Local Government Related Content

The UK government plans to make local council boycotts of countries and companies – particularly Israel – illegal, in new measures announced this week Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has unveiled plans to prevent council boycotts of companies and countrie unless they fall in line with central government policy. The move aims...

Plans to spend £365 million on vital services and impose a 3% adult social care levy received backing from East Sussex County Council members this week East Sussex County Council’s 2017/2018 budget will see £365 million allocated to vital services for residents, but it also includes a 3% levy to...

A new Swindon solar park will generate income for the Borough Council as well as fuelling its ambitious renewable energy targets Building work has started at Barnfield Solar Park, Swindon, which will be connected directly to the town’s household waste recycling centre. The solar farm is set to save considerable...

A sea change is needed among local authorities to make personal budgets dementia friendly, argues George McNamara of the Alzheimer’s Society People with dementia and their families tell us of the very real impact personal budgets have had on their lives – from the 85-year-old woman who returned home after...

Plans to create a new East Kent super council could led to 150 jobs losses, but could see saving of £6.8m in the first two years

Businesses have been invited to bid for a share of a £6m growth fund to expand their operations when the council reopens it next week

Communities up and down the British coast are set to benefit from a new wave of government investment aimed at boosting seaside tourism, housing and jobs The government will provide a cash boost for seaside areas with the creation of 28 new Coastal Community Teams along the British coast. The teams...

38 Degrees today launches what it calls “a people powered investigation” to find out which local parks are under threat in England The civil society organisation 38 Degrees is coordinating people across the country and asking them to write to their local councils for information on how local parks and...

Conservative-run Surrey County Council wants to raise council tax by 15% to cover rising demand for services, but it will have to put the plans to a vote Surrey County Council will seek a council tax rise of 15%, it announced today. “We have to set a budget that will protect...

For the first time in 12 years Glasgow City Council has revealed it will increase council tax in a bid to close a funding gap of almost £70m

Education establishments must take precautions against fraudsters targeting schools to install ransomware on computers

Both refugees and local councils need clear information for the Syrian refugee resettlement programme to be a success in the long term, Open Access reports Despite progress being made, it will be “a significant challenge” to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees in the UK by 2020, the Public Accounts Committee is a...

Used proactively, technology can help local councils' flood preparedness and resilience in a number of ways, as Intermedix’s Ian Carr describes It is no secret that flooding has been a challenge that communities in the UK have faced time and again over the last few years. Ensuring their communities are...

The local Labour group heavily criticises the Conservative Westminster City Council’s plans to put homeless residents into private rented accommodation Conservative-led Westminster City Council announced plans recently that would see increasing numbers of Westminster residents who have lost their homes and are in need of temporary accommodation sent to properties in the...

The government has announced £1.2bn local road funding is to be shared between councils to upgrade the network, cut congestion and improve journey times

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid confirms the appointment of Michael King as the Local Government Ombudsman, dealing with local council complaints After being confirmed by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid, Michael King starts his new role as Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) today. He brings a 25-year career in a range of consumer...

Work to introduce more cost-effective Lincolnshire street lighting is continuing in and around Boston, Skegness and Mablethorpe over the next few months Lincolnshire County Council is proceeding with the final phase of a project to save £1.7 million from its annual street lighting budget of £5m. It is not the...

The Local Government Association say small council schools should be exempt from the new apprenticeship levy just as small academies and faith schools are Small and academies and faith schools will be excluded from the new apprenticeship levy, but small council-maintained schools will be required to pay. The Local Government Association...

Councils have revealed they have issued hundreds of fines for fly tipping after receiving new powers to handout on the spot penalties

Oxfordshire County Council staff numbers could be scaled back as part of plans to create leaner services