National and Devolved Politics

Scandal-hit Conservative council elects Labour leader

16.10.18: Labour have managed to take control of a Conservative-led council following an “internal war” among the Tory councillors, with Labour and the Liberal Democrats managing to form a minority administration. South Ribble Borough Cou...

Protesters gather as councillors meet to discuss mass children’s centre closures

15.10.18: Demonstrators and parents have gathered outside County Hall in Norwich to protest against planned mass children’s centre closures as Norfolk County Council meet to discuss the proposals. The council is currently undergoing public cons...

'Pioneer' Wigan Council CEO announces retirement

15.10.18: The chief executive of Wigan Council Donna Hall CBE has announced her retirement, after winning national acclaim for forging a new model of local government during her eight years in charge. Politicians and senior figures from across the bo...

Study shows English councils suffering ‘territorial injustice’ from government spending cuts

15.10.18:  Research from Cambridge University has revealed that English councils have been hit twice as hard as councils in Scotland and Wales by spending cuts. The analysis found that local authorities in England have suffered an average spendi...

Is fair funding possible, or pie in the sky?

15.10.18: David Phillips, associate director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, discusses the current health of local government finance, and how a better formula could help manage this situation. In recent months, my conversations with colleagues...

Keeping the momentum of the Northern Powerhouse

15.10.18: On 6 September, the biggest decision-makers of the north joined forces to celebrate and debate how to drive innovation and improvement through the region in the first-ever Convention of the North. Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester an...

The Convention of the North

15.10.18: Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool City Region, discusses the findings of the very first Convention of the North, which was held in Newcastle on 6 September. The UK is the most politically centralised country in the Western world, and a...

Fracking to start in Lancashire after council wins High Court legal challenge

12.10.18: Fracking will restart in the UK for the first time in seven years on Saturday after campaigners lost a late legal challenge against Lancashire County Council (LCC). Cuadrilla said it was delighted to be given the go-ahead in High Court toda...

One Yorkshire: Leaders submit another devolution bid with promise of £30bn boost

12.10.18: Local leaders in Yorkshire have asked the government to assist with the delivery of a One Yorkshire devolution deal after a new study has revealed that there is a “coherent Yorkshire economy.” A devolution deal could reportedly...

Councils consider unitary bid in potential split from East Sussex local government

12.10.18: Eastbourne and Lewes councils have held talks about breaking away from the cash-strapped East Sussex County Council and forming an independent unitary authority. Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council have held an informal &l...

IfG: Unpopular funding reform decisions ahead as easiest council cuts have already been made

12.10.18: The easiest savings across the public sector have already been made and choices of where to cut corners are getting increasingly harder, meaning the government will soon have to face tough decisions on the future of public service financing. ...

500 jobs could go as city council eyes 5% tax hike to tackle £28m deficit

11.10.18: Up to 500 jobs are at risk at Wolverhampton and residents face a council tax rise of 4.99% in what has been described as “the most significant financial challenge the council has ever faced.” The local authority faces a budget d...

Northamptonshire CC appoints new chief of finance amid £65m cuts

10.10.18: Northamptonshire County Council has appointed Ian Duncan as their new executive director of finance and section 151 officer. The cash-strapped authority has also confirmed a £65m “stabilisation plan” as the council tries t...

Dorset Council merger set-up could cost an extra £400,000 in temp staff

10.10.18: An additional £400,000 may be required to finalise the creation of one new council as part of a local government shake-up in Dorset. Costs to set up the new Dorset Council— comprised of Dorset County, East Dorset, North Dorset...

Councils have a ‘declining appetite’ with outsourcing and the private sector

10.10.18: New research has revealed that councils have a “declining appetite” for outsourcing in light of calls for a rethink on the relationship between the public and private sector, epitomised by the collapse of Carillion.   The s...