Local Government Chronicle
13 October 1994
View all stories from this issue.
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ACADEMIC CALLS FOR ROAD CLOSURES AS CONGESTION CURE
A Beeching style removal of part of the road network rather than new road building may be the best response to cong... -
AIRPORTS POLICY CONSORTIUM ATTACKS PLANS FOR NEW RUNWAYS
Pressure from the aviation industry for a new runway at either Heathrow or Gatwick directly contradicts the governm... -
AMA ATTACKS 'WEAKENED' ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Plans to greatly reduce the powers of the proposed new environment agency have been attacked by the AMA who claim i... -
AMA DEMAND FULL RIGHTS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE
Government proposals to tackle discrimination against disabled people have been dismissed as 'wholly inadequate, fl... -
AMA DEMAND FULL RIGHTS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE
Government proposals to tackle discrimination against disabled people have been dismissed as 'wholly inadequate, fl... -
AMA WELCOMES GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN DOCUMENT
The Association of Metropolitan Authorities has welcomed the Government's discussion document on environmental desi... -
ASSOCIATIONS CLAIM OVER£1.5BN MORE NEEDED FOR COUNCILS IN 1995-96
The Association of County Councils, Association of District Councils and Association of Metropolitan Authorities es... -
ASSOCIATIONS CONDEMN LOSS OF WASTE REGULATION
The local authority associations have criticised the decision from environment secretary John Gummer, to remove the... -
AUDIT COMMISSION TO TAKE FINAL LOOK AT BUCKS HIGHWAY UNIT
The Audit Commission is to undertake a final inquiry into Buckinghamshire CC's doomed highways unit, reported BBC T... -
AUDITOR CRITICISES ISLINGTON LBC CHILD CARE
A report by the District Auditor has criticised Islington LBC's child care service, describing the operation as 'cu... -
AVON CC WILL NOT REPLACE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Avon CC is not to advertise for a new chief executive when Basil Smith's£65,000 five year contract expires at the ... -
BABERGH DC CLAIMS PARISH COUNCILS OPPOSE REVIEW
Over 95% of town and parish councils in Babergh DC say they want the current two tier system to remain, the East An... -
BEDFORDSHIRE SCHOOLS IN DRUGS CRACK-DOWN
Bedfordshire secondary school head teachers have joined forces with police, education and health officers in a camp... -
BEXLEY LBC PAY£16,000 TO INJURED SCHOOL PUPIL
A teenager who suffered severe eye injuries in a school playground when struck in the face by a tree branch has won... -
BIRMINGHAM CONSULTS PUBLIC OVER NEW COUNTRY PARK PLAN
Birmingham City Council yesterday launched a six-week consultation period to guage public reaction to proposals to ... -
BLACKPOOL BINMAN SACKED FOR STARTING WORK TOO EARLY
A binman employed by a private contractor in Blackpool has been sacked for starting work too early, the Guardian re... -
BLAIR PLANS TO SPEAK ON UNIONS' ROLE
Labour leader Tony Blair will give his views on the future of public sector trade unions at a conference to be held... -
BOLTON BC WINS RIGHT TO DUMP WASTE ON MARSHLAND SITE
Bolton BC, battling for the right to develop a waste landfill site on marshland near Horwich, has won a key victory... -
BOLTON FIGHTS FOR RIGHT TO TURN MARSHLAND INTO DUMP
Bolton BC is battling it out in the High Court with conservation interests in a bid to turn an area of peat marshla... -
BRADFORD CITY CONCERNED OVER NUCLEAR DUMPING
Bradford City Council says it is investigating Department of Environment proposals to site to nuclear waste tips ne... -
BRENT GIVES PUBLIC ACCESS TO INTERNET
Brent LBC is planning to provide public access to the Internet through two computers at Willesden Green library, re... -
BRITISH COAL FIGHT IN COURT TO MINE NEAR CENTRE OF STOKE
British Coal, whose plans to develop an open cast mine in the urban area of Stoke on Trent were thwarted by the env... -
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE CC PROBES MISSING MOTORWAY MONEY MYSTERY
Buckinghamshire CC will meet today to try and appoint an independent inspector into the mystery loss of over£1 mil... -
CALL FOR REFERENDUM OVER WESTERN ISLES SUPERQUARRY PLAN
The Scottish National Party on the Western Isles Council has called for a referendum amongst the people of the isla... -
CAMDEN LBC HOUSING ESTATE TO GET EIGHT FT PROTECTION WALL
A council estate in Camden LBC is to be surrounded by an eight foot wall to protect residents from drug dealers and... -
CAMPAIGN FOR RATE CUT
Companies should receive the full benefit of any reductions in business rates and not have them phased in, a new lo... -
CAMPAIGNERS URGE DYFED CC TO KEEP SPECIAL SCHOOL OPEN
Campaigners are urging Dyfed CC to keep open a special residential school they claim has been run down by the counc... -
CAREFUL SPENDING NOT MORE MONEY, SAYS GUMMER
Environment secretary John Gummer has demanded councils contract out more services to the private sector to keep sp... -
CENTRAL RC AND RENFREW DC FIGHT FOR NEW BOUNDARIES
Both Central RC and Renfrew DC are to make final attempts this week to change their proposed single tier authority ... -
CHANNEL 4 SEEKS LEGAL GUIDANCE OVER PARISH COUNCIL
Channel Four is to seek legal guidance on whether a parish council can take the company to the Broadcasting Complai... -
CHANNEL FOUR PARISH COUNCIL BATTLE: FULL REPORT
Channel Four is challenging the right of parish councils to take programme makers to the Broadcasting Complaints Co... -
CHILDREN SUE BEDS CC FOR FAILING TO STOP ABUSE
Five children are suing Bedfordshire CC for failing to protect them during five years of abuse by their parents, th... -
CLAIM SCHOOLS SACRIFICE PUPILS FOR LEAGUE TABLES
Bedfordshire County Councillor, Jim Thakordin, has claimed some schools are kicking out difficult pupils without fo... -
CLEVELAND COUNTY SAYS POLL PROVES LITTLE
The Cleveland County Council says a public opinion poll on the most favoured structure for local government in the ... -
CONFUSED ADVICE MEANS ANXIOUS WAIT FOR MEDINA
Medina BC is waiting to hear whether it will have to endure its last six months without its entire senior managemen... -
CONTINENTAL RAIL SERVICES FROM REGIONS BY 1996 - MAWHINNEY
Railtrack has been instructed to make sure the infrastructure is in place to allow rail services from the regions t... -
CORNISH COUNCIL LOOSES ESTATE NAME BATTLE
Caradon DC's efforts to give a new estate a more Cornish identity have failed to impress the Caradon District Court... -
COSLA CONCERNED OVER FUTURE OF SCOTTISH SLEEPER TRAINS
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities wants talks with the Government's Transport and Scottish secretaries o... -
'COSMETIC' CHANGES TO HOUSING BENEFIT, SAYS LILLEY
Social security secretary Peter Lilley is downplaying speculation that the DSS will introduce big cuts in housing b... -
COUNCILS BRACED FOR HARD FINANCE MEETING WITH GUMMER
The local authority associations are meeting John Gummer today in what is being branded as 'the toughest finance se... -
COUNCILS HAVE CHOICE BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND RESIDENTIAL CARE (HANSARD)
It is for local statutory authorities to decide on the pattern of disability services in their area in light of an ... -
COUNCILS NOT PROVIDING ENOUGH ADVICE TO AVOID HOMELESSNESS
Most councils do not provide housing advice even though they have a duty to do so under the Housing (Homeless Perso... -
COUNCILS TO DISPOSE OF NUCLEAR WASTE
The government plans to encourage councils to dispose of ... -
COUNCILS TOLD TO REDUCE WILDLIFE PROTECTION
New DoE advice to local councils has put numerous ecologically important areas at risk, conservationists said yeste... -
COUNTRYSIDE COMM AND ENGLISH NATURE: NEW ARRANGEMENTS
Environment secretary, John Gummer, has announced that a programme of closer working between the Countryside Commis... -
COUNTY REJECTS PLAN FOR UNIVERSITY IN GREEN BELT
Bedfordshire CC's development committee has rejected Luton BC's plan to relocate the town's university on green bel... -
COUPLE AT CENTRE OF BUCKS ABUSE ROW FOUND
The couple accused of abusing residents of two Buckinghamshire residential homes for people with learning disabilit... -
COURTS APPROVE E HERTS DC LAND SWAP WITH INDUSTRIAL GIANT
East Hertfordshire DC has won High Court approval for a deal granting a recreation ground in Ware to the chemical g... -
CURRY CALLS FOR TORY 'RECONQUEST' OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Local government minister David Curry has called for the Tory 'reconquest' of local government. ... -
DAME PORTER PROTESTS INNOCENCE AT TORY CONFERENCE
Former Westminster LBC leader, Dame Shirley Porter, returned to Britain yesterday, vowing to disprove accusations o... -
DAME SHIRLEY'S SILENCE DEFENDED BY COUNSEL
Dame Shirley Porter's solicitors have responded to The Daily Telegraph editorial (8 Oct) which chides her for not a... -
DEVON GRANDAD LOSES 20 YEAR BATTLE WITH SOUTH HAMPS DC
A Devon grandfather has conceded defeat in a 20 year old battle with South Hamps DC over the right to keep his unla... -
DUDLEY BC SUPPORTS MERRY HILL EXPANSION
Dudley BC in the West Midlands is supporting the expansion of the Merry Hill shopping centre in the Birmingham-Blac... -
EAST MIDLANDS COUNTIES WILL FIGHT FOR A FAIRER CASH DEAL
Unanimous support was pledged today for a concerted bid to secure a fairer government cash deal for the East Midlan... -
EC FUNDING FOR COUNCILS MAY WEAKEN LOCAL AUTONOMY
A new report just released on the relationship between local government and the European Union warns councils court... -
EDINBURGH TO TACKLE 300% INCREASE IN HOMELESS
Housing experts in Edinburgh DC have described as 'devastating' the reported 300% increase in the city's homeless s... -
ESSEX CC CLAIMS COLCHESTER TRAFFIC TAMING CUTS ACCIDENTS
Essex County Council says its£150,000 scheme to 'calm' Colchester's traffic problem has already paid for itself th... -
ESSEX ROAD DRIVES CONTINUING PUBLIC DEBATE
Essex CC could face another public inquiry into plans to upgrade the A120 road between Stansted and Braintree, the ... -
FENLAND 'REGRETS' MINISTERIAL SECRECY OVER JAIL VISIT
The Conservative Leader of Fenland DC, Matt Cotterill, says he regrets Home Secretary Michael Howard's failure to c... -
FINANCIAL DIARY FOR THE WEEK
Date Indicator Market Last Month ... -
FIRST STRATEGY FOR REFUGEES IN LOTHIAN
Lothian's first multi-agency strategy aimed at addressing problems faced by refugees in the region was launched at ... -
FIRST STRATEGY FOR REFUGEES IN LOTHIAN
Lothian's first multi-agency strategy aimed at addressing problems faced by refugees in the region has been launche... -
FRESH ALLEGATIONS OF WESTMINSTER GERRYMANDERING
A former senior official of a housing association has alleged that Westminster City Council pressured associations ... -
FTSE INDEX 3015.6 AT 9AM UP 16.9 ON START OF DAY
STOCK EXCHANGE: FTSE INDEX 3015.6 AT 9AM UP 16.9 ON START OF DAY.... -
FTSE INDEX 3029.8 AT 2PM UP 31.1 ON START OF DAY
STOCK EXCHANGE: FTSE INDEX 3029.8 AT 2PM UP 31.1 ON START OF DAY.... -
FTSE INDEX 3035.4 AT 9AM UP 3.1 ON START OF DAY
STOCK EXCHANGE: FTSE INDEX 3035.4 AT 9AM UP 3.1 ON START OF DAY.... -
FTSE INDEX 3042.5 AT 2PM UP 10.2 ON START OF DAY
STOCK EXCHANGE: FTSE INDEX 3042.5 AT 2PM UP 10.2 ON START OF DAY.... -
FTSE INDEX 3084.2 AT 9AM UP 11.2 ON START OF DAY
STOCK EXCHANGE: FTSE INDEX 3084.2 AT 9AM UP 11.2 ON START OF DAY.... -
FTSE INDEX 3105.2 AT 10AM UP 4.7 ON START OF DAY
STOCK EXCHANGE: FTSE INDEX 3105.2 AT 10AM UP 4.7ON START OF DAY.... -
FTSE INDEX 3115.8 AT 2PM DOWN 26.1 ON START OF DAY
STOCK EXCHANGE: FTSE INDEX 3115.8 AT 2PM DOWN 26.1 ON START OF DAY.... -
FTSE INDEX 3124.4 AT 2PM UP 23.9 ON START OF DAY
STOCK EXCHANGE: FTSE INDEX 3124.4 AT 2PM UP 23.9 ON START OF DAY.... -
FTSE INDEX 3133.8 AT 9AM DOWN 8.1 ON START OF DAY
STOCK EXCHANGE: FTSE INDEX 3133.8 AT 9AM DOWN 8.1 ON START OF DAY.... -
FUNDING CUTS COULD FORCE COUNCIL TAX UP BY 25% - ALA
Council tax bills could rise by as much as 25% in some parts of London if the government withdraws financial suppor... -
GLASGOW VOTES MCFADDEN OFF COSLA EXECUTIVE
Glasgow City Council voted yesterday that its leader Pat Lally should represent it on the Convention of Scottish Lo... -
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES LEA SCHOOL FUNDING
The Government has announced funding to 31 local education authorities of over£8 million for school building and r... -
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES RURAL WHITE PAPER
A White Paper on the future of our rural areas has been announced by environment secretary, John Gummer and agricul... -
GOVERNMENT DUE TO GIVE GREEN LIGHT FOR MIDLAND METRO.
The Government is expected to give its backing to the£115 million 'Midland Metro' light rail project by the end of... -
GOVERNMENT EYES HOUSING BENEFIT FOR BUDGET CUTS
The Government is considering cuts to housing benefits and mortgage assistance as it looks to reduce welfare spendi... -
GOVERNMENT GRANTS CAUSE DIFFERENCES IN COUNCIL CASH FLOWS
A scheme to entice council residents to leave their homes has resulted in wide differences on funding being offered... -
GOVERNMENT ISSUES SAFETY GUIDE FOR SCHOOL OUTDOOR TRIPS
New guidelines for schools organising trips to outdoor activity centres have been issued by the government, the Sco... -
GOVERNMENT NEWS RELEASES ON 10 OCTOBER
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HEALTH/TIME TO GET PRACTICAL ABOUT COMMUNITY CARE FOR MENTALLY ILL ... -
GOVERNMENT NEWS RELEASES ON 11 OCTOBER
DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION EDUCATION/A LITTLE DOCUMENT WITH A BIG IMPACT - BOSWELL ... -
GOVERNMENT NEWS RELEASES ON 12 OCTOBER
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD ENVIRONMENTAL/GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES RURAL WHITE PAPER ... -
GOVERNMENT NEWS RELEASES ON 13 OCTOBER
DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION EDUCATION/TOUGHER STANDARDS ON ENGLISH IN NEW CURRICULUM ... -
GOVERNMENT NEWS RELEASES ON OCTOBER 7
EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT WOMEN/UK ON TRACK TOWARDS EQUALITY FOR WOMEN SAYS NEW REPORT ... -
GOVERNMENT SHELVES PLANS TO MERGE ENVIRONMENT QUANGOS
The government has shelved a plan to merge its two main watchdogs on wildlife conservation, BBC Radio Four's Today ... -
GOVERNMENT WARNS CARE HOMES SHOULD BE MONITORED
The government has warned councils they should monitor standards in residential care homes, reports The Independent... -
GOVERNMENT WELCOMES ROAD IMPROVEMENT BACKING
John Watts, minister for railways and roads, today welcomed the support given to the national trunk road programme ... -
GRAMPIAN PAY RISES SPARK POLITICAL ROW
Salary increases to senior officials at Grampian RC have caused a row, with the Labour group accusing the ruling ad... -
GRAMPIAN TURNS DOWN POLL TAX SNOOPLINE
A proposal to provide a hotline so members of the public could give information about poll tax dodgers has been rej... -
GREENS LOBBY CRITICAL OF PROPOSED NEW ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
The Government's Environmental Agencies Bill has attracted criticism from the Green lobby which says it reduces exi... -
GUIDE ON INTER-AGENCY MENTAL HEALTH CARE RELEASED
The Government has released its draft guide on inter-agency co-operation on care for the mentally ill. ... -
GUMMER BACKS PACKAGING RECYCLING BY PRODUCER
The government is to legislate to support industry-led schemes which take responsibility for recovering and recycli... -
GUMMER PUBLISHES DRAFT LEGISLATION FOR ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Environment secretary John Gummer has announced the publication of draft legislation to set up a new Environment Ag... -
GWENT STRUCTURE PLAN PREDICTS GROWTH
A strong growth in economic life and population is predicted in Gwent CC's new structure plan to be adopted tomorro... -
HACKNEY SUSPENDS HOUSING CHIEF
Hackney LBC has suspended its director of housing Bernard Crofton on unspecified allegations, reports The Guardian ... -
HARINGEY MAY MOVE OFFICES INTO ALEXANDRA PALACE
Haringey LBC may be planning to turn the Alexandra Palace complex in North London into its council offices to ensur... -
HEAD WHO WARNED OF EXTREMIST HIJACKINGS IS REINSTATED
A headmaster who was suspended for warning against extremist taking over governing bodies was reinstated yesterday ... -
HEADS WARN OF PRIMARY SCHOOL DRUG ABUSE
The National Association of Head Teachers says that the idea that drugs are a threat only for children in secondary... -
HEREFORD AND WORCESTER SOCIAL SERVICES PAY FOR GREEK TRIP
A 16-year-old boy awaiting sentence for assaulting a policeman will fly to Greece for a family wedding at the expen... -
HIGH COURT RULES AGAINST POLL TAX JAILINGS
The High Court has ruled that Northamptonshire justices were wrong to jail three poll tax defaulters. ... -
HUMBERSIDE CC ADVERT GETS ONLY ONE PHONE CALL
Only one man rang in after Humberside CC fulfilled its Citizen's Charter obligations and spent£8,000 on a two page... -
INTEREST WILL NOT BE PAID ON REBANDING EXCESS PAYMENTS (HANSARD)
At the end of August, 368,574 of the initial council tax appeals lodged in England were still outstanding, environm... -
IRRV CONFERENCE HEARS LOCAL AUTHORITIES NOT LAX IN COLLECTING NNDR
The overall business rates yield is lower now in real terms than it was in 1989-90, Tony Travers of the LSE told th... -
IRRV WILL FIGHT FOR PROPERTY VALUATIONS
The government's claim that there is no need to have regular evaluations of properties for the council tax is to be... -
JURY SAYS HOSTEL GIRL WAS KILLED UNLAWFULLY
A jury has decided that 20 month old Terri-Anne Jones, who was killed in a fire at a seaside hostel used by Departm... -
LABOUR BEFRIENDS AUDIT COMMISSION
Labour wants to give the Audit Commission sweeping new powers to force councils to tender contracts, a blueprint fo... -
LABOUR SET DEMANDS FOR BACKING REVIEW
Labour will oppose government attempts to introduce unitary councils in the shires unless firm guarantees are given... -
LANG NO TO SCOTS' PLEA ON REORGANISATION
The government this week rejected pleas for a one-year postponement of Scottish local government reorganisation and... -
LBA WANTS BEDSITS LICENSED TO INCREASE SAFETY
The London Boroughs Association is proposing a compulsory licensing scheme introduced for bedsits to safeguard tena... -
LBA WELCOMES POSTPONEMENT OF HOUSING FUNDING CHANGES
The London Boroughs Association has welcomes the Government's decision to postpone changes to the way its housing r... -
LEWISHAM'S DSO PLANS HIT ROCKS
Lewisham LBC's Labour group has rejected plans to externalise the council's direct service organisation. ... -
LGMB FACES CALL FOR RADICAL SHAKE-UP
The Society of Chief Personnel Officers is calling for radical changes to be made to the Local Government Managemen... -
LIB DEM COUNCILLOR SPARKS ROW OVER CANNABIS
A political row continues in Uttlesford DC, Essex, over a Liberal Democrat councillor's motion at his party confere... -
LILLEY AIMS TO CURB GROWTH IN HOUSING BENEFIT SPENDING
Private sector firms are being invited to tender for new benefit payment systems to reduce fraud, said Social Secur... -
LOBBY GROUP SAYS CHILDREN ACT IS FAILING
The Children's Act will continue to fail the very people it was set up to protect unless the Government provides ad... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 10 OCTOBER 2PM
Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 10 OCTOBER 9AM
Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 11 OCTOBER 2PM
Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 11 OCTOBER 9AM
Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 12 OCTOBER 9AM
Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 13 OCTOBER 2PM
Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 13 OCTOBER 9PM
Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 14 OCTOBER 2PM
Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 14 OCTOBER 9AM
Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL GOVERNMENT WARNINGS ON CASH CRISIS
Council leaders have warned the government they can not be held responsible for deteriorating services if plans to ... -
LOCAL TAXES HOLD NO DANGER FOR THE ECONOMY
The government could afford to allow councils extra revenue-raising powers without damaging the economy, according ... -
LONDON CAR FUMES GET CLEANER
Research by the RAC into London car fume emissions shows the number of cars failing to meet the Ministry of Transpo... -
LONDON TOPS SPENDING PER HEAD
An inner London council spends 80% more per person than an English shire council, statistics published today reveal... -
MAGISTRATES WRONG TO IMPRISON POLL TAX DEBTOR
Towcester magistrates unlawfully punished a local man by jailing him for 12 days for poll tax arrears, the high cou... -
MAJOR CENTRAL BIRMINGHAM DEVELOPMENT GETS GO-AHEAD
Developers have announced plans for a multi-million pound development of the Bull Ring shopping centre in the centr... -
MAJOR TO INTRODUCE NURSERY VOUCHERS FOR ALL 4 YEAR OLDS
The Prime Minister is expected to announce today that his government will introduce a voucher system for nursery ed... -
MAWHINNEY TAKES TOUGH APPROACH ON VEHICLE POLLUTION
Transport secretary Brian Mawhinney has launched a new initiative aimed at cracking down on vehicle pollution. ... -
MAWHINNEY TO GO FOR TOUGHER EMISSIONS TESTING
A crackdown on drivers who are polluting city streets is expected to be announced by transport secretary Brian Mawh... -
MEETING OF MINDS CLOSER ON TRANSFERS
The Staff Commission moved some way this week towards the local authority associations' views that all staff should... -
MERSEYSIDE PROTEST OVER CUTS IN POLICE BUDGET
An emergency meeting of the Merseyside police authority has voted to send a delegation to the Home Office to protes... -
MID BEDS HIT BY MASS DEFECTIONS
Six members of Mid Bedfordshire DC's ruling Tory group have quit to form 'The Fifth Group'. ... -
MILTON KEYNES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MERGES WITH TEC
Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce is to merge with the local Training and Enterprise Council. The deal was approved... -
MONKS WARNS ON COST CUTS
Widespread cost cutting has left key areas of the public sector chronically underfunded and their staff demoralised... -
NEW APPOINTMENTS TO IRRV BOARD AND COUNCIL
Recently retired ombudsman Sir David Yardley is to chair the Institute of Revenue, Rating and Valuation's new exami... -
NEW AREA STRUCTURE FOR MPO
The chief officers' union MPO plans to create an area-based committee structure which would mirror the employers' p... -
NEW AUDIT CONTROLLER FOR SCOTS ACCOUNTS COMMISSION
Robert Black, the chief executive of Tayside RC has been appointed as the new controller of audit of the Commission... -
NEW ROADS DO GENERATE EXTRA TRAFFIC SAY GOVERNMENT ADVISERS
A report by government advisers says that new roads do generate extra traffic, a claim which government has always ... -
NEWCASTLE LEADER PANS SPONSOR MINISTER'S 'RESCUE PACKAGE'
The acting leader of Newcastle City Council has branded the£50m rescue package for his region as a 'hurriedly-conc... -
NO BLAME FOR A FALL IN YIELDS
Councils are not to blame for falling yields from business rates according to Tony Travers, research director at th... -
NORTH-EAST FAILS TO EMPLOY ENOUGH DISABLED PEOPLE
A survey has revealed that some of the North-East's biggest employers are failing to give jobs to a full quota of d... -
NOW IS WORST TIME TO CHANGE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SAYS EXPERT
The government has picked the worst possible time to reorganise local government, David King of Stirling University... -
NUMBER OF ASTHMATIC CHILDREN DOUBLES IN 15 YEARS
The National Asthma Campaign has found that the number of cases child asthma has doubled in the last 15 years and 1... -
OMBUDSMAN DETAILS INCOMPETENT MANAGEMENT, CORRUPT STAFF AT BRENT LBC
The outgoing local government ombudsman Sir David Yardley has reported on some of the worst cases he has seen, many... -
ON COURSE WITH CHARTER
Local government is continuing to dominate the Charter Mark awards, deputy director of the Citizen's Charter Unit C... -
ONE CITIZEN WANTS INFO ON HUMBERSIDE CHARTER
Only one person has shown any interest in Humberside CC's efforts to comply with the Citizen's Charter. ... -
OPPOSITION MOUNTS OVER ESSEX LANDFILL PROJECT
Braintree DC, Essex, has expressed 'strong reservations' about the scale and intensity of plans to excavate more th... -
OXFORD MAY EXTEND SCHOOL BREAKFAST ANTI TRUANCY DRIVE
A scheme to prevent truancy at an Oxford school by providing breakfasts may be extended to other schools in the cou... -
PAY ROUND FIGURES INDICATE THREAT TO 200,000 JOBS
More than 200,000 local government jobs would have to be shed to balance the books if the public sector pay bill is... -
PLYMOUTH CONTRACT SERVICES GROUP PULLS IN£0.5M PROFIT
Plymouth City Council contract services group made a profit of just under£500,000 in the last financial year, the ... -
POLICE BEGIN NEW TRAINING TO COPE WITH COMMUNITY CARE
Care in the community policies are forcing the police to train officers in how to deal with mentally ill people, Th... -
POLL SHOWS MINORITY SUPPORT FOR CLEVELAND COUNCIL PLANS
A Mori poll in Cleveland shows 22% of the county's residents support its plans for a 'two district' option with loc... -
POLLUTION CONTROLS TO BE SPEEDED UP SAY THE TORIES
Measures to reduce vehicle air pollution were announced by the Transport Secretary Brian Mawhinney yesterday amid w... -
PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO SCOTTISH SUPER-QUARRY BEGINS
A public inquiry into proposals to dig 'Europe's biggest quarry' in the Outer Hebrides begins in Stornaway today, R... -
PUBLIC SECTOR COMPUTER FRAUD RISES SHARPLY
Attacks on public-sector and private-sector computer systems by thieves, hackers and virus writers have increased d... -
PUPILS SUFFERING DUE TO LARGE CLASSROOM SIZE
Pupils are suffering because schools are increasing their class sizes in an effort to break even, BBC Radio Four's ... -
ROOTS RAISES DOUBTS ON INQUIRY'S CONDUCT
Westminster City Council is in danger of being 'destabilised' by the continuing row over its former policy of desig... -
ROOTS RAISES DOUBTS ON INQUIRY'S CONDUCT
Westminster City Council is in danger of being 'destabilised' by the continuing row over its former policy of desig... -
RUTLAND QUESTIONS REPORT DELAY
Rutland DC wants to know why the Local Government Commission's report on Leicestershire is being delayed. ... -
SCHOOLS URGED TO PRESS FOR CHANGE IN WORSHIP RULE
Chris Woodhead, the new chief inspector of schools, has urged headteachers to press the government for a change in ... -
SCOTS PRIMARY SCHOOLS REPORT BIG RISE IN TESTING
New figures show a bid rise in the number of Scottish primary school pupils being tested in reading, writing and ma... -
SCOTS USED AS 'GUINEA PIGS' IN REFORM PROCESS
Labour peers in the House of Lords have again warned that Scotland is being used as a guinea pig for a system of lo... -
SCOTTISH ENVIRONMENT AGENCY ATTACKED AS 'BAD NEWS'
Government plans for a new environment agency in Scotland have been dismissed as 'bureaucratic and bad news for the... -
SCOTTISH HOMES SELL-OFF POLICY 'EXTREMELY ARROGANT'
Thousands of Scottish public sector homes are due to be sold over the next two years, bringing the total of Scottis... -
SCOTTISH OFFICE MAY BOW TO PRESSURE TO DELAY MOVE TO CCT
Scottish Office ministers are preparing to concede that the planned single-tier councils will not have enough time ... -
SCOTTISH OFFICE PLEDGES£8 MILLION EXTRA FOR HOUSING
Scottish local authorities have won an additional£8.1 million from the Scottish office for priority housing projec... -
SECOND REVIEWS FOR THREE COUNTIES (HANSARD)
Environment minister Viscount Ullswater reminded Lords that the Local Government Commission has been directed to co... -
SOUTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE EXONERATED IN PLANNING CASE
Accusations that South Northamptonshire DC 'trafficked in planning consents', only granting them to those prepared ... -
SOUTHERN BRITAIN TO GROW FASTEST NEXT YEAR
East Anglia, the south east, the east Midlands and Wales are the regions likely to enjoy the strongest growth next ... -
ST ALBANS INTRODUCES NEW SAFETY REGULATIONS AFTER BLAZE
St Albans City Council is to introduce its own safety regulations for houses in multiple occupation following the d... -
STRAW PLEDGES RETURN OF LOCAL BUSINESS RATES
Labour is pledged to bring back local business rates but would not peg them to domestic taxation, shadow environmen... -
SUMMARY OF THE WEEK IN EUROPE
More than 280m ECU will come to UK projects through three structural fund initiatives between 194 and 1997, the Eur... -
SUTTON LBC IN PLANNING ROW OVER KIDS' TREE HOUSE
A planning dispute between Sutton LBC and two households over a children's tree house has led to a public inquiry, ... -
TENDRING DC WITHDRAWS PERMISSION FOR CLACTON DEVELOPMENT
Tendring DC has overturned a planing decision granted three years ago for a 32 house development at the end of a Cl... -
THE FINANCIAL WEEK AHEAD WITH AMP
Once again the markets' attention will be on the outlook for inflation in the United Kingdom and in the United Stat... -
TORIES HAVE MOST TO LOSE IN REVIEW
England's Conservative councils stand to lose the most from the review, a LGC report reveals. But the main losers i... -
TORIES TOLD TO SCRAP CAPPING
Brent LBC leader Bob Blackman led calls at the Conservative conference for the government to scrap capping. ... -
TORIES WITH MOST TO LOSE FROM REVIEW
Conservative councils have most to lose from local government reorganisation in England, LGC's second Review Focus ... -
TORY DEATH PUTS LIB-DEMS IN CONTROL
The Liberal Democrats are aiming to take overall control of their fifth county council next month, when a by-electi... -
TOWER HAMLETS JOINS TEAM ON THAMES GATEWAY INITIATIVE
Tower Hamlets LBC has teamed up with 11 London boroughs to ensure East London maximises the benefits of the Thames ... -
TUC SAYS CONTRACTING OUT THREATENS PUBLIC SERVICE ETHOS
Compulsory tendering of local government services is threatening the public service 'ethos', according to TUC gener... -
UNISON CASTS NEW LEGAL DOUBT ON OPINION
A new legal opinion obtained by Unison suggests that the Staff Commission's advice on the transfer of chief officer... -
UNISON WANTS PENSIONS TEST CASE
Unison has called for a test case on pension rights - related to compulsory competitive tendering - to be referred ... -
URBAN PARKS RECEIVE NO SPECIFIC FUNDING (HANSARD)
Local authorities receive no government grants targeted specifically for the management and repair of urban parks, ... -
VALE OF YORK POWER LINE FACING SECOND PUBLIC INQUIRY
A new public inquiry into plans for more than 40 miles of high voltage power lines in the Vale of York is inevitabl... -
VICTIMS OF RACISM SHOULD BE REHOUSED ON REQUEST
At what pint is racial harassment considered a priority and therefore warranting immediate rehousing by the local a... -
WALSALL YOUTH TEAM WORKERS IN STRIKE THREAT OVER CUTS
Staff from Walsall MBC will vote next week on strike action in protest at a major shake-up of the town's youth serv... -
WANDSWORTH LBC HINDER POLICE INVESTIGATION
Wandsworth LBC has been accused by police of preventing ... -
WARNING OF JAM-FREE DOUGHNUT
Councils have a key role to play in influencing industrial restructuring in the single European market, according t... -
WARNING ON 25% COUNCIL TAX INCREASE
Council tax could rise by as much as 25% next year if the government does not find an extra£1.6bn to meet increase... -
WARNING OVER BUSINESS RATES
The revaluation of businesses next year will prove more problematic than in 1990 because of the impact of the reces... -
WELSH COUNCIL CONTROL OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS SPARKS ROW
A proposal to hand over responsibility for grade II historic buildings in Wales to local authorities has sparked fe... -
WELSH HOUSING STOCK IN NEED OF URGENT INVESTMENT
One in seven Welsh homes is unfit for habitation, according to a survey by the Chartered Institute of Housing. ... -
WELSH OFFICE DENIES INTERVENING TO HELP OPT OUT SCHOOLS
The Welsh Office has denied it intervened to help seven schools which ran into financial difficulties after they ha... -
WESTERN ISLES SUPERQUARRY IN CENTRE OF DEBATE.
The debate surrounding the planned superquarry on the island of Harris is highlighted in a feature in the FT (p7).... -
WESTMINSTER AND WANDSWORTH AWAIT RESULTS
The Guardian tabloid section (page 6) carries a profile of both Westminster and Wandsworth LBC's as they wait for t... -
WESTMINSTER URGE AUDITOR TO BAN HIMSELF
The barrister representing Lady Shirley Porter, former leader of Westminster City Council, has urged the district a... -
WILLIS OFF MERSEY BEAT
The Tory chairman of Merseyside police authority is threatening to resign from the party in protest at impending go... -
WOKING IS THE DEAREST TOWN IN THE UK
Woking has been named as the most expensive town in the UK to live in, and Thurso is the cheapest, according to a n... -
WOMAN SUES WANDSWORTH COUNCIL OVER FOSTER FATHER RAPE
A woman, allegedly raped twice by her foster father, is suing Wandsworth LBC for negligence the Evening Standard re...
