Local Government Chronicle
20 February 1997
View all stories from this issue.
-
£1M DAMAGE IN LATEST SUSPECT LIBRARY BLAZE
Police investigating a fire which caused£1m-worth of damage to a library in Cardiff say they believe it was starte... -
£2.4M IMPROVEMENTS GRANTS TO SCOTS SPECIAL SCHOOLS
Grants totalling£2.4m to Donaldson's College, Edinburgh, and Harmeny School, Balerno, Midlothian, have been announ... -
£7.9M FOR HOMELESSNESS VOLUNTARY GROUPS
£7.9m of government money is to be made available to help single people, in housing need, housing minister James Cl... -
280 JOBS TO GO AS BEDFORDSHIRE SETS BUDGET
Around 280 jobs are to go at Bedfordshire CC as a result of the budget approved yesterday, reports BBC Three Counti... -
32 COMPLETED PFI SCHEMES OVER£1M (HANSARD)
Gerald Steinberg, Labour MP for Durham City, asked the health secretary how many public finance initiative bids, ot... -
500,000 TAKE UP NURSERY VOUCHERS
Half a million parents have already applied for nursery education vouchers worth£1,100, education secretary Gillia... -
6% COUNCIL TAX INCREASES THE NORM AS WESTMINSTER SETS LOWEST
Westminster LBC yesterday decided to implement inflation-only council tax increases. ... -
ALG BACKS LONDON IRISH COUNCILLORS NETWORK
A city-wide network of Irish councillors in London boroughs has been set up with the support of the Association of ... -
AMA WELCOMES SOCIAL SERVICES 'VALUE FOR MONEY' REPORT
The department of health's report on value for money in social services has been welcomed by the Association of Met... -
ANNUAL REPORT OF WELSH AIR QUALITY FORUM
In September 1994, the All Wales Chief Environmental Health Officers Panel commissioned a study to investigate the ... -
ARMSTRONG ATTACKS TORY COUNCIL DEBT 'LIES'
Shadow local government minister Hilary Armstrong this week hit back at Tory attacks over the scale of council debt... -
ASHDOWN ON EDUCATION: LABOUR & TORIES MISS BIGGEST ISSUE
Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown has highlighted education cuts being faced across Britain. ... -
AUDIT COMM: OUT OF THE COMMITTEE ROOM INTO THE COMMUNITY
Local councillors should do more to develop their role in the community. It has been seen as 'an opportunity missed... -
AUDIT COMMISSION REPORT FOCUSES ON GOOD PRACTICE
Far from being a damning indictment of local government, the Audit Commission's report Representing the people show... -
BAND D COUNCIL TAX RISES
(These figures complement the LGC article on reserve funds diverted to keep down tax bills) ... -
BAND D COUNCIL TAX RISES
(These figures complement the LGC article on reserve funds diverted to keep down tax bills) ... -
BARNTON BYPASS AND A8000 UPGRADE
Draft road orders for two schemes which have been identified as potential improvements south of the Forth Road Brid... -
BEECHAM FINDS PLACE IN THE SUN
The Sun newspaper this week published a letter from Association of Metropolitan Authorities chairman Sir Jeremy Bee... -
BIG MONEY AT THE TOP FOR EDUCATION CHIEFS
The Yorkshire Post (p6) reports that education has become one of the best paid professions in the country - for a f... -
BIRMINGHAM TO HOST 1998 G7 ECONOMIC SUMMIT
Prime minister John Major has announced that the 1998 summit meeting of G7 heads of government will be held in Birm... -
BIRMINGHAM TO HOST THE 1998 G7/8 SUMMIT
The 1998 Group of Seven Heads of Government summit will be held in Birmingham, the prime minister has announced. ... -
BIRMINGHAM TO SAVE£2.3M BY CONVERTING PHONES TO CABLE
Birmingham City Council will save an estimated£2.3m on its telephone bill as a result of converting lines to cable... -
BOOST FOR VILLAGE DESIGN IN NEW GOVT PLANNING GUIDANCE
The Countryside Commission has welcomed the government's revised planning guidance for the countryside (PPG7: The C... -
BOTTOMLEY WELCOMES UNPRECEDENTED BOOST FOR MUSEUMS
Museums in Britain are to get a huge boost thanks to the latest set of National Lottery awards from the Heritage Lo... -
BURY TO AXE 300 JOBS IN£12M CUTS PACKAGE
Bury MBC is to axe 300 jobs as part of a£12m cuts package, reports the Manchester Evening News (p5). ... -
BURY TO PROTEST AT COMMONS OVER BUDGET CUT
The mayor of Bury MBC will lead a protest at the House of Commons on Monday in response to the council's government... -
BUS WORKERS TAKE CASH FOR TAKEOVER
Workers at the bus company Taybus Holdings gave their backing to a takeover by West Midlands Travel and received ar... -
CALL TO INCLUDE CHRYSOTILE IN EUROPEAN ASBESTOS BAN
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has recommended to the secretary of state for the environment that the gover... -
CAPITAL CHALLENGE HITS PROJECTS
A review of the government's controversial capital challenge pilot scheme has warned ministers that the system coul... -
CARLISLE AND GRASSINGTON PICK UP LOTTERY CASH
The Millennium Commission has announced the latest five projects to receive lottery cash, and two of them are spons... -
CAUTION URGED IN ADOPTING EDUCATION RESEARCH
Policy makers should look carefully at education research before responding to it, according to University of Londo... -
CCTV CLOSES IN ON CLYDEBANK
An 18 camera network will help to safeguard residents, business and property in Clydebank following the launch of a... -
CHANGES TO SCOTS TEACHERS' EARLY RETIREMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Scottish secretaryMichael Forsyth has announced that changes to teachers' early retirement arrangements will come i... -
CHESHIRE LOSES 100 JOBS AND BOOSTS TAX BY 3.5%
Cheshire CC could lose 100 jobs in an attempt to balance its£625m budget, reports the Daily Post (p13). ... -
CITIES TO CLAMP DOWN ON BEGGARS
Councils in London, Cambridge, Bath and Canterbury are considering schemes to cut down on street begging. ... -
CLWYD INTERPRETING SERVICE FUNDING UP TO COUNCILS
Labour MP for Delyn, David Hanson asked the Welsh secretary what the ability of local authorities was to bear the c... -
CODE OF CONDUCT DUE FOR REVAMP
The government is considering updating the code of conduct for councillors and advice on declaring pecuniary intere... -
COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS SEEKS VALUE FOR MONEY
Local authorities must protect the rights of citizens as consumers, ACC international affairs committee chair Ken B... -
COMMITTEES WASTE TIME SAYS AUDIT COMMISSION
Council structures must be overhauled to slash the time officers and members waste on committee meetings, the Audit... -
CONCERN OVER EDUCATION WHITE PAPER
The government's white paper, Raising The Standard, has been described as a blatant piece of electioneering by COSL... -
CONSTRUCTION, PFI BOOM TIPPED
Private Finance Initiative projects are expected to contribute to a coming boom in construction according to a gove... -
CONSULTATION FOR SIXTH YEAR OF PERFORMANCE TABLES
Education and employment minister Cheryl Gillan has published plans for the sixth year of secondary school and coll... -
CONTRACTORS CRITICISE DATA SHARING ACTIVITY
Private contractors have criticised local government organisations for passing confidential information between cou... -
COSLA CALLS FOR DELAY TO HIGHER STILL
Scottish education leaders have called for a year's delay in implementing the higher stills programme. ... -
COSLA SEEKS MEETING WITH SCOTTISH SECRETARY
COSLA is to seek a meeting with Scottish secretary Michael Forsyth before next month's budget setting day on March ... -
COSLA TO REVIEW ARTS GRANTS RECOMMENDATIONS
COSLA's guidance to councils on grants to the national performing arts companies will in future recommend a two lev... -
COST OF PUBLISHING SCHOOL PERFORMANCE INFO (HANSARD)
Plaid Cymru MP Ieuan Wyn Jones asked Welsh minister Jonathan Evans what was the cost of publishing and distributing... -
COST OF SEWERAGE TO SCOTTISH HOUSEHOLDERS CUT
Continued transitional relief to help Scottish householders with domestic sewerage charges has been announced. ... -
COUNCIL RECYCLING REPORT: FRAMEWORK FOR MEETING TARGETS
Proposals for local authorities to co-operate more with each other in developing and implementing integrated waste ... -
COUNCILLORS FACE LEGAL RISKS SAYS AUDITOR
Councillors could be held financially responsible if companies set up by their local authorities fail, a district a... -
COUNCILS OFFER SPECIALISED SERVICES FOR AUTISM INCREASE
Scotland on Sunday (p10) ran a feature on Falkirk Council's response to the sudden increase of children with autism... -
COURT BACKS HOUNSLOW'S REFUSAL TO RE-HOUSE SEX OFFENDER
Hounslow LBC today won the legal right to refuse to re-house a convicted paedophile with a long history of assaults... -
COVENTRY'S CITY CENTRE MANAGEMENT GOES PRIVATE
Coventry City Council is handing over the management of its city centre to a private company from April, reports Th... -
CRIME FIGHTING THE FOCUS OF£1.9M CCTV FUNDING
Thirty schemes, serving 32 towns throughout Scotland, will receive almost£1.9m from The Scottish Office to install... -
CURRENT EXPENDITURE COMPARATIVE STUDY (FULL TEXT)
The key findings from the Scottish Office's research into Scottish local government finances have been published. ... -
CUTS TRANSLATE INTO JOB LOSSES
Further job losses have been announced as budget cuts bite at local authorities. ... -
DECISION RESERVED IN NORTH EAST CHIEF'S EXPENSES CASE
Judgement has been reserved in the industrial tribunal case in which ex Teesdale DC chief executive Bryan Atherton ... -
DEFERRAL ON TEACHERS' RETIREMENT
Changes to the rules about who pays teachers' pensions are likely to be delayed, reports BBC Radio Four's Today pro... -
DEPUTY LEADER QUITS OVER PROBE
Newcastle City Council deputy leader John O'Shea has quit his post following serious allegations about expenses cla... -
DERBYSHIRE COUNCIL TAX PAYERS PAY 13.6% EXTRA FOR POLICE
Derbyshire CC tax payers will pay an extra 13.6% to finance Derbyshire Police Authority's budget. ... -
DESELECTION WEAPON COULD BE USED AGAINST GLASGOW MEMBERS
The Labour party is about to start an investigation into the actions of Glasgow City Council's faction-ridden rulin... -
DOBSON SLAMS WESTMINSTER COUNCIL TAX 'FIDDLE'
Shadow environment secretary Frank Dobson has slammed the funding system for laying an unfair council tax burden on... -
DONCASTER CLAMPS DOWN ON MEMBERS' PERKS
Doncaster MBC has suspended all foreign trips and conferences for members following the district auditor's damning ... -
DONCASTER CONTROVERSY REMAINS IN PUBLIC DOMAIN
The Independent's letters page (p15) carries four items of correspondence commenting on the paper's interpretation ... -
DONCASTER 'PERKS' ROW LEADS TO PARLIAMENTARY BLOCK
The 'perks scandal' at Doncaster MBC is said to have led to four councillors being excluded from Labour's shortlist... -
DORRELL SEEKS REASON FOR 73 PER CENT SPEND HIKE
Health secretary Stephen Dorrell this week asked local authorities to justify a 73% real-terms increase in social s... -
DUEL CARRIAGEWAY MEASURED IN FLINTSHIRE (HANSARD)
Barry Jones, Labour MP for Alyn & Deeside, asked Welsh minister Gwilym Jones what was the mileage of duel carriagew... -
DUNDEE LOSES 99 JOBS IN BUDGET CUTBACK
Budget cutbacks at Dundee City Council will see 99 jobs cut, the Glasgow Herald reports (p8) ... -
DURHAM COUNTY PUTS COUNCIL TAX UP BY 13%
Durham CC is to increase council tax bills by an average of 13%, reported the Journal (Feb 18, p11). ... -
DURHAM MAYOR FIGHTS FUR WITH FAKES
The Guardian (p3) reports on the decision of Neil Griffin, due to become mayor of Durham in May, to replace the pel... -
EDUCATION AUTHORITIES WIN REVISION OF PENSION SCHEME
The government has revised proposals to make local education authorities pay the extra costs of letting teachers re... -
EDUCATION CHANGES UNDER REORGANISATION EXAMINED
A Times Educational Supplement feature looks at local government reorganisation and its impact on education, (p8).... -
EMPLOYERS CONDEMN TORY CURBS ON STRIKES
Local government employers have rejected Tory proposals to curb industrial action in the public sector, saying they... -
ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN HOUSING - GUIDE FOR COUNCILS
New guidance to assist local authorities in developing and managing their housing energy efficiency strategies has ... -
ENGLISH NATURE IS WORKING WELL SAYS A GOVERNMENT REVIEW
Environment minister Earl Ferrers has announced that the first financial management and policy review of English Na... -
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY SIGNS WORKING AGREEMENT WITH COUNCILS
At a ceremony at a Working Together for a Better Environment conference representatives of the Environment Agency a... -
ESTATE RENEWAL GRANTS ARE A 'FIG LEAF' SAYS LABOUR
The Labour party has described as a 'fig leaf' yesterday's government announcement that 14 local authorities will r... -
EUROPEAN YEAR AGAINST RACISM
UK events to mark the European Year Against Racism have been outlined by home office minister Timothy Kirkhope. ... -
EXPENDITURE COMPARATIVE STUDY (FULL TEXT) PART 2
Environmental Services ... -
EXTRA FUNDS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY SCHEME ANNOUNCED
The government is to give an extra£600,000 to its Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES). ... -
FIRE STRIKERS WIN BUDGET REPRIEVE
Derbyshire's fire and rescue service, on strike against cuts for four months last summer, is to get an exceptional ... -
FIREFIGHTERS TO STRIKE IN ESSEX
The Essex Fire Brigades Union is set to call for limited strike action in response to proposed cuts in the county's... -
FIXED ASSETS NET OF DEBT
These figures help to illustrate 'Armstrong Attacks Tory Council Debt Lies' ... -
FORSYTH DOUBLES CHALLENGE FUNDING FOR UPGRADING OF A92
Angus Council will receive a further£1m from the Scottish Office to upgrade the A92 between Dundee and Arbroath, S... -
FORSYTH EASES CAP ON LOW SPENDING SCOTS
Scottish secretary Michael Forsyth this week changed the capping system in Scotland to allow 15 'low spending' coun... -
FORSYTH SETS UP£1.2M CHALLENGE FUND FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Public library services in Scotland will be boosted by establishing a£1.2m Challenge Fund Scottish secretary Micha... -
FTSE INDEX 4332.8 DOWN 4 POINTS ON START OF DAY
STOCK EXCHANGE: FTSE INDEX 4332.8 DOWN 4 POINTS ON START OF DAY.... -
FTSE INDEX 4339.6 DOWN 16.5 POINTS ON START OF DAY
STOCK EXCHANGE: FTSE INDEX 4339.6 DOWN 16.5 POINTS ON START OF DAY.... -
FTSE INDEX 4341.8 UP 9.5 POINTS ON START OF DAY
STOCK EXCHANGE: FTSE INDEX 4341.8 UP 9.5 POINTS ON START OF DAY.... -
FTSE INDEX 4347.6 DOWN 9.8 POINTS ON START OF DAY
STOCK EXCHANGE: FTSE INDEX 4347.6 DOWN 9.8 POINTS ON START OF DAY.... -
FTSE INDEX 4355.0 UP 23.9 POINTS ON START OF DAY
STOCK EXCHANGE: FTSE INDEX 4355.0 UP 23.9 POINTS ON START OF DAY.... -
FURNITURE ROW COSTS THOUSANDS
A squabble over desks, chairs and computers has left Southampton City Council with a bill for hundreds of thousands... -
GILLAN SAYS MAKE SCHOOL DINNERS THE WINNERS
Education and employment minister Cheryl Gillan today echoed a key message contained in new voluntary dietary guida... -
'GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE'
Virginia Bottomley launches youth volunteering action plan. New youth achievement award proposed. ... -
GLOUCESTERSHIRE TO SELL ITS WASTE DISPOSAL FIRM
Gloucestershire CC-owned waste disposal firm Waste Company is to be sold to Cory Environmental, which is part of th... -
GOVERNMENT BLAMED AS PLASTICS RECYCLING FOLDS
The government is being blamed for the closure of one of Britain's biggest plastics recycling schemes, reports the ... -
GOVERNMENT GRANTS HELP LOCAL BODIES ENCOURAGE VOLUNTEERING
Two major groups of grants - totalling over£4.6m and awarded to 92 organisations - to help encourage volunteering ... -
GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASES ISSUED FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY
Contact the news desk on 0171 833 7324 if you require releases not found in LGCNet's 'In Whitehall' category. ... -
GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASES ISSUED MONDAY 24 FEBRUARY
DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT/LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED FIND PROJECT WORKS ... -
GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASES ISSUED THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY
Contact the news desk on 0171 833 7324 if you require releases not found in LGCNet's 'In Whitehall' category. ... -
GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASES ISSUED TUESDAY 18 FEBRUARY
Contact the news desk on 0171 833 7324 if you require releases not found in LGCNet's 'In Whitehall' category. ... -
GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASES ISSUED WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY
Contact the news desk on 0171 833 7324 if you require releases not found in LGCNet's 'In Whitehall' category. ... -
GOVERNMENT SENDS ITS NURSERY VOUCHERS TO PARENTS
More than half a million parents in England and Wales will be receiving nursery vouchers this week, reports BBC Ess... -
GOVERNMENT TO MEET ASYLUM BILL
The government has agreed to meet the cost of providing food and shelter for asylum seekers. ... -
GOVERNMENT WELCOMES WELSH AIR QUALITY REPORT
A report has been published which will help local authorities to maintain high standards of air quality in Wales. ... -
GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS TO 'KEEP SCOTLAND MOVING'
Transport proposals which are realistic, sustainable and accepted by as wide a section of the community as possible... -
GOVT LISTS ITS POLICY ON OUT-OF-TOWN STORES (HANSARD)
Liberal Democrat MP for Devon North, Nick Harvey, asked Environment minister Sir Paul Beresford what steps have bee... -
GOVT PUBLISHES SCOTS' HOUSING CAPITAL PROVISION (HANSARD)
Malcolm Chisholm, Labour MP for Edinburgh, Leith, asked Scottish minister Raymond Robertson to list, for each Scott... -
GOVT URGED TO CONSIDER BY-PASS ALTERNATIVES FOR SALISBURY
Salisbury, the landscape made famous in paintings by Constable, would be so devastated if a proposed city by-pass g... -
GUMMER REFORMS PLANNING POLICY
Environment secretary John Gummer has announced the completion of a long process of planning policy reform aimed at... -
GUMMER SETS OUT UK SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
The Government's sustainable development agenda for 1997 is set out in its annual report just published. ... -
GWYNEDD'S EU FUNDED RURAL ECONOMY PROJECT SAFE
European funding for a programme to promote Gwynedd's rural economy is safe, reports the Daily Post (p7). ... -
HACKNEY LBC PLANS TO AXE DIRECTORS' JOBS
Departmental director posts at Hackney LBC may be deleted as a result of a proposed shake-up instigated by chief ex... -
HALF WELSH PARENTS OF OPT-OUT PUPILS PAY NOTHING(HANSARD)
Sir Wyn Roberts, Conservative MP for Conwy, asked Welsh minister Jonathan Evans what was the average parental incom... -
HEART OF WALES TOURISM DEVELOPMENT UNDER THREAT
One of the Welsh local authorities involved in a£14m tourism proposal is unlikely to back it, plunging the project... -
HENLEY WELCOMES CONFERENCE ON£1.3BN HELP FOR JOBLESS
A new regional administration to oversee expenditure of£1.3bn from the European Social Fund on helping the long-te... -
HIGH NURSERY VOUCHER TAKE UP IN WALES
Over 30,000 Welsh preschoolers have been registered on the nursery voucher scheme, according to figures released ye... -
HOUNSLOW CAN BAN PAEDOPHILE
Hounslow LBC has won a significant victory after the High Court ruled it was within its rights to refuse to rehouse... -
HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATES - CROFTING TRUSTS BILL
Scottish office minister Raymond Robertson has stressed the importance of the Transfer of Crofting Estates (Scotlan... -
HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS TURN TO THE PREFAB
Housing associations are increasingly turning to the prefab as an affordable and quick source of housing, the Indep... -
HOUSING AUTHORITY DECISIONS ASSESSED IN HOUNSLOW CASE
The Times law report (p21) reports on a Hounslow case involving housing tenant rights. ... -
HOUSING MINISTER ATTACKS 'SMELLY' COUNCIL ESTATES
The Birmingham Post (Feb 22, p5) reported local government minister David Curry's attacks on what he described as p... -
HOUSING PROFESSIONALS PUT PRESSURE ON PARTIES
Housing professionals are being urged to help lobby the government to improve prospects for people in poor housing,... -
INADEQUATE VETTING OF SCHOOL DRIVERS IN WALES
Local authorities in Wales are not carrying out stringent enough checks of vehicles contracted to carry school chil... -
INCREASED PAYMENT RATES FOR COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP SCHEME
Increased payments will be available from 1 October under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, rural affairs ministe... -
'INVOLVE YOUNG PEOPLE IN DEMOCRACY IF YOU WANT THEM TO VOTE'
VOTE' ... -
ISLINGTON LBC GIVES HOME TO ARMED ROBBER
The Times (February 22, p13) reported that an armed robber, who was paralysed from the neck down after a shoot out ... -
JOB CUT PREDICTION PROMPTS STRIKE BALLOTS
Unison is stepping up its campaign against 5,000 predicted job cuts in Scottish councils. ... -
JUDGE BACKS NEWCASTLE'S UNLIMITED NUMBER OF CABS POLICY
court ref no: CO/470/97 ... -
KIRKLEES COUNTS CARE COSTS OF MURDER CASE
Kirklees MBC is counting the cost of keeping two brothers convicted of murdering their mother in care for six month... -
LABOUR HAPPY WITH COMMUTING PUPILS
Labour would not overturn the 1989 judgement that LEAs could not give priority to children within their area, early... -
LABOUR PLANS RADICAL CHANGE FOR SCOTTISH OFFICE BUDGET
The Scotsman (p1) reports that the Labour party has drawn up plans to radically change the Scottish Office's£14bn ... -
LABOUR PREPARES TO HALT SALISBURY BYPASS
Labour is likely to halt the building of the Salisbury bypass on environmental grounds, according to the Independen... -
LABOUR WELCOMES A STRONGER LOCAL VOICE FOR COUNCILLORS
The Audit Commission's report on the role of councillors has been welcomed by shadow local government minister Hila... -
LABOUR WOULD CREATE LORDS MAJORITY
A Commons debate last night saw Labour and the Conservatives trading blows on constitutional reform, reports the Da... -
LAMENTATIONS FOR OLD ASSOCIATIONS
Farewell tributes to the Association of County Councils and Association of Metropolitan Authorities preface the fin... -
LANARKSHIRE PROJECT FOR LONG TERM UNEMPLOYED
Up to 3,600 long term unemployed people in Lanarkshire are to receive a major boost in finding a job via 'Project W... -
LEDBURY SAYS THERE'S NO RHYME OR REASON TO FARJEON
The Guardian (Feb 22, p11) reported that Ledbury town council in Herefordshire has decided against naming a road af... -
LEICESTER CITY COUNCIL TREATED FAIRLY, CLAIM MINISTERS
Government ministers insist Leicester City Council is being treated fairly in its funding, reports BBC Leicester. ... -
LEICESTERSHIRE FAILS TO AGREE BUDGET
Leicestershire county councillors have failed to agree the authority's budget for the coming financial year, report... -
LESS COUNTRYSIDE DEVELOPMENT IN PLANNING PROPOSALS
Environment secretary John Gummer's proposed planning changes will encourage development on brownfield sites, repor... -
LGA NAMES FIRE COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP POSTS
Tony Ritchie, a Southwark LBC Labour member, is the first fire committee chair of the new Local Government Associat... -
LIB DEMS TAX RISE FOR EDUCATION
The Liberal Democrats would raise income tax by 1p to put an extra£2bn into education, reports The Guardian (p8).... -
LIB DEMS UNVEIL GENERAL ELECTION TAX PLAN
Malcolm Bruce, Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman, in his final major speech on tax and economic plans before the ... -
LIBRARY ASSOCIATION WELCOMES GOVERNMENT REVIEW
Commenting on the department of national heritage's Public Library Policy Review, just published, the Library Assoc... -
LOCAL AUTHORITIES BOUNDARY CHANGE RIGHTS UPHELD
The Times law report (p21) profiles a local authority case involving planning boundary changes. ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY BORROWING REQUIREMENT -£0.3 BILLION
The local authorities borrowing requirement (LABR) is provisionally estimated to have been minus£0.3bn in January ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 19 FEBRUARY 2PM
[.] Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 19 FEBRUARY 9AM
[.] Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 20 FEBRUARY 2PM
[.] Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 20 FEBRUARY 9AM
[.] Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 21 FEBRUARY 9AM
[.] Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 24 FEBRUARY 2.30PM
[.] Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 24 FEBRUARY 9AM
[.] Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 25 FEBRUARY 3PM
[.] Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY MONEY MARKET RATES, 25 FEBRUARY 9AM
[.] Local authority money market rates supplied by City Deposit Brokers ... -
LOCAL AUTHORITY NURSING CARE SPOTLIGHTED
A two page investigation into nursing and care homes in the Daily Telegraph (pgs 28 & 29) reports that the upcoming... -
LOCAL BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS TOP 126 MARK
Deregulation minister Michael Bates has announced that 126 local authorities across the UK have now set up or are i... -
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (CONDUCT OF OFFICERS) BILL
Chris Davies, Liberal Democrat MP for Littleborough and Saddleworth, will today introduce a Ten Minute Rule Bill ca... -
LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED FIND PROJECT WORKS
Fifteen new Project Work pilots start today, giving a new opportunity for all those in the pilot areas who have bee... -
LORDS APPROVE NEW PLANNING LAWS FOR SCOTLAND (HANSARD)
The House of Lords gave third readings to four planning guidance bills on 28 January (Hansard, column 1082). ... -
MAJOR GALLERIES WIN IN LOTTERY GRANT
Art galleries will be big winners in the£137m National LOttery handout, reports the Times (p9). ... -
MIDDLESBROUGH BC REFUSES HOME TO SEX ATTACKER
Middlesbrough BC has refused to provide a house for a man with a sexual assault conviction, reported the Northern E... -
MIDLOTHIAN WITHDRAWS LEGAL APPEAL OVER GAE
Midlothian Council has withdrawn its request for a judicial review into the GAE awarded to it by the government. ... -
MILLENNIUM COMMISSION APPOINTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE
London Docklands Development Corporation chief executive Eric Sorensen has been appointed chief executive for the M... -
MILTON KEYNES EDUCATION RESPONSE PROFILED
A case study of local education authority development in Milton Keynes appears in the Times Educational Supplement ... -
MINISTER WARNS COUNCILS OVER TACKLING BENEFIT FRAUD
If a local authority does not perform up to scratch on combating benefit fraud, the government could order it to pu... -
MORE BIDS MEANS LOWER CCT COSTS
A high number of outside bids for council contracts leads to greater cost savings, according to a new study. ... -
MORE LOTTERY CASH FOR COMMUNITY SAYS SURVEY
Many local communities feel excluded from lottery funding, reports the Independent (p. 2) ... -
MORE WATER SHORTAGE WARNINGS
More warnings of water shortages have come from Britain's water companies, reports BBC Ceefax. ... -
MOST KENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS GRANT MAINTAINED (HANSARD)
John Stanley, Conservative MP for Tonbridge & Malling, asked education and employment minister Robin Squire what pr... -
MP ASKS MUSEUMS TO RETURN ARTEFACTS TO AFRICA
Bernie Grant, Labour MP for Tottenham, has written to museums throughout the UK, asking if they have any artefacts ... -
MP SEEKS NEW LAW OF CRIMINAL TRESPASS IN SCHOOLS
Milton Keynes North East Conservative MP Peter Butler will unveil proposals to clamp down of school intruders today... -
NEW PLANNING GUIDE FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE
Environment secretary John Gummer has published new Planning Policy Guidance 7 (PPG7), setting out the government's... -
NEW RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT PASSPORT TO SUCCESS: PAICE
A new approach to recording achievement and individual development will be available from September 1997, education... -
NEW REGIONAL APPROACH TO TRUNK ROAD PLANNING
Measures to bring a more efficient, consensus-based approach to the planning of the trunk road network have been an... -
NEW ROLLING STOCK AND SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS FOR SCOTRAIL FRANCHISE
The ScotRail passenger rail franchise which provides the majority of passenger rail services in Scotland, together ... -
NEW RURAL PLANNING GUIDANCE WILL TEST GOVERNMENT PROMISES
One of the most significant statements on government planning policy for the countryside is expected to be publishe... -
NEWBURY DC TO UNVEIL RADIATION STUDY RESULTS
Newbury DC will announce today the results of a comprehensive study into radiation levels in west Berkshire, BBC Ra... -
NEXT STAGE OF ROAD TRAFFIC REDUCTION BILL SUCCESSFUL
Don Foster, MP for Bath, succeeded yesterday in piloting the Road traffic Reduction Bill through its committee stag... -
NINE SCOTS PROJECTS SHARE£30M TRANSPORT CHALLENGE FUND
Nine imaginative, soundly based transport projects will share almost£30m in the second tranche of the Scottish Off... -
NO EXTRA FUNDING FOR DERWENT BUILDINGS (HANSARD)
Labour MP for Heeley Bill Michie asked what plans there were to provide extra funding to LEAs with Derwent building... -
NORTHUMBERLAND CC CUTS£10M FROM BUDGET
All-party agreement has seen Northumberland CC cut it 19977/98 budget by£10m. ... -
NURSERY VOUCHERS CHEAP CHILD MINDING SAYS HODGE
Labour has denounced the nursery voucher scheme as a means for local authorities to get funding for cheap child min... -
OFSTED INVESTIGATES HEADTEACHER TURNOVER AT A CALDERDALE
A school run by Calderdale LEA has just hired its 14th headteacher in six years, the Sunday Express reported (23 Fe... -
OFWAT REPLIES TO MPS' INQUIRY INTO WATER SUPPLY
Ofwat has published its response to the environment committee's report on water conservation and supply. The regula... -
ONE IN 25 HOMES REMAINS VACANT
One home in 25 remains vacant, according to latest figures revealed in National Week of Action on Empty Homes. ... -
ORKNEY SOCIAL SERVICES PROBE
Orkney Islands Council assistant social work director Heather Pritchard has been suspended while an investigation i... -
PARENT PLUS LAUNCH BOOST-PARENTS BETTER OFF IN WORK
Ministers involved in Parent Plus, a key government initiative to help lone parents into work, have addressed publi... -
PARTNERSHIP PLAN MOVES AHEAD
Work to develop and promote the concept of 'Public Sector plc', launched in an LGC discussion paper last month, has... -
PART-TIMERS TEST CASE REJECTED
The Court of Appeal has saved employers£95 million by rejecting a test case for backdated pensions brought by part... -
PAYING THE PIPER COMES OUT TOP
The Audit Commission's Paying the piper: people, pay and performance report was the most useful piece of research s... -
PENNINE BRIDLEWAY EXTENSION PLAN APPROVED
A 122-mile extension to England's latest national trail has been given the nod of approval by the Countryside Commi... -
PETERBOROUGH COUNCIL TAX UP BY 8%
Some people may find it difficult to pay the increased level of council tax in Peterborough even though it represen... -
PLANNING GUIDANCE CONFIRMS THE IMPORTANCE OF A HEALTHY RURAL ECONOMY
The Rural Development Commission has welcomed that planning policy guidance for the countryside, published today, r... -
PLANNING PROJECTS ENHANCE SCOTTISH ENVIRONMENT
Speaking at the Historic Burghs Association of Scotland's annual conference in Kilmarnock on February 21, Scottish ... -
POLICE FUNDING PLEA BY PLAID CYMRU
The government must step in to assist the North Wales police force to pay the heavy cost of the current sex abuse c... -
PRESSURE FOR COUNCILS TO CUT MEETINGS
Paul Vevers, writing in the Financial Times (p11) summarises the Audit Commission's report Representing the People:... -
PUBLIC AUDIT FORUM: AN OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE WASTED SAYS NOLAN
Lord Nolan's speech to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy: ... -
PUBLIC LIBRARIES WILL PLAY KEY ROLE IN 'IT' REVOLUTION
Public libraries will play a key role in bringing the information technology revolution to the public, national her... -
PUBLIC WORKS LOAN BOARD RATE OF INTEREST TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Lending rates on and after 18 February for quota loans. ... -
PUBLIC WORKS LOAN BOARD RATE OF INTEREST TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Lending rates on and after February 25 for quota loans. ... -
RABBATTS BACKS DOWN FROM GAS COMPANY JOB
Heather Rabbatts, chief executive of Lambeth LBC has bowed to pressure from Liberal Democrat and Tory councillors a... -
RABBATTS TELLS NOLAN OF WHISTLEBLOWER PLAN
Lambeth LBC is to set up an external whistleblowing procedure whereby council staff will be able to report concerns... -
RAISING ACHIEVEMENT OF ETHNIC MINORITY PUPILS
Building on the experience of good practice in schools is the key to raising achievement of all pupils including th... -
REAL NURSING HOME COSTS QUESTIONED
St George's Hospital specialists argue against a report commissioned by heath secretary Stephen Dorrell that says p... -
REFORMS TO TEACHERS' SUPERANNUATION SCHEME ANNOUNCED
Education and employment secretary Gillan Shephard today announced the outcome of consultation on reforms to the Te... -
REGENERATION SCHEMES FOR DEPRIVED AREAS BOOSTED
Incentives to help local authorities to become more actively engaged in the regeneration of deprived areas are intr... -
REPORT SHOWS RISING HOUSING COSTS AROUND THE WORLD
Research published this week provides an account of how the British housing benefit system compares with schemes in... -
RESERVES DIVERTED TO KEEP DOWN TAX BILLS
Two Labour boroughs have agreed to plunder reserves to keep band D council tax increases under 2%. ... -
RHUDDLAN REPORT SHOWS FLAWS IN COUNCIL TENDERS
A district auditor's report of subcontracting practices by staff at the former Rhuddlan BC shows only one tender wa... -
ROUND TABLE REPORT ON 'HOUSING AND URBAN CAPACITY'
The UK Round Table on Sustainable Development today published its report on 'Housing and Urban Capacity'. ... -
RTPI ASKS WHO WILL PAY FOR NEW TRUNK ROAD PLANNING?
The Royal Town Planning Institute has welcomed the new regional approach to trunk road planning announced by the tr... -
SALFORD CITY DEFENDS ESTATE REGENERATION OPT OUT
Salford City Council has defended its decision not to bid for grants under the DoE's Estates Renewal Challenge Fund... -
SCOTS VOUCHER INITIATIVE 'RESOUNDING SUCCESS'
Scottish education minister Raymond Robertson has expressed his delight at the overwhelming response to the governm... -
SCOTTISH OFFICE REPORTER PLANNING ROLE IN QUESTION
Conservatives and Nationalists on Perth and Kinross Council are demanding changes to the system for dealing with pl... -
SECRET OFSTED REPORT ON FAILING SCHOOLS POLICY
An unpublished official report has raised serious doubts about the government's handling of failing schools, report... -
SHEFFIELD COUNCIL TEAM DAMNED IN INQUIRY REPORT
Sheffield City Council has come under fire for incompetence in a draft independent inquiry report, according to the... -
SHEFFIELD PAYS TO GET NEW CHIEF
Sheffield City Council increased the salary of its chief executive to£90,000 to attract top candidates for the pos... -
SHEPHARD BLITZ ON BASICS
Education and employment secretary Gillian Shephard today set out comprehensive new measures to drive up standards ... -
SHEPHARD GIVES 'THUMBS UP' TO FIRST NURSERY INSPECTIONS
Education secretary Gillian Shephard has welcomed the first ever report from Her Majesty's chief inspector of priva... -
SICK CHILDREN SUE OVER CONTAMINATED LAND
Fourteen children living in South Wales are suing the Welsh Development Agency, claiming that exposure to contamina... -
SOLACE BOOSTS MAYORAL DEBATE
If elected mayors are to be introduced they must be given real powers, according to the Society of Local Authority ... -
SPECIAL NEEDS TRIBUNAL DEFENDED
An opinion piece in the Times Educational Supplement features a parent defending the special needs tribunal against... -
SQUIRE: NURSERY VOUCHERS ISSUED NATIONWIDE
This week hundreds of thousands of parents will receive nursery vouchers worth£1,100 each which give them the powe... -
STAFF CUTS, PRIVATISATION LOOKED AT BY SCOTTISH COUNCILS
One Scottish council is considering privatising old people's homes while another may lay off staff to preserve fron... -
STRATHCLYDE CONCERT MAY MOVE EAST
Scotland on Sunday (p7) reported that a summer music extravaganza may move to a site near Kinross after three years... -
STREET PLANNING AND CRIME LOOKED AT
A feature in the Independent today investigates town planning and street design to combat crime (Tabloid, p. 6). ... -
STRIKES PLANNED IN WESTERN ISLES OVER JOB LOSSES
UNISON's Western Isles branch is planning a series of one day strikes to protest Western Isles Council's decision t... -
SUPER SCHOOL PLANNED TO RETAIN ISLINGTON PUPILS
Islington LBC local education authority is poised to build an innovative 'super school' to raise education standard... -
TEACHER AGENCY CONSULTS ON NEW TRAINING CURRICULUM
The Teacher Training Agency began consulting today on far-reaching proposals for the improvement of initial teacher... -
TEACHER PENSIONS CLIMBDOWN FAILS TO ADDRESS REAL PROBLEMS
'This government climbdown is welcome, but whether it goes far enough is questionable,' said Don Foster, Liberal De... -
TEACHER SHORTAGE WARNINGS
A drop-off in teacher trainees has prompted warnings of an impending crisis in teacher numbers, reports The Guardia... -
TEENAGER SUES HAMPSHIRE CC IN NEGLIGENCE CLAIM
The Daily Mail (p15) reports that a teenager who has not been to school for four years has won legal aid to sue his... -
THATCHER OPPOSITION TO CARDIFF BARRAGE BEATEN BY THREAT TO QUIT
A BBC Wales investigation has revealed the Cardiff Bay Barrage project was almost killed off by opposition from Mar... -
TODAY IN PARLIAMENT, FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY
Neither the house of commons nor house of lords is sitting today. ... -
TODAY IN PARLIAMENT, MONDAY 24 FEBRUARY
The National Health Service is the subject of an opposition debate. ... -
TODAY IN PARLIAMENT, THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY
Local government services provision in Leicester is the subject of the adjournment debate. ... -
TODAY IN PARLIAMENT, TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY
The Local Government (Conduct of Officers) Bill will be introduced. ... -
TODAY IN PARLIAMENT, WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY
Backbench debates covering the subjects of: Suffolk CC's RSG settlement; funding for social services in East Sussex... -
TOP TORIES TO ATTACK LABOUR'S WEST MIDLANDS COUNCILS
Senior Tories will launch an attack on Labour-run West Midlands councils at the Conservative's local government con... -
TORIES & LABOUR SET CAP-BUSTING OXFORDSHIRE BUDGET
The Tory and Labour groups on Oxfordshire CC have joined forces to set a budget which is£6m above the government's... -
TORIES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT BACK WITH A VENGEANCE
The Conservative local government conference started in Birmingham today, launched with a statement from party vice... -
TOUGH TO JUSTIFY EXPENSIVE PLANS
The reliability of key factors used to justify higher local government spending in Scotland was this week thrown in... -
TRAFFORD'S IN-HOUSE TEAM KEEPS HOUSING CONTRACT
Trafford MBC's housing department has beat off private competition to continue to manage the service, reports The M... -
TRAINEE TEACHERS TO KNOW THREE Rs AND HOW TO TEACH THEM
Trainee teachers will learn the three Rs and how to teach them, in a major shake-up of teacher training announced b... -
TRAM LINES SKID PROMPTS WARNING
Sheffield's Supertram lines have come under fire after a motorist's car overturned on the lines yesterday, reports ... -
UK PENSION FUNDS REACH£650BN
The value of UK pension funds have reached a record breaking£650bn according to new estimates. ... -
UNION REGIONAL SECRETARY BRIAN DIDSBURY DIES
Brian Didsbury, who was the Transport and General Workers' Union civil air transport regional trade secretary has d... -
UNISON CALLS FOR STATUTORY GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL MEALS
UNISON has welcomed the launch of the government's 'Guidelines for School Meal Providers', but warned that they do ... -
UNISON LAUNCHES GENERAL ELECTION ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN
Unison is to spend almost£750,000 on political advertising between now and the general election, reports BBC Essex... -
UNISON LAUNCHES 'WHISTLE BLOWER' HELPLINE AGAINST ABUSERS
Unison is to set up a national helpline for its social care members to report instances of suspected and actual chi... -
UNISON SETS UP HOTLINE TO IDENTIFY SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSERS
Unison is setting up a helpline for members to inform on suspected child abusers, reports BBC Radio Four's Today pr... -
UNISON URGES ACTION ON EQUAL PAY CODE
Unison says councils should review their pay structures using the Equal Opportunities Commission's code of practice... -
UNPAID COUNCIL TAX IN SCOTLAND ON THE INCREASE (HANSARD)
The amount of uncollected community charge cash in Scotland has risen for two years in succession, according to the... -
WALSALL'S WASTE DUMP JUDICIAL REVIEW CHALLENGE DISMISSED
Walsall MBC has suffered a costly defeat in its high court bid to stop hundreds of thousands of tons of solid chemi... -
WARWICKSHIRE COUNCILS CO-OPERATE ON TRANSPORT ISSUES
TravelWise is a long-term campaign which aims to: ... -
WATTS ANNOUNCES POWERS FOR MANCHESTER AIRPORT TRAMS
Local transport minister John Watts has announced approval for powers to build an extension to the existing Manches... -
WEEKLY ECONOMIC REVIEW
The key market event this week is likely to be Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's semi-annual Humphrey Hawki... -
WELL-MANAGED SCHOOLS HAVE WELL-MANAGED BUDGETS SAYS HMI
Although there is no blueprint for the effective management of school finances, those schools which do make sound f... -
WELSH ELECTORAL CHIEF STEPS DOWN
Keith Bryan is standing down as chairman of the Wales branch of the Association of Electoral Administrators, report... -
WELWYN MP CALLS FOR HOUSE STOCK SELL-OFF
MP David Evans has demanded that Welwyn Hatfield DC sell off its entire housing stock to pay back money it owes to ... -
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE UK
The Week Ahead ... -
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE US
The Week Ahead ... -
WHAT'S YOUR HOME REALLY WORTH?
If you visit the Land Registry's stand (Number 4) at the Evening Standard Homebuyer Show at London/s Olympia, March... -
WORKING CLASS PUPILS LOSE OUT UNDER ASSISTED PLACES
Middle class pupils dominate the assisted-places programme in schools, according to a report commissioned by govern...
