Local Government Chronicle
11 March 1999
View all stories from this issue.
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£12M LEGAL BILL FOR HEATHROW INQUIRY
Lawyers have so far netted nearly£12m from Britain's longest public inquiry - into the proposed fifth terminal at ... -
22 MILLION PHONE NUMBERS TO CHANGE IN THREE MONTHS TIME
Oftel, the telecommunications watchdog, has announced that from 1 June at least 10 million households and businesse... -
AFFILIATED TRADE UNIONS DONATE£250,000 TO SCOTTISH LABOUR
The Scottish Labour Party has received a substantial financial boost towards its forthcoming elections campaigns wh... -
AGI LEADS THE WAY AS NEW FUNDING SECURES THE FUTURE OF ACCESS TO LAND AND PROPERTY INFORMATION
Recently announced government funding from the Invest to Save Budget confirms government support for the roll out o... -
ANTI-CRIME MEASURE RUNS INTO CUL-DE-SAC
Police advice to councils on how to design out crime from housing is making life easier for burglars, according to ... -
ANTI-SOCIAL TENANTS URGED TO GET THEIR HOUSE IN ORDER
Keith Hellawell, the UK anti-drugs co-ordinator has praised ... -
APC CALLS FOR RESTRICTIONS ON NIGHT FLIGHTS
The Airports Policy Consortium (APC) has called on the government to impose stricter controls on night flights at H... -
ASHDOWN PUTS PRICE ON LIB-LAB ALLIANCE
Paddy Ashdown, the Liberal Democrat leader, yesterday said his party will insist on a big investment in education a... -
ASSOCIATION IN ANTI-RACISM PLEA
The Local Government Association has called on all councils to take on board the lessons of the Macpherson report i... -
ASYLUM BILL COULD DAMAGE THE HEALTH OF REFUGEES, KING'S FUND WARNS
'Dispersing asylum seekers around the country will take them away from the communities which support them and put t... -
BEEF ON BONE BAN DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE SAY EHOs
Environmental health officers are finding it difficult to enforce the ban on beef on the bone being sold, BBC Radio... -
BENEFITS STRIKE HURTS SHEFFIELD
Sheffield City Council services were hit hard in the strike by benefits staff this week, even though only half of t... -
BETTER REGULATION TASK FORCE: MINIMUM WAGE - MINIMUM RED TAPE
The Better Regulation Task Force welcomes the sensible changes DTI ... -
BILL TO WEED OUT PAEDOPHILES
A private member's Bill to tighten controls on unsuitable people working with children was launched in the Commons ... -
BILLS BEGIN LORDS' STAGES
Hansard 2 March: Column 1558 ... -
BIRMINGHAM TOLD TO PAY£10,000 FOR DUSTCART CRASH
A judge has ordered Birmingham City Council to pay more than£10,000 after a dustcart reversed into a car. ... -
BLACKPOOL TAKES TOUGH STAND AGAINST EXPLOITATION OF SCHOOL-AGED WORKERS
Education chiefs in Blackpool are preparing to take a tough stand against employers who exploit vulnerable young wo... -
BLUNKETT HOPES TO ERADICATE RACE INEQUALITY IN THE CLASSROOM
Education secretary David Blunkett has said the government is to step up the campaign to eradicate race inequalitie... -
BLUNKETT TO SEIZE CONTROL OF HACKNEY SCHOOLS
Ministers are set to take the unprecedented step of staging a direct takeover of Hackney LBC's education department... -
BRIGHTON TORIES QUERY KPMG LINK
Brighton and Hove Council opposition members have questioned why the council has placed a£103,000 contract with co... -
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE PARTNERSHIP LEADS THE WAY IN SERVICE PROVISION
A revolutionary new call centre which will allow people to make initial claims for benefit by phone will be piloted... -
BUDGET COULD SEE ENERGY TAX FOR BUSINESS
The Independent (p1) speculates that Gordon Brown, the chancellor, will announce plans today in the Budget to tax t... -
BUDGET REACTION: HOUSING ALLOWANCE MISSING FROM WELFARE REFORMS SAYS CIH
The chancellor's announcements today on reducing the poverty trap will fall short of the mark say housing's profess... -
BUDGET REACTION: UNISON CRITICISES 'ELASTOPLAST SOLUTIONS' TO PUBLIC SECTOR PAY
UNISON general secretary Rodney Bickerstaffe said: ... -
BUDGET: BIGGEST EVER PACKAGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TAX REFORMS
The biggest ever package of tax reforms to help protect the environment was announced today by chancellor Gordon Br... -
BUDGET: BUILDING A STRONGER ECONOMIC FUTURE FOR BRITAIN
The government's central economic objective is to achieve high and stable levels of growth and employment. Budget 9... -
BUDGET: CHANCELLOR OF EXCHEQUER'S STATEMENT - PART ONE
'Today's Budget is a Budget for Britain to succeed in the new economy and lead in the new century: a Budget that bu... -
BUDGET: CHANCELLOR OF EXCHEQUER'S STATEMENT - PART THREE
The elderly ... -
BUDGET: CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER'S STATEMENT - PART TWO
Enterprise ... -
BUDGET: COUNCILS LIKELY TO GET EXTRA FUNDING FOR RECYCLING
Chancellor Gordon Brown is expected to raise the landfill tax in next Tuesday's budget and use the extra revenue to... -
BUDGET: DEWAR HAILS BOOST FOR SCOTLAND WORTH UP TO£2BN
Every family across Scotland will get a better deal from a budget boost worth up to£2bn, Scottish secretary Donald... -
BUG WARNING FROM PM AND TASKFORCE 2000
Robin Guenier, head of Taskforce 2000, has accused the government of doing 'too little, too late' to tackle the mil... -
BURDENS ON SCHOOLS AND LEAs ATTACKED BY OPPOSITION PARTIES
Hansard 2 March: Column 938 ... -
BURY MBC AWARDS£5.5M CONTRACTS IN-HOUSE
Multi-million pound contracts to provide services to the public in Bury have been won by the council's own in-house... -
CALL TO REVERSE DECISION ON BANNED SOCIALIST PARTIES
All four of Scotland's leading political parties have agreed to back the fight by the Scottish Socialist Party agai... -
CAMBRIDGESHIRE CC SEEKS PROSECUTION OF KIDNAPPING FOSTER PARENTS
Police are to charge a couple with abduction after they disappeared with two children in the care of Cambridgeshire... -
CAR PLANT LOSS WOULD BE A HUGE BLOW, SAYS BIRMINGHAM COUNCIL
The crisis at the BMW-owned Longbridge car factory, which could result in the loss of up to 10,000 jobs would be a ... -
CAUTIOUS WELCOME TO GOVERNMENT CASH PROMISE TO CUT CLASS SIZES
Teaching unions have cautiously welcomed the government's decision to provide more funding to reduce classroom size... -
CHANCELLOR SHIFTS TIMING OF BUDGET POLICY
Chancellor Gordon Brown has decided to make March and November fixed points in the yearly cycle of budget policy, r... -
CHANGES LIKELY TO LABOUR'S WHIP SYSTEM IN SCOTLAND
The Scottish Labour party has drawn up plans to change the present whip system which expects councillors to toe the... -
CHELTENHAM CUTS CLOSE MUSEUMS
The chairman of National Heritage, James Bishop, says the news that Cheltenham BC has decided to close two local mu... -
CIPFA CONDEMNS DUAL ROLE FOR CHIEFS
CIPFA is opposed to chief executives doubling up as finance directors. ... -
CIPFA CONSULT ON THE ROLE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR
Finance directors need to positively support local authorities in achieving their policies if the finance function ... -
CONTRACTORS WARNED TO ASK BEFORE DIGGING UP STREETS
The Corporation of London's director of highways and transportation has called for tougher action on utility compan... -
COSLA SEEKS END TO CENTRAL-LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONFRONTATION
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has urged the government to be more trusting and less adversarial in i... -
COUNCIL INTERNET SERVICES 'COULD DO MUCH BETTER'
A survey by the Society of IT Management shows councils are failing to embrace the full potential of the internet.... -
COUNCILS COULD GET CONTROL OF PUB NAME CHANGES
Hansard 5 March: Column 1408 ... -
COUNCILS SHOULD REVIEW ROAD GRITTING PLANS, SAYS MINISTER
Hansard 8 March: Column 3 ... -
COUNCILS TO GET 'RIGHT TO ROAM' POWERS
Landowners may be forced to open tracts of countryside to the public under new powers being proposed for local auth... -
COUNTIES RISK CAPPING WITH BIG TAX RISES
County councils in England have defied ministers by pushing through average council tax increases three times the l... -
COUNTRYSIDE AGENCY APPOINTMENT SET TO ANGER RAMBLERS
The government is set to announce that the chief of the new Countryside Agency will be Ewen Cameron, a big landowne... -
CRITICISM FOR LABOUR'S CABINET PLANS
Two councillors from separate authorities have written to The Independent (Review, p2) to explain their concerns ab... -
CROYDON SEEKS PFI PARTNER FOR HISTORIC£40M IT PROJECT
Croydon LBC is hunting for a private finance initiative partner for what it describes as the biggest single investm... -
CSL WINS RATES COLLECTION DEAL
CSL has landed new local government business worth£7.5 million in London. ... -
DEWAR DRAWS ON LOCAL TALENT FOR SCOTTISH CAMPAIGN
Five senior local government leaders have been appointed members of the Labour Party campaign team for the Scottish... -
DEWAR WELCOMES ALLIANCE STRATEGY FOR GLASGOW
'A modern Scotland needs a flourishing Glasgow at its heart', said Scottish secretary Donald Dewar. ... -
DONCASTER ACCUSED OF MISLEADING MINISTERS
The district auditor has accused embattled Doncaster MBC of misleading the government over grant applications and e... -
DOORSTEP SELLERS FACE TOUGHER PENALTIES
Cambridgeshire Trading Standards Service is reminding local consumers and businesses of the strengthening of the la... -
DOUBLE SQUEEZE AHEAD FOR LABOUR IN MAY ELECTIONS
The Daily Telegraph (March 6, p10) reported that the Conservatives are ... -
DUDLEY'S CITY-STATUS PLAN IS RUBBISHED
Plans being considered by Dudley MBC to apply for city status in order to boost the area's reputation and investmen... -
DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY TO BE BECOME SCOTTISH FIRST TO TRANSFER HOUSING STOCK
Councillors at Dumfries and Galloway Council have approved a recommendation to transfer its entire stock of 13,500 ... -
DUNDEE REJECTS AFRICAN TWINNING IDEA
Dundee City Council has turned down an offer of twinning with a village in Cameroon, central west Africa, but has o... -
DURHAM SOCIAL WORKER LOSES SACKING CASE
A former residential social worker who claimed she was sexually assaulted by residents at Durham CC-run children's ... -
EMPLOYEES TO GET HELP WITH UNIFORM CLEANING COSTS
Fire fighters and healthcare workers, such as nurses, porters and ... -
EX LIVERPOOL MAYOR QUITS OVER LABOUR'S 'WAR ON LOCAL PARTY'
A former lord mayor of Liverpool has announced she is quitting the city council in the wake of a decision by the La... -
EXPERT ISSUES WARNING ON SUNBEDS
The Health Education Authority is warning people of the risks of sunbeds following a call for their ban from a lead... -
FILL UP EMPTY HOMES, SAY PRESSURE GROUPS
Three senior environment and homeless workers have called on the government to make better use of empty property in... -
FIRST CAR-FREE LANES TO OPERATE WITHIN SIX MONTHS
The government has given Newcastle Upon Tyne City Council the go-ahead to introduce the first car-free traffic lane... -
FOSTER JOINS LIB DEM LEADERSHIP RACE
Don Foster, the Liberal Democrat education spokesman, has decided to join the crowded field of MPs who want to succ... -
FOUR REGIONAL AIRPORTS FREED FROM BORROWING RESTRICTIONS
The government yesterday freed four regional airports from local authority borrowing controls, allowing them to rai... -
GENTEEL BERKSHIRE CAN'T GET THE STAFF
Berkshire, the quintessential home counties county, has become so dominated by professionals that blue-collar trade... -
GLASGOW ALLIANCE PLAN GETS MIXED REACTION
There was a mixed reaction to the move yesterday by the Glasgow Alliance - the organisation charged by Donald Dewar... -
GLASGOW CITY WINS DEVELOPMENT CONTROL QUALITY MANAGEMENT AWARD
Glasgow City Council has won the top Scottish award for Quality Management in Development Control. ... -
GLASGOW ON WARPATH OVER COSLA'S FAILINGS
Scotland's biggest local authority has attacked the performance and future strategy of the Convention of Scottish L... -
GLOBAL WARMING SPARKS CALL FOR MORE FLOOD DEFENCE SPENDING
A change in legislation could be needed to ensure Wales is better protected to cope with floods, according to The W... -
GOVERNMENT ADMITS REWRITING GREATER LONDON BILL
Hansard 4 March: 1233 ... -
GOVERNMENT AIMS TO MAKE DISTRIBUTION GREENER
The government is considering a plan to reserve lanes on motorways and other main roads for lorries, buses and coac... -
GOVERNMENT CASH BOOST ON SCOTTISH SOCIAL EXCLUSION
The fight against deprivation and social exclusion was given a massive boost with the award of over£30m to 23 new ... -
GOVERNMENT DOES NOT KNOW CONDITION OF ROADS, ADMITS MINISTER
Hansard 4 March: Column 1798 ... -
GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASES ISSUED 18-26 FEBRUARY
If you require press releases not found on LGCnet, contact us on 0171 833 7324/5. ... -
GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASES ISSUED MARCH 1-3
If you require press releases not found on LGCnet, contact us on 0171 833 7324/5. ... -
GOVERNMENT PROMISES FREEDOM FOR SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC SERVICES
The Financial Times (p8) summarises the main points of the speech made yesterday by Alan Milburn, chief secretary t... -
GOVERNMENT REGISTER 'LOSING£500M A YEAR'
The treasury is losing more than£500m a year because the National Asset Register of government property has proved... -
GOVERNMENT SILENT ON WHETHER IT WILL MATCH EU FUNDING FOR WALES
Hansard 3 March: Column 1663 ... -
GOVERNMENT TO SELECT PILOTS FOR 'HOME ZONE' SCHEMES
The government has invited local authorities to nominate neighbourhoods to be turned into home zones - one or more ... -
GOVERNMENT'S PFI TASK FORCE HEAD TO QUIT
The head of the government's private finance initiative is set to quit this summer as part of an overhaul of the wa... -
GOVERNORS DO U-TURN ON HOME SECRETARY-BACKED PFI PLAN
Governors of Pimlico comprehensive in central London have voted to axe a£50m redevelopment plan backed by Jack Str... -
GREEN LIGHT GIVEN TO SOLACE REFORM PLAN
Chief executives have endorsed radical plans to reposition their society as the leading professional body with a di... -
GREENWICH LBC TAKES ACTION ON RACISM
Len Duvall, the leader of Greenwich LBC, highlights the work of his authority in combating racism, and refutes clai... -
GROWING SUCCESS FOR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SAYS CABINET OFFICE REPORT
The performance of government agencies is continuing to improve, a ... -
GWYNEDD CALL TO CHANGE FUNDING FORMULA
An independent study by Swansea University has added weight to claims by Gwynedd CC that it is getting a raw deal f... -
GWYNEDD IN ROW WITH WELSH TORY LEADER OVER 'LANGUAGE APARTHEID' CLAIMS
Rod Richards the Welsh Tory leader has accused Gwynedd CC of practising 'language apartheid' with its Welsh languag... -
HACKNEY LBC SHUTS DOWN BENEFITS COMPUTER AFTER£2M LOSS
Hackney LBC has had to shut down a computer system dealing with housing benefit and council tax after a succession ... -
HAGUE UNVEILS NEW CONSERVATIVE THINKING ON EDUCATION
Conservative party leader William Hague has unveiled new Conservative thinking on education. Speaking at a meeting ... -
HEALTH BILL MAKES PROGRESS
Hansard 4 March: Column 1801 ... -
HIGH COURT THROWS OUT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE OPEN CAST MINE PLANS
A high court judge yesterday threw out plans to mine 1.8 million tonnes of coal in a Nottinghamshire valley, report... -
HULL MEMBERS PIONEER IIP TRAINING
In a national first, all members at Kingston-upon-Hull City Council are to be trained under the Investors in People... -
IMPACT AND IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE'S PANELS - LECTURE DETAILS
A lecture to discuss the impact and importance of people's panels in the process of modernising government will be ... -
INVESTIGATION AS GWYNEDD DIRECTOR RECOMMENDS HUSBAND FOR PAY RISE
Nonn Williams, director of social services at Gwynedd CC, is to be investigated after recommending her husband, an ... -
KINGSTON UPON HULL CITY COUNCIL MOVES TOWARDS 'A NEW WAY FORWARD'
Key managers council wide have been called as part of a pioneering exercise to study and comment on new management ... -
LABOUR CONTESTS BIRMINGHAM RACE CASE
The Labour Party is trying to stop an Asian former Birmingham City Council member suing for racial discrimination, ... -
LABOUR DITCHED IN SAFE SEATS
Labour has lost two previously safe seats in by-elections. ... -
LABOUR MPs ATTACK CITY REFORM
Legislation to reform Corporation of London elections faces a stormy passage through Parliament after running into ... -
LEADING LAW FIRM IS APPOINTED TO ADVISE SOUTH EAST RDA
Leading local government law firm Nabarro Nathanson has been appointed sole legal advisor to the South East Regiona... -
LGA AGREES STRUCTURE TO TRIM BUREAUCRACY
The Local Government Association has agreed in principle to revamp its member structure by forming small decision-m... -
LGA ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT EMPHASIS
The Local Government Association, in a bid to move attention away from directly elected mayors, is planning a serie... -
LGA CALL ON COUNCILS TO REVIEW SERVICES TO BLACK AND ASIAN PEOPLE
LGA leaders have urged local authorities to ensure they are delivering first class services to black and Asian peop... -
LGA MOVES FORWARD ON COMMITTEE STRUCTURES
The LGA has agreed to revamp its members' structure by using small decision-making executives and larger policy for... -
LIB DEMS CALL FOR INQUIRY INTO LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING
Chris Clarke, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats on the Local Government Association and leader of Somerset CC,... -
LIB DEMS LOBBY OVER ABSENT MEMBER
Gateshead MBC Liberal Democrat members are going to the district auditor after the majority Labour group's reluctan... -
LIBRARIES CHANGE LIVES AWARD 1999: SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED
Libraries are changing lives around the country - and their work is ... -
LIVERPOOL DSO TO CUT 160 JOBS
More than 160 Liverpool City Council workers in the building and maintenance department are to lose their jobs foll... -
LOCAL GOVERNMENT OMBUDSMEN INVESTIGATION REPORTS ISSUED SINCE 25 FEBRUARY 1999
Findings of maladministration and injustice ... -
LONDON BOROUGHS DEFEND CABINET SYSTEM IN FACE OF GROWING UNEASE
The leaders of three London councils have written to the Camden New Journal (p11) complaining about previous articl... -
LONDON BUSINESS CLASHES OVER CHARGING MOTORISTS
The Financial Times (March 6, p6) reported that the lobby group London ... -
LONDON FIRST PLANS WILL RAISE£200M FOR LONDON'S TRANSPORT SYSTEM
Business campaign group London First has published draft proposals for road pricing in London, based on a study by ... -
LONDON RISES BUST PRESCOTT TAX TARGET
Brent and Wandsworth LBCs have both agreed council tax rises of more than 15%, as London as a whole averages a 6.5%... -
LONDON TUBE PRIVATISATION MAY BE DELAYED, ADMIT OFFICIALS
Government officials have admitted that the£7bn partial privatisation of London Underground could be delayed until... -
LONDON UNDERGROUND SUBSIDY MAY CONTINUE AFTER PRIVATISATION
Glenda Jackson, the London transport minister, has admitted that the government may continue subsidising London Und... -
LOWEST EVER SCOTS TAX RISES
Scottish councils were yesterday expected to announce average council tax increases for next year of between 3% and... -
MACDONALD PROTECTS INVESTMENT IN SCOTTISH SOCIAL HOUSING
Changes to the Right to Buy scheme are designed to encourage further investment in social housing. ... -
MACNISH TO BOW OUT IN AUTUMN
South Lanarkshire Council chief executive Alastair MacNish is to retire in October. ... -
MAYOR KEEPS THE RED DRAGON FLYING HIGH
Officers at Pembrokeshire CC told the mayor of Fishguard and Goodwick to take down a flag of the Welsh dragon from ... -
MAYOR WINS THE£2,000 SWEEP
City of Bradford MDC is to increase its mayor's allowance by£2,000 to pay for a cleaner at his house. ... -
MILLENNIUM BUG COULD CAUSE A MONTH OF PROBLEMS
A leading technology consultant has forecast that the millennium bug will cause severe disruption to power, transpo... -
MINIMUM WAGE REGULATIONS APPROVED
Hansard 2 March: Column 1621 ... -
MISSING EDINBURGH LIBRARY CASH LEADS TO DISMISSAL
Senior management officials in the libraries division of City of Edinburgh Council were facing questions from counc... -
MODERNISING BRECKLAND - REPLACEMENT OF COMMITTEE SYSTEM
The region's first cabinet met yesterday. The cabinet replaces the committee system and was set up to speed decisio... -
MORE LEAGUE TABLES TO MEASURE PUBLIC SECTOR PERFORMANCE
Alan Milburn, the chief secretary to the treasury, will announce today that league tables are to be used to measure... -
MORE POWER TO CUT RED TAPE: CONSULTATION LAUNCHED
The government has published a consultation document on proposals ... -
NEILL COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT PUBLISHED
The Committee on Standards in Public Life (the Neill Committee) has ... -
NEW BODY SOUGHT TO PROTECT SOUTH DOWNS
Hansard 4 March: Column 1322 ... -
NEW RESEARCH INTO 'FAILING TEACHERS' CALLS FOR TIGHTER GUIDELINES
A government adviser on education says the difficulty facing the government's drive to improve teaching standards i... -
NEW SOUTH EAST ENGLAND RDA AIMS TO SET UP 'INNOVATION HUBS'
The South East England Development Agency to be created on April 1 plans to create up to 20 'innovation hubs' in th... -
NEWBURY BYPASS CRUMBLING
Built at a cost of£100m over three years and measuring just eight miles, Newbury bypass is the most expensive stre... -
NO INCREASE IN COUNCIL TAX AS GLASGOW APPROVES£1.78BN BUDGET
Scotland's largest council, Glasgow City Council, voted yesterday to keep council tax at last year's levels. Counci... -
NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCILS LAUNCH LARGE SCALE FLOOD EMERGENCY EFFORT
Ryedale DC refuse collectors have been sandbagging houses against flood waters in Malton, North Yorkshire, BBC Radi... -
NOTTS OPEN CAST MINING BATTLE SEEN AS TEST CASE
The high court will today be asked by two local authorities, Nottinghamshire CC and Broxtowe BC, to overturn plans ... -
OFFICIAL INQUIRY IN TO TOXIC DUMPS ORDERED
The government has commissioned a study into reports that mothers living within two miles of toxic waste dumps are ... -
OFSTED CHIEF'S JOB ON THE LINE AFTER EX-WIFE'S CLAIMS
The future of chief inspector of schools Chris Woodhead is under threat after the revelation by his former wife tha... -
PARTNERSHIPS FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES - NORFOLK COUNCILS WORK TOGETHER
A local partnership of councils, the police and other agencies, is working together to make our local communities s... -
PAY AWARDS FALLING BUT STILL LAG INFLATION DROP
The latest figures from Incomes Data Services show that pay settlements in the UK are falling, but not as steeply a... -
PAY DISPUTE RESIGNATION LEAVES SOUTHWARK LBC IN NO OVERALL CONTROL
More than 1,200 staff at Southwark LBC have staged a one-day walkout over new pay plans, reports the South London P... -
PERFORMANCE TABLES FOR SOCIAL SERVICES TO BE INTRODUCED
Plans to introduce annual tables to monitor the performance of social ... -
PHONE CODES TO CHANGE - SUMMARY
Area telephone codes are to change in Northern Ireland, Cardiff, Coventry, Southampton and Portsmouth, reports the ... -
PLANNERS CALLS FOR A BUDGET TO 'JOIN UP' THE ECONOMY WITH THE URBAN AGENDA
When Gordon Brown announces his budget on March 9th, Brian Raggett, president of the Royal Town Planning Institute,... -
POLICE END 12-MONTH FRAUD INVESTIGATION IN BLAENAU GWENT
Gwent police have ended their year-long investigation into Blaenau Gwent CBC, according to The Western Mail (p3). ... -
POWYS NURSERY ABUSE INQUIRY
The Playtime Nursery at Brecon has been closed and a special helpline set up for parents as Dyfed Powys Police and ... -
PRACTICAL COSTS TO BE OVERCOME AS£150M ALLOCATED TO CUT CLASS SIZES
The government is putting another£150m into primary education today to ensure that all children under seven are in... -
PROFITS RISE FOR ITNET
ITnet, one of the biggest white-collar contractors in the local government market, recorded a 44% rise in profits l... -
PROSPECTS FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS
The big question about this year's local government elections in England is not who will win but how many people wi... -
PROTOCOL FOR MULTI-AGENCY PUBLIC PROTECTION PANEL IN LINCOLNSHIRE
Agencies within Lincolnshire have implemented a formal agreement designed to identify and effectively manage those ... -
PUBLIC HOUSING TRANSFERRED
Thousands of homes owned by two district councils will next week transfer to local housing companies. ... -
PUBLICATION OF BFI REPORT: BROXBOURNE BC
The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate's (BFI) report of its inspection of housing and council tax benefit administration b... -
PUPILS TO GET LESSONS IN SHOPPING
Schoolchildren will be taught how to shop and how to complain about shoddy goods as part of a reformed national cur... -
QUALIFY FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Many of the nationally recognised qualifications in domestic energy efficiency can be achieved by people being asse... -
RABBATTS STAYS ON AT LAMBETH FOR A YEAR
Lambeth LBC chief executive Heather Rabbatts has signed a one-year extension to her contract but insists she will l... -
REACTION AS RIGHT TO ROAM LEGISLATION TO GO AHEAD
The government yesterday gave the go-ahead to bring in legislation which will open up land to ramblers, reports The... -
REGULATIONS FOR SCOTTISH AND WELSH ELECTIONS APPROVED
Hansard 3 March: Column 1742 ... -
RHONDDA DLO BOSS QUITS
The head of Rondda Cynon Taff's direct labour organisation, which is being monitored by the Welsh Office, has resig... -
RHONDDA GIVEN STRICT LOSS DEADLINE
Welsh secretary Alun Michael has summoned the leader of Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC to the Welsh Office to give the coun... -
RIGHT TO MAYORAL REFERENDUM
The government wants to make it easier for the public to force a referendum on establishing a directly elected mayo... -
ROTHERHAM IN 'JOBS FOR THE BOYS' SHAME
Selection panels were pressured to hire elected members at other councils in a 'jobs for the boys' scam in Rotherha... -
ROTHERHAM INQUIRY UNCOVERS 'OLD PALS NETWORK'
An independent report into Rotherham MBC community regeneration department's links to a disgraced anti-poverty orga... -
ROTHERHAM OFFICER DISMISSED OVER UNAUTHORISED PAYMENT
Bob Bone, the Rotherham MBC official at the centre of police investigations into a corruption scandal, has been sac... -
SAFETY TOPS CHILDREN'S CONCERN IN NATIONAL POLL
A party manifesto of safe routes to school, safer streets and more play areas would win a landslide victory with ch... -
SANTER TO PRESENT SUBSIDIARITY REPORT TO COMMITTE OF THE REGIONS' PLENARY
European Commission president Jacques Santer will present the European Commission's annual report on the implementa... -
SCARBOROUGH PLANS REFORM SHAKE-UP
Radical plans by Whitby Town Council and Scarborough BC to set up four area forums have been given the go-ahead, re... -
SCHOOL'S BAR ON ILL PUPILS 'UNFAIR'
Parents in Lincolnshire are complaining that an oversubscribed school secondary school is being unfair by selecting... -
SCHOOLS FIGHT RACISM WITH 'PAKI-BASHING' VIDEO
An anti-racism video in which white youth talk about 'Paki-bashing' and beating up 'the dirty monkeys' is to be lau... -
SCHOOLS TURN AGAINST GM FOODS IN ENGLAND AND WALES
Seven local authorities in Wales have banned genetically modified foods from schools and old people's homes, report... -
SCOTS ATTACK HOMES REPORT
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has accused the Accounts Commission of putting a misleading spin on a ... -
SCOTS COUNCIL TAX BILLS TO RISE BY AN AVERAGE OF 2.6%
Council tax bills in Scotland are to rise by an average of 2.6%, the lowest increase for six years, reported The Sc... -
SHEFFIELD BENEFITS STAFF STRIKE OVER PRIVATISATION FEARS
Employees of Sheffield City Council who deal with housing benefit claims went on strike yesterday, according to The... -
SHOPKEEEPERS CAMPAIGN TO STOP LEVY FOR FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY
An alliance of retailers and caterers will this week tell a parliamentary select committee that forcing the food in... -
SINGLE STATUS HITS TEACHING ASSISTANTS' PAY
Hansard 3 March: Column 1657 ... -
'SLOWER PUPILS WILL SUFFER' AS CLASS ASSISTANTS FACE SACK
Hundreds of classroom assistants who play an essential role in coaxing along some of the slower pupils face losing ... -
SOCIAL SERVICES HAIL REFORM OF CARE FOR ELDERLY
The Royal Commission on long-term care for the elderly has condemned the current system as inefficient, unfair and ... -
SOCIAL WORKERS CLAIMS 'INSTITUTIONAL RACISM' IN DEVON
A social worker yesterday claimed he experienced 'institutional racism' as the only black person in his job working... -
SOLIHULL COUNCIL TAX STALEMATE
A meeting of Solihull MBC had to be adjourned last night after the Labour group's proposed 6.8% council tax increas... -
SOUTH BANK WINS FIGHT TO SITE GLA
London's mayor and assembly will be housed at the London Bridge City site, minister for London Nick Raynsford has a... -
SOUTH-EAST PAY DEALS OUTSTRIP NATIONAL OFFER
Local pay settlements in the south-east are averaging 3.2%, nearly 0.5% more than the national employers' final off... -
STAFFORDSHIRE LAUNCHES INQUIRY INTO VICE GIRL CLAIMS
Staffordshire CC is to hold an inquiry after is was alleged that an employee used council equipment to assist her c... -
STATISTICS OFFICE ADMITS MISTAKES
The head of the Office for National Statistics has issued an unreserved public apology after a high-level report ex... -
STIRLING WARNING ON CABINET COUNCILS
Stirling Council has urged caution over proposals for 'cabinet-style' politics in Scottish local authorities. ... -
SUPER-AUTHORITY PLAN IS 'BARMY'
Aspiring London mayor Ken Livingstone has been slated by council leaders over his proposal for 14 super-authorities... -
SUPERMARKET SETS GOOD EXAMPLE IN RACE EQUALITY
The Financial Times (p11) carries a feature on an Asda supermarket in Hulme, Manchester, which the Commission for R... -
SURVEY FINDS BLACK CHILDREN EXPELLED MORE OFTEN THAN WHITE CHILDREN
An investigation by the Times Educational Supplement (p3) claims some local authorities are 15 times more likely to... -
SURVEY FINDS MANY COUNCILS ARE NEGLECTING THE SCHOOLING OF CHILDREN IN CARE
A survey carried out by the Times Educational Supplement (p1) claims 39% of local authorities do not monitor the GC... -
SURVEY REVEALS UNEASE OVER MILLENNIUM BUG THREAT
A new survey from ICL, the IT services company, finds that although awareness of the potential problems of the mill... -
SURVEY SHOWS LARGE SWING FROM LABOUR TO SNP
With less than nine weeks to go towards the elections for councils and the Scottish parliament, a survey has shown ... -
TEACHERS 'TRICK' OFSTED INSPECTORS
The were calls last night for a tightening of school inspection procedures after evidence that head teachers have c... -
THE MORAY COUNCIL NAMES NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE
The Moray Council has appointed a new chief executive. He is Brian Stewart, currently chief executive of the Wester... -
THUMBS DOWN TO CAMDEN LBC DEMOCRACY PLANS
Camden LBC councillor Margaret Little accuses the government's white paper on local government of promoting council... -
TROUBLED COUNCIL CALLS IN PR FIRM
Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC has called in a PR company to help improve the authority's image, reports The Western Mail (... -
TWO SCARBOROUGH MEMBERS QUIT LABOUR
Two members of Scarborough BC have left the Labour Party and joined the Independents, reported The Northern Echo (8... -
UNION CALLS FOR AN END TO UNIFORM BUSINESS RATE IN SCOTLAND
The GMB union yesterday called for the scrapping of the uniform business rate and for more taxation powers for the ... -
UNION SURVEY OF PE AND SPORTS: 'WOEFULLY INADEQUATE' FACILITIES IN ENGLISH/WELSH PRIMARY SCHOOLS
The key findings of the NAHT's survey of PE and Sport in Schools in England, Wales and northern Ireland (copy attac... -
UNIONS FURIOUS AT DEBT DECISION
Glasgow's unions are fuming after the government confirmed it would meet the City of Glasgow Council's£950 million... -
WATERSON HEADS TORY CHALLENGE
Nigel Waterson MP has been appointed opposition local government spokesperson by the Conservative Party. ... -
WELL CONNECTED? - SOCITM SURVEY OF LOCAL AUTHORITY WEBSITES
The Society of IT Management (SOCITM) has published its latest research paper in the MAPIT series. ... -
WELSH ENVIRONMENT MINISTER ANNOUNCES COASTLINE SURVEY
An airborne survey of a stretch of Welsh coastline has been announced by Welsh environment minister Jon Owen Jones.... -
WELSH OFFICE WELCOMES IMPROVEMENTS IN DEALING WITH PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Improvements by a number of local authorities in dealing with planning applications have been welcomed by Welsh pla... -
WELSH SECRETARY UNDER FIRE OVER OBJECTIVE I
Hansard 3 March: Columns 1061/1063 ... -
WELSH TORY LEADER DEFENDS COMMENTS ON GWYNEDD LANGUAGE POLICY
Rod Richards, the Welsh Conservative Party leader, says his comments on the policy of 'linguistic apartheid' being ... -
WHISTLEBLOWERS FIND PROTECTION IN NEW ACT
The Western Mail (Business, p10) carries an employment law news report on the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, ... -
WOODHEAD'S EX-WIFE PREDICTS THAT HE WILL KEEP OFSTED JOB
Cathy Woodhead, the ex-wife of Chris Woodhead, the chief inspector of schools, has predicted he will keep his job b... -
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE IS ON THE RISE
The Guardian (Section 2, p53) carries a report on violence in the workplace, which is on the increase, according to... -
YOUNG LONDONERS MOST PESSIMISTIC ABOUT CAPITAL'S HEALTH, KING'S FUND SURVEY SHOWS
Three quarters of young people in London think the capital is an unhealthy place to live, according to a survey pub... -
ZURICH TACKLES THE PROBLEM OF Y2K RAISED BY HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE
The Health and Safety Executive have recently issued a warning to employers to tackle the risks associated with the...
