Fresh concerns have been raised over the escalating cost of bidding for outsourcing contracts following a leading companys decision not to bid for a flagship deal
A survey published today by the LGA shows that almost 7,000 jobs have been lost over the last six months. It shows that three in five councils have made staff reductions, with the recession having a significant impact on council income.
DCLG announces that Empowerment White Paper is to be scrapped, and policies such as legislating to allow remote voting and creating incentives to vote have now been dropped.
Treasury changes to stamp duty land tax will allow arms length management organisations (ALMOs) – companies established by councils to manage housing stock – to develop and build new housing without paying this tax on prospective purchases.
Local services face a new wave of privatisation across England as a Conservative council leads moves to put contracts worth billions of pounds out to private tender. Essex County Council is one of a growing number of authorities, mainly Tory-led, that intend to outsource all or most of their services to save funds, including schools management, social care, roads and libraries.
Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, Conservative leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council and regeneration specialist John Moss, joint authors of Principles for Social Housing Reform, on how to get the new homes we need without increased public spending
All news starts off local and that without reporters dropping into court cases, pestering NHS managers, badgering local bobbies and sitting through an inquest, democracy and accountability in Britain would not be possible.
Localis broadly welcomes the responsibility to Local Authorities recognised in the Budget, however, we think it should have gone further – placing a strategic role on Local Authorities in helping to deal with the recession and support the local economy and helping to progress a low carbon economy.
Surrey County Councils likely future Conservative leader has promised a radical shake-up of the councils executive should his party retain control of the one-star authority following the June elections.
Mike Morgan-Giles comments on Local Government and Housing: Localis believe that all councils who have entered into multi-area agreements – and are seeking to become part of the first wave of devolved sub-regions – should receive the extended powers over regeneration, transport and business policy which the Government is expected to devolve. Currently the Government […]