traffic management: Firms get tough over charging 16/11/2006
Parking: Hope rises for parking cure 16/11/2006
Traffic management: Rising enthusiasm for ramp metering 14/11/2006
Profiting from performance? 14/11/2006
HR: Pay differentials spark strike threat 14/11/2006
Competition buoys up lifeguards 14/11/2006
Lyons calls 14/11/2006
Limehouse ward faces poll re-run 14/11/2006
Size doesn’t matter say would-be unitaries 14/11/2006
Procurement: New chapter opens in road safety 13/11/2006
Transport: Action stations for Laing and Warwickshire as £9M project begins 13/11/2006
Police mergers face new legal challenge 13/11/2006
Winners and losers in supercasino shortlist 13/11/2006
Five-a-side champs 13/11/2006
Highways: Sheffield seeks £300M in PFI credits for network 13/11/2006
Doncaster spent £165k on scandal-hit project 13/11/2006
£5bn assets ‘up for grabs’ says report 13/11/2006
Merger challenge 13/11/2006
Planning: £40M boost for infrastructure in growth areas 13/11/2006
Bus operator questions local transport controls 13/11/2006
Transport: Government delays Midland Metro funds decision until 2008 13/11/2006
Parking: Higher price for Merry time 13/11/2006
Transport: Ken’s hybrid fleet ‘sends clear message’ 13/11/2006
Transport: It’s blast off for Liverpool’s sustainable bus-rail interchange 10/11/2006
Skills: Contract staff ‘costing UK £1.5bn’ 10/11/2006
Procurement: Birmingham’s Internet boost 10/11/2006
Working class hero 09/11/2006
Choice for cities 09/11/2006
Airports add value to local economies 09/11/2006
Birmingham fights mayor plan 09/11/2006
HR: Council logos removed amid fears of violence in wage row 09/11/2006
Will they learn to listen? 08/11/2006
Efficiency: English race ahead towards efficiency 07/11/2006
Flooding: DEFRA urges new risk strategy 17/10/2006
Working together 17/10/2006
ASBO initiative 17/10/2006
Cities ‘must get EU aid’ 17/10/2006
Birmingham chief’s appointment sparks political row 17/10/2006
Traffic management: Agencies’ productive response 10/10/2006
Transport: Bosses back tram blueprint 10/10/2006
What does place shaping mean? 10/10/2006
Setting standards 09/10/2006
Birmingham selects new chief from its own ranks 09/10/2006
Touching gesture 09/10/2006
Headhunter Hezza 09/10/2006
Lambeth’s new man is not a verse to a challenge 03/10/2006
Time for ‘living’ 03/10/2006
Bevan’s U-turn 26/09/2006
Traffic Management Act: Act prompts managers to toughen-up 25/09/2006
Final three for Brum top job 18/09/2006
Soapbox 18/09/2006
Comment 30 March 2006 18/09/2006
Birmingham names group to Service £424m joint deal 14/09/2006
Ringing the changes in the trinket trade 12/09/2006
Traffic management: Centre gets the picture 12/09/2006
Traffic management: Caught out by camera failure 12/09/2006
LTP2: £1bn Midlands’ investment call 12/09/2006
Held to accountability 11/09/2006
Soapbox 11/09/2006
Comment 30 March 2006 11/09/2006
Don’t go east in search of social workers MP urges Birmingham 11/09/2006
Ex-Birmingham boss to probe city project 11/09/2006
Streetscene: Upton tumbles to the natural look and gains ministerial approval 11/09/2006
Joint funding bid 08/09/2006
Bimingham backs casino bid 08/09/2006
Traffic management: Faster response on track 06/09/2006
Air quality: Airports’ airborne danger 06/09/2006
Traffic management: High occupancy takes its place 06/09/2006
Highways: Birmingham’s easy-access map is a step in the right direction 06/09/2006
In defence of 05/09/2006
Cities face shake-up 05/09/2006
Highways: Birmingham will fight on as second PFI bidder drops out 05/09/2006
Highways: PFI the way ahead for maintenance 01/09/2006
Air quality: Councils call foul over dirty air claims 24/08/2006
Councils call foul over dirty air claims 24/08/2006
Air quality: Councils call foul over dirty air claims 24/08/2006
Contract staff ‘costing UK £1.5bn’ 28/07/2006
Coloured vision 21/07/2006
Council clout for consumers 21/07/2006
Tolled expressway idea abandoned 20/07/2006
Regional funding allocations: Regional breakdown: where the money is going 12/07/2006
Bid for the biggest 11/07/2006
Unions slam city PFI 11/07/2006
Highways: Ex-bidder’s warning as two seek £2bn contract 05/07/2006
Traffic management: Europeans will back cross-border ITS says transport chief 05/07/2006
A gala night of celebration 03/07/2006
Anti-social move for officer 03/07/2006
Kelly poll-axed 03/07/2006
Final two go forward for Birmingham roads PFI 30/06/2006
Transport: Crossrail has Whitehall fans 28/06/2006
Bartec Systems brings Wi-Fi to the waste sector 21/06/2006
Helping hand 20/06/2006
Recount for BNP 20/06/2006
Suffolk whistleblowers’ policy 20/06/2006
Illegal immigrant’s £1m con 20/06/2006

Councils click into the future of planning

In town halls across the country, planning officers are racing to update their Local Plans — but this time, the process looks very different.

Local elections in the shadow of reorganisation

Dr Jonathan Carr-West of the LGIU discusses the meaning of the local elections against the backdrop of local government reorganisation (LGR).

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New Products

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Case Studies

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Acrospire's Sustainable Lighting Solution for Luton Bus Shelters

Company Anouncements

Believ excels in environmental responsibility and worker satisfaction in B Corp certification

Matrix Workforce Management Solutions Appoints Andrew Curry as Client Engagement Director for Health and Social Care

Stepping up to help disabled social housing tenants

Envirobed® CD534: The benchmark for bedding mortars since 2005

Vent-Axia Supports Global Recycling Day 2025

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Unlock Awaab’s Law compliance with audits

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

£46,731-£49,764

We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom

Recuriter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Capital Delivery Manager

£50,788 - £52,805

To be responsible for the implementation of Welsh Government’s Renewal and Upgrade programme. Baglan, Port Talbot

Recuriter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Engineer x 2

£47,532 –£55,620 per annum

Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)

Recuriter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

£25081.00 - £27653.00 per annum + Pro Rata

Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI ChelmsfordFixed Term, Part Time£25,081 to £27,653 Per Annum, Full Time EquivalentLocation

Recuriter: Essex County Council

Head of SEN Assessment & Resolution

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

£77136 - £88230 per annum

Shape a fairer future for children with special educational needs.As Head of SEN Assessment and Resolution at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chel England, London

Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council