National and Devolved Politics

Chancellor announces fast-tracked spending review ahead of Brexit

09.08.19: Chancellor Sajid Javid has announced a fast-tracked one-tear Spending Round to allow government departments to focus on delivering Brexit on 31 October. Javid said the spending round for 2020-21 will provide “financial certainty&rdquo...

Thousands of new council homes part of 2040 Wales vision

08.08.19: A development vision for Wales by 2040 has outlined more urban living, and earmarked the building of thousands of new council homes. As part of the vision, a new planning framework – the National Development Framework – is...

LGA praises Brexit preparations funding announcement

05.08.19: The government’s recent announcement of additional funding to be secured for councils to assist them with Brexit preparations, particularly surrounding the possibility of a no-deal exit, has been welcomed by the Local Government Assoc...

Local government secretary Robert Jenrick backs Midlands investment

01.08.19: Having been named the new ministerial champion for the Midlands Engine, local government secretary Robert Jenrick MP has confirmed he will lead ambitious plans to boost prosperity across the Midlands. The Midlands plays an essential role wi...

Liverpool mayor submits £230m bid for ‘Green City Deal’

31.07.19: The mayor of Liverpool has submitted a major bid to the new prime minister for a £230m ‘Green City Deal’ to boost the region’s economy and tackle climate change. Joe Anderson has put forward the proposal to Boris Joh...

Celebrating a decade of local government shared service success

29.07.19: Anwen Robinson, UK operating officer at TechnologyOne celebrates a decade of shared service agreements and the savings they have brought to UK local government. Over £1.34 billion in cumulative efficiency savings has been ma...

Chief executive announced for new unitary Bucks Council

24.07.19: Rachel Shimmin has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Buckinghamshire Council; the new unitary authority set to take over local government in the county next year. Shimmin, the current interim head of paid service and implemen...

Tower Hamlets' children’s services achieves ‘remarkable turnaround’ in Ofsted review

23.07.19: Tower Hamlets Council’s children’s service has jumped two grades and achieved a ‘good’ rating from Ofsted after inspectors found a “transformed culture” and “remarkable progress.” In 2017, the...

Brokenshire reveals new measures to stamp out ‘poor doors’ segregation

23.07.19: The government has pledged to ban “poor doors” to help end the segregation of social housing residents in mixed-housing developments in future builds. Communities secretary James Brokenshire announced the measures to “tack...

Controversial new prevention green paper ‘a step in the right direction’

23.07.19: The long-awaited prevention green paper has been published by the government, including a host of policies targeting ill-health such as proposals tackling smoking, drinking and poor diets. The ‘Advancing our health: prevention in the...

Councils, NHS trusts and police to work together to tackle serious crime under new ‘public health duty’

15.07.19: Local authorities, NHS trusts and police forces will all be required to work together to tackle serious violence under the new ‘public health duty’. Unveiled by home secretary Sajid Javid in response to a sharp spike in knife cr...

Extra £28m announced to alleviate pressures on councils through Controlling Migration Fund

15.07.19: Councils across England are set to receive a further £28m to help ease pressures on local services following increased migration, from alleviating rough sleeping and community integration to targeting rogue landlords. The funding boos...

‘Pioneering’ Grimsby regeneration deal gets multi-million funding boost

12.07.19: The Northern Powerhouse minister has announced a £3.75m funding boost to kickstart the major regeneration plans for Grimsby town centre. Part of the “pioneering” Town Deal, the latest investment represents the second phase...

Councils welcome government review of guidance for youth services

11.07.19: A review of the statutory guidance for council-provided youth services has been launched by the government. Civil society minister Mims Davies made the announcement, stating that the review will “focus on the positive role local autho...

Moray Growth Deal awarded ‘transformative’ £65m package by UK and Scottish governments

11.07.19: The UK and Scottish governments have announced a £65m investment as part of the Moray Growth Deal in order to help unlock the region’s economic potential. The deputy prime minister David Lidington and Scottish minister for furth...