Hot Topics
The topics currently affecting local government
Education
Whitehall school funding formula sparks concern for council role
Councils say Education Department proposals could be step towards ending school funding role
Academies should match schools' data, MPs say
Public Accounts Committee says school performance figures should be consistent
Elections
Support changes are ‘seismic’
Large scale swings in party allegiances made a mockery of the term ‘safe Lib Dem seat’
Growth
Regional growth team boosted to tackle delays
Ministers increase the number of civil servants tasked with helping to ‘rebalance the economy’
Health
Commissioners plump for in-house support over outsourcing
‘Unproven’ commissioning support services not trusted
Lansley against 'slamming together' health and social care
Health secretary calls for alignment between activity and outcomes
Mayors
Welfare changes could leave councils footing redundancy bill
DWP tells councils housing benefit staff will not be covered by Tupe regulations
Sharers fall out as chief goes
Idea of shared workforce with separate managements ‘unworkable’, leader says
Social Care
Lansley against 'slamming together' health and social care
Health secretary calls for alignment between activity and outcomes
Independent arbiters can help councils negotiate the 'fair' cost of care
Earlier this month insurance company LV= published research that estimated that the cost of providing long-term care for our ageing population will reach £38bn by 2025
