Local Government News

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343 Articles

Calls for data improvement - [Mar 5, 2010, by Local Government Chronicle]

The Audit Commission has called on councils to radically improve their provision of information to boost local democracy and clamp down on fraud, corruption and waste.

Why rural children are leaving - [Mar 4, 2010, by The Guardian]

The lack of mobile phone reception and broadband coverage in rural areas has become the No 1 issue in dissuading young people from staying on in the countryside, the chair of the Commission for Rural Communities has said.

IFS questions Tory council tax plans - [Mar 3, 2010, by Local Government Chronicle]

When George Osborne revealed Tory plans to freeze council tax in 2008, he lit the touchpaper on a debate which shows little sign of abating nearly two years later.

Councils-to-sell-energy plans floated - [Mar 3, 2010, by Local Government Chronicle]

Councils could be allowed to sell energy generated by renewable sources under proposals designed to boost local government’s green credentials. Ministers want to encourage local authorities to play “a full part in the development of renewable heat and electricity”.

25,000 jobs may go in councils - [Mar 1, 2010, by BBC]

At least 25,000 council jobs in England will be under threat in the next three to five years, a BBC survey suggests. The forecast is based on answers from 49 councils with a combined workforce of 256,000, suggesting cuts of 10%.

Should local services be run like co-ops? - [Feb 25, 2010, by Public Finance]

Although mutuals and co-operatives have been providing services for hundreds of years, they are suddenly being touted as the saviour of the public sector.

'Trailblazer' councils named - [Feb 25, 2010, by Local Government Chronicle]

Eight authorities - or groups of councils - have been named to take part in the next stage of personalised budgets for disabled people. The ‘trailblazer’ areas will be testing the Right To Control initiative which aims to give disabled adults more choice and control over the state funding they receive.

Cash incentives for localised planning - [Feb 22, 2010, by Local Government Chronicle]

The Conservatives have said they would sweep away the present planning system and replace it with one based on financial rewards for localities that accept new development.

Wandsworth again pledges lowest tax - [Feb 19, 2010, by Local Government Chronicle]

Wandsworth is again ready to boast the lowest council tax in the UK for an average Band D property after proposing a freeze for the third year. Deputy council leader Maurice Heaster said the council’s low tax record should serve as a benchmark for national government.

Early results from Total Place - [Feb 19, 2010, by Public Finance]

The first reports from 13 pilot projects provide a wealth of data. One thing is clear: public services focus too much on symptoms and too little on causes. The 13 pilots, launched last July, are now reporting their findings back to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Westminster: we can save millions - [Feb 18, 2010, by Local Government Chronicle]

Millions of pounds can be slashed from Westminster’s £2bn public services bill through greater collaboration, according to a council report. Police, health and council services should be brought together “under one roof”, according to Westminster City Council Total Place-style report analysing public expenditure in the borough.

Lambeth to become 'John Lewis' council - [Feb 17, 2010, by The Guardian]

Labour is planning to rebrand one of its local authorities as Britain's first "John Lewis council", offering council tax rebates to residents in exchange for helping to run services, in a direct challenge to the Conservatives' pioneering "easyCouncil".

Coventry to 'dim' city's street lamps - [Feb 17, 2010, by Daily Telegraph]

A "dimmer switch" that will control an entire city's steetlamps is being introduced in an attempt to allow lighting to respond to the needs of the public at the cost of £250 million.

Keeping up to date with Localis - [Feb 17, 2010, by Localis]

We now have Twitter, Facebook and YouTube accounts. Please do add/join accordingly as an another way of keeping up to date with our latest news, projects and videos.

Councils weigh in on care - [Feb 16, 2010, by Daily Express]

Councils yesterday stepped up opposition to the Government’s promise of free care at home for the elderly. The surprise pledge made by Gordon Brown last year was criticised for cutting across efforts to find a way of funding elderly care, which have sparked fury by raising the prospect of a so-called “death tax”.