Local Government Chronicle
Kaye Wiggins
Senior Correspondent
Covers public service reform including health, social care, education and troubled families
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15-minute care visits still common, Unison claims
18-Jun-2013
Research by the union shows 69% of English councils still commission the controversial short appointments -
Call for social care work placements
17-Jun-2013
Authorities should be “held to account” if they fail to create new placements, says Policy Exchange report -
Ofsted unveils three tests for children's services
17-Jun-2013
Authorities will be found inadequate overall if they fail one of the new tests, under proposals from the watchdog -
Integrated care has cross-Whitehall backing
14-Jun-2013
Department of Health’s Jon Rouse says Treasury and DCLG are committed to joined-up services -
DWP suggests extra homelessness funding
13-Jun-2013
Department could fund homelessness support as “new burden” linked to welfare reforms -
Five authorities under the microscope
13 June 2013
While definitions of public health expand, traditional areas continue to consume the greatest share of councils’ budgets -
Localism rises to the health challenge
13 June 2013
A few months into councils’ formal responsibility for public health, Kaye Wiggins reviews progress and pitfalls -
Norfolk halts plan to recruit managing director
12-Jun-2013
Council is considering “a new governance model” -
First details of integration pilot bids revealed
6 June 2013
Community budget pioneers Manchester, West Cheshire and Chester, and Essex set out new plans -
Death rate league table to ‘challenge’ councils
5-Jun-2013
Rankings given for premature death and disease rates in public health data drive -
Doncaster children’s chief: I’m here to stay
31-May-2013
New appointee Eleanor Brazil expects a long stay – despite troubled council saying she could be replaced immediately -
UPDATED: Doncaster children's chief 'could be out on day one'
30-May-2013
New appointee Eleanor Brazil expects a long stay – despite troubled council saying she could be replaced immediately -
Norfolk picks Labour leader in rainbow coalition
24-May-2013
Former Tory stronghold will be run by coalition of Labour, Ukip and Liberal Democrats -
Lancashire elects Labour leader
24-May-2013
Party will form a minority administration with Liberal Democrat support -
No pay rise unless Wirral unions propose cuts
24-May-2013
Unions will have to find £500,000 savings from employee staff costs under new deal -
Doncaster appoints children's services chief
23-May-2013
Council chooses director who was brought into Haringey LBC after Baby P scandal -
Lambeth attracts DCLG fury for defying senior pay rules
23-May-2013
Borough will not ask full council to approve £100k salaries -
Anglesey intervention brought to an end
23-May-2013
Council deemed capable of managing own affairs following two-year loss of powers -
MPs invite suggestions for Nick Boles grilling
23-May-2013
Communities and local government committee calls for questions for planning minister -
Capita wins second Barnet deal
23-May-2013
Agreement means Capita will receive 15% of borough’s total expenditure -
A gloomy outlook
23 May 2013
A rise in optimism about the national economy among senior officers is offset by gloom over the impact of cuts and marginalisation by Whitehall -
Welfare reform will increase costs, say 95%
23 May 2013
Senior officers expect social care, housing, revenue and benefits and service centre costs to rise, LGC’s exclusive confidence survey reveals -
Confidence survey: Health
23 May 2013
Despite a ringfence on public health budgets, more than a fifth were not confident budgets were safe -
Confidence survey: "You said...
23 May 2013
A snap shot of what you told us during LGC’s confidence survey -
Health body could fund troubled families
23 May 2013
Public Health England becomes formal partner on the government initiative -
LGC View: Confidence survey
23 May 2013
It is just possible to find some crumbs of comfort in our latest survey, writes Kaye Wiggins. -
Poor prognosis for Dilnot reforms, thinktank warns
21-May-2013
King’s Fund pinpoints four key areas for further action -
Use health budget for troubled families, chief urges
20-May-2013
Public Health England chief executive Duncan Selbie says £2.6bn budget should be put towards DCLG programme -
Exclusive: Peer challenge receives DH seal of approval
16-May-2013
Model will also be extended to NHS, using extra Department of Health funding -
Third of councils miss troubled families target
16 May 2013
Funding withheld as councils attribute missed targets to “statistical aberrations” and long term approaches -
Mediawatch: Sexing up single person's discount
16 May 2013
Recent news reports will leave councils hoping for greater council tax freedom feeling deflated -
Ofsted outlines new inspection plans
15-May-2013
Watchdog plans to scrutinise councils’ school improvement role - but Solace says this ‘harks back to bygone era’ -
Lamb links integration to community budgets
15-May-2013
Councils to play key role in ambitious drive to join up health and care within five years -
Scrutiny committees identify £1.6m savings
15-May-2013
Reports on struggling families, traveller communities and sex workers pinpoint early intervention opportunities -
Alcohol and cigarette laws 'could still go ahead'
14-May-2013
Public health chief says minimum alcohol pricing and plain cigarette packs could go ahead despite being left out of Queen’s speech -
Barnet and Manchester in FOI probe
14-May-2013
Watchdog says both authorities are “generating a high number of complaints” about delayed FOI responses -
UPDATED: Care minister invites bids from 'integration pioneers'
14-May-2013
Plans to measure extent of integration in local areas also announced -
Lamb: No 'sleight of hand' on new care burdens
13-May-2013
Councils will be fully funded for new requirements in Care Bill, minister pledges -
Councils moot legal action on 'Pravda' ban
10-May-2013
Challenge would focus on lack of proper consultation, LGC understands -
Cumbria appoints acting chief
10-May-2013
Former resources director to take the role for six months -
Cable 'fighting like a tiger' against localised skills fund
10-May-2013
Lord Adonis describes ‘Whitehall bunfight’ over Heseltine devolution proposal -
Rouse warns against diversion of social care funds
9 May 2013
Health chief casts doubt on NHS funding transfer as councils divert funds to other services -
Hopes of early Dilnot funding dashed
9 May 2013
Rouse unveils ‘new deal’ for integration volunteers and points to ‘opportunities’ in sector-led improvement -
Third of NHS care cash used to "avoid cuts"
8-May-2013
Share of £859m transfer from health budget will be used to protect social care services, despite DH call for “additionality” -
Legal ban on council 'Pravdas' is flawed, LGA claims
8-May-2013
Councils challenge government’s decision to announce newspaper ban just two days after consultation closed -
Improvement board drops adoption focus
8-May-2013
Education secretary’s priorities abandoned as ‘liberated’ sector-led improvement board charts own course -
Queen's speech: Social care reform announced
8-May-2013
Monarch outlines measures on social care, pensions, immigration and high speed rail -
Call for independent review in 'Pravda' row
7-May-2013
Sir Merrick challenges Pickles over legal restrictions on council publications -
Health quango eyes troubled families role
1-May-2013
Public Health England pledges to partner with the government scheme -
Development levy 'must strike a balance'
1-May-2013
Councils should raise funds from infrastructure charge but should not deter developers, guidance says -
City deal demand for London's West End
30-Apr-2013
Report by West End Commission urges power and funding to be devolved to city centre -
Ofsted job ad sparks 'centralisation' fears
30-Apr-2013
Watchdog is hiring inspector to “drive improvement on the front line” -
Health data 'can identify troubled families'
29-Apr-2013
Former council chief Caroline Tapster says in some cases authorities can ask to see residents’ medical records -
Peer review 'soft but credible'
26-Apr-2013
Evaluation calls for more evidence of the impact of peer challenge in children’s services -
Norfolk to lose families funding
25-Apr-2013
Council failed to meet DCLG’s targets in the first year of the flagship programme -
Funding reforms trigger school budget cuts
25-Apr-2013
Lancashire issues shortfall warning as national reform programmes leave funding gaps -
Campaign tackles Pickles press law
24-Apr-2013
Lobbying groups will oppose plans to restrict council publicity -
Adoptions rise by almost half
24-Apr-2013
Figures from ADCS show 43% increase in placements in 12 months -
MPs warn of academy oversight problems
23-Apr-2013
Public accounts committee is “sceptical” about government’s ability to keep an eye on schools -
Labour's care review to 'start with open mind'
22-Apr-2013
Former Department of Health official outlines new commission’s plans -
Mutuals' pay disclosure 'an issue for councils'
19-Apr-2013
DCLG stops short of endorsing publication of senior pay by spin-outs -
Anti-smoking campaigns top marketing list
19-Apr-2013
A quarter of Public Health England’s marketing budget will be spent on stopping smoking -
Adult social services 'should prevent crime'
18-Apr-2013
Call for better understanding of the links between mental health and criminal offences -
Armoury of schemes considered to avoid benefit casualties
18 April 2013
Councils resort to job creation and housing reclassification in bid to protect residents -
'Alchemy' needed to transform social care
17-Apr-2013
New Adass president says social care directors will have to turn reduced budgets into a gold-standard service -
Home extensions vote 'disappointing'
17-Apr-2013
LGA will seek Lords’ support for local opt-outs -
Department of Health gives self-improvement drive £500k boost
16-Apr-2013
Department will fund a peer-challenge programme in public health -
Sandie Keene takes the helm at ADASS
16-Apr-2013
Director of social services at Leeds City Council replaces Sarah Pickup -
Council shelters residents from benefit cuts - by employing them
15-Apr-2013
Greenwich RBC to create 250 jobs as street cleaners, binmen, traffic wardens and town centre managers -
Labour identifies £3.6bn school repair backlog
15-Apr-2013
Party says government’s funding is insufficient -
Ofsted scraps inspection plans
12-Apr-2013
Watchdog will no longer bring in two new sets of inspections -
Call for urgency on care reform funding
12-Apr-2013
Senior figures at the councils most affected by reform say details must be provided soon -
Research finds gulf with Whitehall over cuts
11-Apr-2013
Far more local leaders are worried about budgets than leaders in central government, according to Ipsos Mori -
Boroughs seek agreement to avoid housing chaos
11 April 2013
‘Rehousing protocol’ promised but county leader calls for law to prevent movement of claimants -
Ofsted report prompts Sandwell resignations
10-Apr-2013
Two senior figures have left the council -
Worthing and Adur appoint shared chief
9-Apr-2013
Alex Bailey to lead two West Sussex authorities -
Sandwell child protection 'inadequate'
9-Apr-2013
Council with new private sector partnership must improve “straight away”, watchdog says -
Watchdog to assess troubled families scheme
8-Apr-2013
Spending scrutineer will investigate use of payment by results -
Updated: Lancashire to re-think public health role
8-Apr-2013
Decision on merged directorship due this week -
Adoption improvement ‘should be sector led’
4-Apr-2013
Minister offered alternative to removal of adoption powers from failing councils -
Exclusive: Lambeth to move homeless families to Kent
3-Apr-2013
Inner London authority sets up voluntary scheme for residents in temporary accommodation to move to Margate -
LGA attacks Gove's plan for Doncaster
2-Apr-2013
Government’s approach to council’s struggling children’s services is not the answer, group claims -
Ofsted improvement plans 'frightening'
28-Mar-2013
Members warn of conflict of interest if watchdog provides improvement services -
Doncaster review 'sovereignty threat'
28 March 2013
Review of troubled council’s remit sparks fears for local authority ‘sovereignty’ -
Mediawatch - March madness has been in the media air...
28 March 2013
LGC reporter Kaye Wiggins reviews the week’s media -
Troubled families work to be monitored
27-Mar-2013
Minister backs Lord Carlile’s call for troubled families programmes to be assessed following Doncaster care investigation -
Top academic to rule on outsourcing Doncaster MBC's children's services
26-Mar-2013
Professor Julian Le Grand to assess whether troubled council should lose legal duty to safeguard children -
Councils should act responsibly to win public health funding freedoms
25-Mar-2013
“No suggestion” funding protections will be automatically dissolved -
Sandwell MBC suspends director
25-Mar-2013
Service director for children and families is suspended after Ofsted inspection -
CQC reveals overhaul of inspection regime
22-Mar-2013
Care regulator will ditch “generic” approach to health and social care -
Chiefs to get bigger child protection role
22-Mar-2013
Chief executives will have “nowhere to hide” under new measures -
Councils to get a say in EU funding
21-Mar-2013
LGA claims Brussels victory in making councils’ voice heard on spending decisions -
Families scheme raises data sharing concerns
21-Mar-2013
Head of information review is uneasy about use of health data to identify troubled families -
Right to buy extension 'will hit housing stock'
21-Mar-2013
Councils raise fears over £100,000 discount and failure to lift housing borrowing cap -
Analysis: Missing links
21 March 2013
To avoid both catastrophic failings and more minor frustrations in patient care, the balance must shift in favour of data sharing -
Committed to a cultural shift
21 March 2013
Dame Fiona Caldicott tells Kaye Wiggins how a new duty to share data can improve patient care while continuing to protect privacy -
Broadband chief faces councillors' criticisms
20-Mar-2013
Senior civil servant pledges competitive process as councillors voice concerns -
MPs urge social care ringfence
19-Mar-2013
Select committee says budgets must be protected -
LGA joins call to scrap new Ofsted checks
19-Mar-2013
Councillors and chiefs agree that planned school improvement inspections should not go ahead -
Legal threat over Universal Credit scheme
15-Mar-2013
LGA tells government it will take action unless benefits staff are transferred -
Call to defer new Ofsted checks
14 March 2013
Solace says a “pause” is needed to get new checks right -
NHS reconfiguration test branded 'insulting'
13-Mar-2013
Councillors object as NHS proposes to ‘raise the bar’ for hospital closure objections -
Infrastructure investment limit doubled
12-Mar-2013
Authorities freed to invest 30% of pension assets in house-building and transport schemes, minister announces -
Extra Ofsted scrutiny for pilot volunteer
12-Mar-2013
Northamptonshire faces formal inspection after voluntary check found failures -
NHS could 'raise bar' for closure objections
8-Mar-2013
Councils will have to offer “more convincing” evidence to oppose hospital reconfigurations, chief says -
Members sceptical on care funding pledge
8-Mar-2013
Councillors fear social care reforms could “bankrupt” authorities -
Caerphilly criticised for 'unlawful' pay rises
8-Mar-2013
Audit office says council increased pay for chief and senior managers without following proper processes -
Councillors question Francis proposals
7-Mar-2013
Scrutiny committees ‘would struggle to inspect hospitals’ -
Whitehall to consider protecting social care
6-Mar-2013
Savings mooted from integration, cuts to provider fees and rising charges -
Castlebeck goes into administration
6-Mar-2013
Care firm at centre of Winterbourne View scandal will sell its homes -
Health funding formula to address 'legitimate' concerns
5-Mar-2013
Public Health England chief Duncan Selbie pledges to win councils over with funding formula -
DfE opens bidding for school places cash
4-Mar-2013
Councils will have to make the case for more money in their area -
DH plan 'wouldn't prevent Southern Cross'
1-Mar-2013
New legal duty for councils is not the answer, sector leaders set to warn -
‘Resistance lets our residents down’
28 February 2013
Lambeth chief executive Derrick Anderson outlines his ‘co-operative council’ vision -
Tried and tested: The models under the microscope
28 February 2013
Kaye Wiggins reviews three councils’ radical plans and finds out how the proposed changes have progressed -
MPs warned over 'patchy' Whitehall links
27-Feb-2013
Central government has ‘parent-child’ relationship with councils, LGA chief says -
Ofsted shake-up 'may mean more failures'
27-Feb-2013
Watchdog warns more councils could be found inadequate under proposed changes -
Concession over small schools' budget cuts
25-Feb-2013
Education funding concessions following Tory council leaders’ protest -
Dilnot leaves councils with cost risk
21 February 2013
The £1bn earmarked to cover care cap may fail to cover costs, sector warned -
Children's services struggle to improve
21 February 2013
Number of ‘inadequate’ councils rises under tougher Ofsted checks -
Lib Dems warn of ‘car crash’ reforms
21 February 2013
Amid complaints of a lack of detail and fears of looming systemic chaos, the rollout of universal credit is under increasing scrutiny -
Outsourced staff set to keep pay rises
20-Feb-2013
Unison says legal judgement will be “huge relief” for workers transferred to private sector -
Care users' safety questionned
19-Feb-2013
Significant minority of social care users don’t feel “safe and secure” when using services, NHS research finds -
Councillors ponder legal action on pensions
15-Feb-2013
Call for a test case over “unfair attack” by government -
Lib Dems want distance from welfare reform
15-Feb-2013
Party’s councillors plans to disassociate selves from universal credit -
Joint working with NHS 'becoming difficult'
14-Feb-2013
King’s Fund report highlights problems - but health chief calls for more pooled budgets -
Mediawatch: Poster wars and political point scoring…
14 February 2013
LGC’s reporter Kaye Wiggins reviews the week’s media -
Children's services 'adequate' label could go
13-Feb-2013
Ofsted is considering scrapping the category in a bid to raise standards -
Ofsted chief: We'll do school improvement
13-Feb-2013
Sir Michael Wilshaw says he’s “repositioning” the regulator to take on some council functions -
Troubled families funding withheld
13-Feb-2013
Up to half of all councils could be affected by new condition on funding -
Hunt quizzed over 'timid' social care cap
12-Feb-2013
Details of plans emerge as councils urged to gear up for new role -
Hunt to outline £75,000 social care cap
11-Feb-2013
Local government figures welcome move but warn more must be done -
Council challenges hospital downgrading
8-Feb-2013
Lewisham LBC begins legal action -
Francis criticises council scrutiny 'failure'
6-Feb-2013
Staffordshire CC and Stafford BC failed to detect problems in NHS, report says -
Gove’s new ‘inspection trigger’ linked to primary academy drive
6-Feb-2013
Ofsted regime empowers education secretary to direct school improvement inspections -
Ofsted outlines council inspection plans
5-Feb-2013
Watchdog will inspect a council’s school improvement services if instructed by Michael Gove -
Burnham's one budget, one service vision demands ‘cultural shift’
31 January 2013
Labour’s ‘big bold vision’ to hand the lion’s share of NHS cash to local authorities would demand a major cultural shift -
£75,000 care cap ‘imminent’
31 January 2013
Treasury has agreed to fund cap on care costs, LGC understands -
Doncaster councillors 'excluded' from talks
28-Jan-2013
Mayor and cabinet member say they should be involved in children’s service reform -
Mapped: England's 281 shared services
25-Jan-2013
Browse LGA data on services that have saved about £250m -
Sure Start funds diverted to adoption scheme
25-Jan-2013
£150m top-sliced from councils will be used to increase adoption -
Many public health posts left unfilled
24 January 2013
Just under one-third of posts still vacant as April transition deadline approaches -
Scale of shared services revealed
23-Jan-2013
95% of councils are sharing services, saving £263m, LGA finds -
Keep councillors off CCG boards, health minister says
22-Jan-2013
Anna Soubry says politics should be removed from clinical decisions -
Healthwatch chair: We won't be a loudhailer
18-Jan-2013
Group set up to champion patients’ interests will focus on evidence, Anna Bradley says -
Council-led health group has role extended
18-Jan-2013
Task group led by Geoff Alltimes will advise government for another year -
Ofsted to inspect councils' school services
17-Jan-2013
But councils say funding for the services has been drastically cut -
Ex-minister says children's services sidelined
17-Jan-2013
Tim Loughton criticises Department for Education to MPs -
Wealthy south set to gain from public health funding boost
17 January 2013
Councils eye increases of up to 95% as regional variations emerge -
Councils to lead key shift in care
17 January 2013
Government puts sector in charge of cutting hospital placements for people with learning disabilities, in wake of Winterbourne View scandal -
90% of councils set to lose early intervention funds
16-Jan-2013
LGC analysis shows all but 17 councils will lose money -
Darlington tops academy adopters list
14-Jan-2013
Council has highest proportion of the new schools, DfE data shows -
Councils forced to share school services
14-Jan-2013
Initiative driven by controversial new funding regime -
Former Wigan chief takes national health role
11-Jan-2013
Joyce Redfearn will lead Department of Health’s work on health and wellbeing boards -
Public health funds rise to £2.6bn
10-Jan-2013
Government confirms above-inflation increases in councils’ budgets for new health role -
Extend councillor recruitment drive, MPs urge
10-Jan-2013
But political row overshadows announcement -
Capital 'could face £1.5bn care funding gap'
9-Jan-2013
Dilnot reforms would cause major funding gap, warns London Councils -
Cameron announces social care cap
8-Jan-2013
PM pledges to cap care costs, as proposed by Dilnot commission -
Councils win public health concessions
3-Jan-2013
Authorities will get above-inflation budget rises for two years, health chief says -
LGA warning over children's centre cuts
3-Jan-2013
Group says government clawback means hundreds of centres will lose funds -
Tower Hamlets fails to appoint chief
21-Dec-2012
Council has accepted support from LGA and London Councils -
Minister pledges early intervention 'visibility'
21-Dec-2012
Grant for Sure Start centres won’t be subsumed into general funds -
Southampton appoints interim chief
21-Dec-2012
Dawn Baxendale, council’s director of environment and economy, due to start in March -
Cornwall chief offered New Zealand job
21-Dec-2012
Council says Kevin Lavery hasn’t decided whether to leave -
Cross-party committee to urge Dilnot reforms
21-Dec-2012
MPs and peers “highly likely” to call for cap on care costs -
DH blocked £400m budget rise at last minute
20-Dec-2012
Plan to announce extra public health funds was shelved yesterday -
Windsor and Maidenhead scraps chief's post
20-Dec-2012
Council will replace chief executive role with lower-paid managing director -
Scrap housing extensions plan, MPs urge
20-Dec-2012
Committee opposes relaxation of rules on building extensions -
£180m reprieve over schools funding
19-Dec-2012
Department for Education to take less money than planned for school services -
Health budgets 'delayed until next year'
19-Dec-2012
Confusion over public health funds as DH questions DCLG funding rise claim -
Join health panels, leaders and chiefs urged
19-Dec-2012
New groups will share information about local health and care services -
Barnsley pledges to improve child protection
18-Dec-2012
Council told to improve after Ofsted found ‘inadequate’ services -
DH overrules health 'politicisation' fears
17-Dec-2012
Government strips councils’ scrutiny groups of power to challenge NHS closures, in move opposed by LGA -
Council director takes helm at GP group
17-Dec-2012
Kingston RBC’s adult services director will lead clinical commissioning group, alongside his current role -
Pickles attacks LGA's crisis forecast
13-Dec-2012
Secretary of state says gloomy figures are “utterly ludicrous” and council funding cuts have been “modest” -
Alexander's shared service doubts heard
13-Dec-2012
Danny Alexander believes back-office savings should go further, LGA executive hears -
Public health fears articulated
13-Dec-2012
More than half face “significant challenges” - and eight authorities can’t guarantee safe transfer -
Troubled councils collaborate on children’s services
13 December 2012
Doncaster MBC asks Rotherham MBC for help with children’s services -
Schools plan faces legal challenge
13 December 2012
Legal action likely if government fails to announce changes to its planned approach to school funding -
Councils' care budgets set for a revamp
12-Dec-2012
Consultancy commissioned to review funding formula -
Doncaster children's board chair to quit
11-Dec-2012
Peter Kemp will step down this month, ahead of new government intervention in council’s troubled services -
Tri-borough councils in joined-up care plan
7-Dec-2012
West London authorities will pool budgets with NHS -
Newcastle to end tobacco investments
7-Dec-2012
Council leader says it is “inconsistent” with public health responsibility -
Autumn Statement: £1bn for school funding
5-Dec-2012
Money for free schools and academies unveiled - but figures show it’s not enough -
London attempts to ditch public health funding formula
5-Dec-2012
Central London boroughs want formula based on service demand -
Laws: Councils' schools role is vital
5-Dec-2012
Local authorities “would need to be invented” if they didn’t exist, minister says -
Councils had £350m windfall, says top official
4-Dec-2012
Chris Wormald says extra money was a result of academy funding - but sector challenges his figures -
Social care 'early warning' system announced
3-Dec-2012
New regime would see closer scrutiny of care providers’ finances, to prevent Southern Cross repeat -
Lamb announces personal budgets roll-out
30-Nov-2012
Move could save government £90m -
Doctors urge public health funding rethink
29 November 2012
British Medical Association warns ministers about council budget shortfalls -
Call for scrutiny of new public health role
28-Nov-2012
King’s Fund report warns health could ‘deteriorate’ once councils take charge -
Hunt calls for tougher care home checks
28-Nov-2012
Health secretary wants ‘Ofsted-style’ reports on care homes and hospitals -
Ofsted council crackdown attracts criticism
27-Nov-2012
Regulator names struggling local authority areas in clampdown on poor performance -
Joined-up care 'within five years'
26-Nov-2012
Government departments pledge to remove barriers to integration -
Tougher standards for social care services
26-Nov-2012
Care users should check council performance, health secretary says -
London boroughs announce shared service
26-Nov-2012
Kingston-upon-Thames RBC and Richmond LBC will share children’s services -
NAO outlines academies funding shortfalls
22-Nov-2012
Department for Education has lost £350m to councils because of complications, watchdog says -
Doncaster to seek private sector support
22 November 2012
Education secretary issues warning to sector in call for ‘rapid progress’ -
Scale of public health problems emerges
21-Nov-2012
Councils in the north west face toughest issues -
Health data to help councils track public health performance
20-Nov-2012
Department of Health publishes measures of obesity and smoking -
MPs warned about public health shortfalls
20-Nov-2012
Select committee alerted to budget worries as council’s health role inquiry begins -
Gove blasts 'failing' councils after Doncaster report
16-Nov-2012
But education secretary backs sector-led improvement - for now -
Burstow: Treasury is obstacle to care reform
15-Nov-2012
Ex-minister says department struggles with long-term spending decisions -
Councils fear ‘death tax’ role under medical reforms
15 November 2012
Finance directors worried about collecting fees for medical examiner role -
NHS mandate stresses joined-up care
14-Nov-2012
Sector welcomes call for health service to work with local government -
Hunt challenged over care funding claim
14-Nov-2012
Author of report quoted by health secretary says the figures are out of date -
Westminster urges troubled families changes
14-Nov-2012
Councils ‘should be paid for achieving results based on local criteria’ -
Tories hit back at Gove's academy criticism
13-Nov-2012
Education secretary accuses three Conservative councils of blocking academisation -
Doctors oppose Berkshire health plans
13-Nov-2012
Structure would see six public health leaders reporting to adult services directors -
Rules relaxed for local health boards
12-Nov-2012
Councillors on health and wellbeing boards will not have to reflect council’s political balance -
Lambeth call for shift in 'power relationship'
12-Nov-2012
Borough councillors describe some officers as barrier to change -
Sector braced for reforms following crucial Ofsted report
8 November 2012
Rumours of stronger intervention by the Department for Education -
Doctors raise fresh health funding concerns
8 November 2012
Research flags up scale of shortfall in local authorities’ funding allocations -
Loughton forecasts DfE capacity struggle as inspection failures rise
8 November 2012
Former children’s minister says department will struggle as more councils fail inspections -
Scale of early intervention cuts emerges
7-Nov-2012
DfE figures show councils’ funding share reduced as central controls tighten -
Call for new 'troubled families' sanctions
7-Nov-2012
Uk’s largest local authority landlord wants powers over benefits and housing -
Council cuts go against grain of social care reform
7-Nov-2012
Report shows authorities slashing services which draft care bill urges them to extend -
MPs outline fears over child protection cuts
7-Nov-2012
Education committee warns authorities could be forced to take fewer children into care -
Twigg attacks 'contradictory' grant claims
5-Nov-2012
Shadow education secretary calls for explanation of changes to early intervention funding -
Lambeth plans radical restructure
2-Nov-2012
Borough to abolish departments and put councillors in charge of commissioning -
Report finds £600m gap in care funding
2-Nov-2012
Research from RSA challenges former minister’s claim that there was “no gap” -
Pickles calls for more parishes
31-Oct-2012
DCLG aims to simplify and speed up process for setting up local councils -
Axed £150m fund will go back to councils
31-Oct-2012
Local government to run early intervention scheme using money taken from councils’ grants -
Care reforms 'will fail without extra funds'
30-Oct-2012
Sector leaders warn draft bill on social care is detached from economic reality -
Lamb sets social care cap deadline
29-Oct-2012
“Significant breakthrough” expected in next two years -
Hunt urges culture of co-operation
26-Oct-2012
‘Good things happen when the NHS and councils come together’ -
Burnham mulls care NHS transfer
25-Oct-2012
NCAS conference: NHS could take lead in ‘whole system’ service -
Lamb stresses Dilnot determination
25-Oct-2012
NCAS conferece: Care minister pledges to bring review to conclusion -
Laws details council schools role
25-Oct-2012
NCAS conference: Schools minister sees councils as ‘strong strategic backers’ -
Hunt to be quizzed on public health
25-Oct-2012
Health committee chair Stephen Dorrell pledges to investigate funding gaps -
Health funds propping up care budgets
25 October 2012
Department of Health describes ‘positive’ feedback on care funding transfer -
Warning over children's services cuts
24-Oct-2012
Changes could cause further cuts to children’s centres -
Government to review school funding plans
24-Oct-2012
Department to advise minister of ‘necessary adjustments’ -
MPs warned of £10bn social care cuts
24-Oct-2012
Directors’ evidence raises concerns for future -
'Be selective about new transparency rules'
22-Oct-2012
Councils shouldn’t waste time publishing details of all decisions, legal officers argue -
Hillingdon names new chief executive
19-Oct-2012
Deputy to take on role following Dunnachie’s retirement -
Fresh health funding concerns emerge
18 October 2012
Councils fear for new role as scale of inherited contracts outstrips funding allocations -
Councils to lose £150m to DfE
16-Oct-2012
Money will be taken from early intervention grant -
Councils way off 120,000 troubled families target
11 October 2012
LGC research reveals low numbers of families meeting definition -
The right intentions but the wrong definitions?
11 October 2012
Despite the struggle to find suitable families, Kaye Wiggins finds councils determined to make the troubled families scheme work -
Battle to prevent unannounced inspections
11 October 2012
Councils should be given notice of looked-after children inspections, say Solace and ADCS -
Troubled families Q&A
11 October 2012
How and why the government reached its troubled families estimate -
In practice: Slough’s troubled families programme
11 October 2012
Slough’s troubled families lead says the scheme has advantages, but may not be sustainable -
Hunt: Elderly care is top priority
10-Oct-2012
Health secretary outlines vision in conference speech -
Don't publicise adoption scorecards, DfE urged
10-Oct-2012
Children’s Improvement Board stresses importance of ‘full picture’ on data -
School improvement budgets falling fast
10-Oct-2012
Sure Start and youth services also cut as children’s social care costs rise, government figures show -
Pickles claims troubled families scheme on track
9-Oct-2012
But figures not based on identified families -
Councils to get last word on dismissals
5-Oct-2012
Public health guidance pledges no “unnecessary advice” from Whitehall -
Twigg calls for central-local 'partnership'
5-Oct-2012
Shadow education secretary says councils and Whitehall should work together over schools -
Schools services funding ‘irrational’
4 October 2012
LGA, Solace and ADCS say proposals would penalise areas with the most academies -
Burnham: 'One budget' for health and care
3-Oct-2012
Shadow health secretary calls for integration of council and NHS services -
'Significant errors' in public health budgets
3-Oct-2012
ADPH warns cost of services has been underestimated -
Benn urges 'brave' public health decisions
2-Oct-2012
Councils should back evidence-based services even if they are unpopular, shadow minister says -
Healey admits Whitehall co-ordination failure
2-Oct-2012
Labour’s former housing minister “had not one meeting” with DWP minister -
Delay to councils' GCSE legal challenge
28-Sep-2012
Lewisham mayor Sir Steve Bullock hopes extra time will convince Ofqual to remark exams -
Solace in Ofsted oversight bid
27 September 2012
Solace says inspections body is “marking its own homework” -
Chiefs to assess new role readiness
27 September 2012
LGA issues series of questions on readiness for public health responsibilities -
Public health funding plan 'regressive'
26-Sep-2012
ADPH research shows north will lose out to south under funding proposals -
David Laws stresses local role in education
26-Sep-2012
New minister says some functions are “plainly unrealistic” for Whitehall -
Children in care figures hit new peak
25-Sep-2012
Department for Education figures show a 21% rise in number taken into care -
NHS Confederation care figures questioned
24-Sep-2012
Report claims long-term funding gap is £2bn -
Public health transition funds announced
21-Sep-2012
Government gives £15m to ‘strengthen capacity’. -
Local power over health changes urged
21-Sep-2012
Solace objects to prospect of “active role” for national body in some hospital closures -
Overseer of a less prescriptive future?
20 September 2012
Duncan Selbie, the chief executive designate of Public Health England, tells Kaye Wiggins his performance managing days are behind him -
Ofsted says controversial scores reflect true performance
20 September 2012
Care director insists inspectors did not ‘raise the bar’ -
Q&A: the public health outcomes framework
20 September 2012
All you need to know about the document at the heart of the new public health system -
Public health funding: finding the right formula
20 September 2012
Duncan Selbie addresses the all-important issue of how councils will be funded for public health services -
Hold councils to account on troubled families, police urged
19-Sep-2012
Louise Casey says police should ask councils “what the hell is going on” under the scheme -
Call to strengthen councils' education role
19-Sep-2012
London Councils to discuss powers to investigate academies -
Boris wades in to public health funding row
18-Sep-2012
Mayor of London is “seriously concerned” about councils’ budgets -
DH to watch over care markets scheme
18-Sep-2012
Senior civil servant will be “interested” to see who takes part in new programme -
Inquiry into Cheshire East senior directors
17-Sep-2012
Deputy chief executive, finance director and borough solicitor understood to be facing investigation -
LGA warns Ofqual over GCSE legal action
12-Sep-2012
Councils are considering challenge over “manifestly unfair” situation, board warns -
Tory leaders oppose school funding reforms
12-Sep-2012
Government plans strip councils of local decision-making role, councillors argue -
Nottingham chief departs
11-Sep-2012
Jane Todd leaves post to recover from brain operation -
New minister 'totally committed' to Dilnot
11-Sep-2012
Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb says social care reforms “essential” -
Casey tells leaders to prepare for service closure
11-Sep-2012
Troubled families tsar warns of ‘vested interests’ amongst officers -
Conflict of interest fears over scrutiny plan
7-Sep-2012
Solace and LGA oppose Department of Health changes to health scrutiny role -
Miliband backs local co-ordination of schools
7-Sep-2012
But Labour leader says councils shouldn’t take over all academy powers -
Pressure for GCSE legal action
7-Sep-2012
Headteachers press councils for court challenge in exam-marking controversy -
Academy transfers remain 'unfeasibly high'
6 September 2012
New DfE plans will penalise councils and maintained schools and over-fund academies, authorities will argue -
Board rejects participation role
6 September 2012
Children’s Improvement Board wants to focus on safeguarding -
North-west councils share public health role
5-Sep-2012
Nine authorities in Merseyside and Cheshire sign up to collaborative service -
Tougher school finance scrutiny announced
4-Sep-2012
Department for Education could intervene if just one school breaches deficit limit -
Shortened safeguarding rules 'detrimental'
30-Aug-2012
Association of Directors of Children’s Services criticises stripped-back government guidance -
Bexley safeguarding services 'inadequate'
24-Aug-2012
Ofsted report criticises handling of child protection cases -
Kathryn Rossiter to leave Solace
24-Aug-2012
Managing director will step down in October to work for a charity -
Let bloggers into meetings, Pickles urges
24-Aug-2012
Regulations say councils must open doors to residents and citizen journalists -
Health improvements 'socially uneven'
23-Aug-2012
King’s Fund calls for new approach to public health -
Councils question troubled families numbers
13-Aug-2012
Correspondence between senior officers reveals concerns -
Calls for extra public health funding
10-Aug-2012
But sector divided over pace of change to a new funding regime -
Reprieve from DfE intervention on finance
9-Aug-2012
Department postpones plan to challenge councils’ financial management of schools -
Work Programme take-up falls sharply
8-Aug-2012
Fewer jobseekers enrolled in April than any month since scheme began -
Winterbourne View: Council failings outlined
8-Aug-2012
Report says South Gloucestershire Council failed to understand scale of crisis -
Social care reforms to cost £28m
7-Aug-2012
Costs of white paper will be met from £300m transfer from NHS -
Riots repeat unlikely, councils say
6-Aug-2012
Survey one year on finds authorities feeling prepared to cope with unrest -
Health scrutiny reform plans 'bizarre'
3-Aug-2012
Councils object to curbs on opposing NHS reorganisations -
Public health contract 'appeases providers'
1-Aug-2012
DH urged to allow local flexibility in template contract for councils -
Walsall 'inadequate' at safeguarding children
31-Jul-2012
Council latest to struggle with tougher Ofsted checks -
Children's group struggling to fulfil remit
30-Jul-2012
Tougher standards hinder early intervention -
Winners of £250,000 digital grants announced
26-Jul-2012
Reading BC, Luton BC and a joint bid from Merthyr Tydfil CBC and Vale of Glamorgan Council rewarded -
Fresh schools funding battle looming
25-Jul-2012
Councils to challenge Department for Education on new ‘central services’ plan -
DH calls for support in pressing care funding case
25-Jul-2012
Senior civil servants admit it will be difficult to persuade Treasury to fund Dilnot proposals -
Shropshire chief moves to Cheshire East
25-Jul-2012
Kim Ryley on three-month secondment to neighbouring council -
Area told it has 1,700 troubled families finds... 32
25-Jul-2012
Triborough group of councils in London identifies only dozens of DCLG’s estimate of 1,720 families -
Councils urged to rate care reforms
24-Jul-2012
LGA asks authorities to score social care white paper on 29 tests -
Burstow tells councils: "You're not all crude cutters"
19-Jul-2012
Care services minister says some authorities have been “smart” on social care -
DH considers alternative funding formula
19 July 2012
Deprivation could join cluster of factors in determining public health allocations -
Still ducking the funding care question?
19 July 2012
Earlier this year the LGA published a checklist of criteria for success. Of these, the reforms are seen to have failed on three key criteria -
Summary of main points from bill and funding progress report
19 July 2012
The government has committed to the principle of introducing a cap on the costs of care that an individual should be exposed to in their lifetime, if funding can be found -
Lansley dismisses scale of care cost concerns
18-Jul-2012
Health secretary says LGA research underestimates efficiency savings -
Education refunds set to avert legal challenge
18-Jul-2012
DfE announces it will repay £58m to local authorities -
Extra care funding is not enough, MPs warn
16-Jul-2012
All-party group says £300m will not close councils’ funding gap -
Councils to run £330m disability fund
13-Jul-2012
Independent Living Fund to transfer to local authorities under DWP plans -
Public health funding formula to leave poor areas hit hardest
12 July 2012
Analysis shows most deprived 20% losing as most affluent 20% gain -
Ofsted announces tougher inspections as senior figures resign
12 July 2012
Heads in Sutton and Kingston upon Thames have departed during recent round of rigorous checks -
Social care white paper published
11-Jul-2012
Paul Burstow suggests funding for universal deferred payments -
Call to remove council duty to excluded pupils
9-Jul-2012
Department for Education advisor suggests passing legal responsibility to schools -
Casey defends payment-by-results model
9-Jul-2012
Troubled families tsar says government money “doesn’t come without strings” -
Munro calls for solidarity on adoption
6-Jul-2012
Children’s services directors must ‘stand together’ against data misuse -
Mandate urges NHS to work with councils
6-Jul-2012
Document sets out government’s expectations of health service -
Council admits intentions to divert troubled families funding
5 July 2012
Casey ‘not convinced’ every chief executive and leader is fully signed up -
Councillors voice concern over clinical commissioning group ban
5 July 2012
Elected members say health and wellbeing board role ‘won’t be enough’ to address health inequalities -
Tougher Ofsted checks catch councils out
4-Jul-2012
Ofsted inspections from the past four months raise concerns about tougher practices -
Finance experts issue verdict on Dilnot
4-Jul-2012
Thinktank says proposals would cost extra 0.2% of national income within a decade -
Schools concerns on hold until autumn
3-Jul-2012
Meeting between ministers, councils and schools cancelled -
Councils urged to monitor services
28 June 2012
Winterbourne View report also urges NHS to look at “innovative” local authority commissioning -
Nicholson shuns localism to keeps grip on NHS cash
27-Jun-2012
Chief ‘doesn’t apologise’ for central control. -
NHS objects to council CCG 'challenge'
27-Jun-2012
Council chiefs shouldn’t use new authorisation role to discuss sharing back-office services -
Fears over vulnerable children duty
26-Jun-2012
Research reveals concerns that academies won’t take ‘fair share’ of hard-to-place pupils -
Free schools 'threaten viability' of good schools
26-Jun-2012
Warning comes in research commissioned by DfE -
Employee spin-outs 'should be mainstream'
25-Jun-2012
Report calls for raft of government measures to encourage mutuals -
Council rejects external public health scrutiny
25-Jun-2012
Local authorities are accountable to communities, says Herefordshire chief executive -
Provider criticised for not co-operating with HWB
25-Jun-2012
Senior civil servant tells conference he was ‘sad’ about approach -
Rise in personal budgets
21-Jun-2012
More than half of those eligible now receiving direct payments -
Councils get formal health advisory role
21 June 2012
Chiefs and senior directors to sit on panels assessing creation of key commissioning groups -
North at risk in needs-based funds plan
21 June 2012
Councils baffled over how needs-based formula could drain cash from hardest-hit areas -
Guidance seen as deterrent to in-house tendering to be scrapped
21 June 2012
DCLG to remove section that warns about in-house right to challenge bids -
Children in care homes 'let down'
21 June 2012
Some councils accused by minister Tim Loughton -
‘Shared vision' on reforms drafted
21 June 2012
Body will set out ‘shared vision’ with NHS Commissioning Board -
System leaders or talking shops?
21 June 2012
Health and wellbeing boards may be considered the ‘glue’ in the system but LGC’s Health and Wellbeing Board Survey shows that questions remain about their lack of formal powers. -
Right to choice 'would raise expectations'
20-Jun-2012
Solace calls on government to abandon proposals -
Gove: We hope to protect small schools
19-Jun-2012
Education secretary suggests a funding “floor” to protect smaller primaries -
Third of health directors won't join councils
15-Jun-2012
Report shows 30% of directors of public health won’t transfer to local authorities -
Health improvement funds delayed until 2015
14-Jun-2012
Department of Health says earlier payments would reward councils for work done by PCTs -
Public health funding proposals announced
14-Jun-2012
Department of Health publishes plans to distribute money according to need -
Fears over new NHS commissioning bodies
14 June 2012
Council chiefs warn support services could lead to ‘disintegration’ of place-based arrangements -
Give councils powers to close academies, urge advisers
14 June 2012
Members of government advisory group call for new role for councils in education -
LGA: target child health inequality
14 June 2012
LGA says Department of Health should give greater consideration to health inequalities -
Care reforms pushed into July
14 June 2012
Social care white paper due to be published before parliamentary recess -
'Local freedoms' proposed for child protection
12-Jun-2012
Department for Education guidance aims to limit “excessive central prescription” -
Councils 'excluded' from public health talks
7-Jun-2012
LGA fears funding for new health role will be insufficient -
'Turf wars' warning on Healthwatch groups
6-Jun-2012
Former Oxfordshire leader calls for clarity about scrutiny committees’ role -
Funds to improve care 'prop up the system'
6-Jun-2012
Report says councils spent £116m of ‘additional’ funds on maintaining eligibility criteria -
NHS board to have 27 local arms
1-Jun-2012
Council chiefs’ concerned about scale -
Needs assessments must ignore council funds
1-Jun-2012
Supreme Court rules councils must assess disabled people’s social care needs regardless of resources -
Whitehall relationship at new low in LGC confidence survey
31 May 2012
LGC’s regular sector survey suggests confidence in central government slumps to fresh low -
Confidence survey: finance and services
31 May 2012
Findings from LGC’s regular sector survey concerning finance and services -
Government consults on health board rules
30-May-2012
Department of Health could exempt health and wellbeing boards from some legislation -
Care funding crisis 'approaching point of no return'
30-May-2012
Cost of adult care for councils ‘to double in a generation’, LGA warns -
Care home 'proper person' test dismissed
30-May-2012
Junior minister says government looking at other ways to monitor social care market -
Four-fifths predict a council financial crisis by 2015
29-May-2012
Most chief executives and leaders think at least one council will face a crisis -
'Cut bus passes and raise taxes to fund care'
29-May-2012
Report says public might accept controversial measures in return for better social care -
Academies a 'solution to all school problems'
28-May-2012
DfE official says change in status can address all issues -
Private firms could use 'right to challenge'
25-May-2012
DCLG draft guidance says companies can partner with community groups to bid for right to run local services -
Recipients of £2bn school building fund named
24-May-2012
587 schools applied for repairs or rebuilds, but just 261 will receive support -
Councils to inherit 'forced academy' debt
24 May 2012
Department’s d eficit confirmation draws accusations of encouraging academisation -
New sanctions likely for 'underperformance' on troubled families
24 May 2012
Councils that “consistently underperform” face extra measures, Department for Communities and Local Government confirms -
Whitehall school funding formula sparks concern for council role
17 May 2012
Councils say Education Department proposals could be step towards ending school funding role -
Parsons agrees to European expense scrutiny
16-May-2012
Chief executive describes conversations over chauffeured car -
Care bill to follow 'soon after' white paper
16-May-2012
Document to include Law Commission recommendations and ‘market oversight’ measures -
New health panels 'should have legal powers'
15-May-2012
Report says ‘hard’ powers would ‘turbo-charge’ health and wellbeing boards -
Adoption scorecards 'misleading', say councils
11-May-2012
Hackney, East Riding and national bodies criticise government measures -
Academies should match schools' data, MPs say
11-May-2012
Public Accounts Committee says school performance figures should be consistent -
Delays 'force councils to fund school repairs'
9-May-2012
LGA says councils are “plugging gaps” after £2bn government fund is delayed -
Westminster opens urban parish council vote
9-May-2012
Queen’s Park residents balloted on new community council -
Election losses in ministers' backyards
8-May-2012
Pickles, Clark, Shapps and Stunell see losses on their home ground - including defeat by UKIP -
MPs propose Right to Buy exemptions
8-May-2012
Some areas “could have no social housing stock” under government plans, committee says -
Liverpool and Salford elect Labour mayors
4-May-2012
Joe Anderson wins in Liverpool and Ian Stewart in Salford -
Half of councils 'have no child poverty plan'
1-May-2012
But LGA disputes charity’s figures -
Providers of poor care 'should share blame'
30-Apr-2012
New ADASS head says providers shouldn’t just criticise commissioners over low-quality services -
Casey: Academy data rules 'not a problem'
27-Apr-2012
Government’s troubled families tsar would “love to have conversation” with headteachers that won’t share attendance figures -
DWP was 'too mechanistic', says minister
27-Apr-2012
Iain Duncan Smith wants councils to have closer links with £200m European Social Fund project for families with multiple problems -
VAT change could 'torpedo' community right to bid
26-Apr-2012
Sir Stephen Bubb says Treasury proposals could undermine key part of Localism Act -
Embrace Dilnot, LGA tells party leaders
26 April 2012
Cockell calls on government to work with councils ‘to undertake radical reform’ -
New public health funding formula due
26 April 2012
Eight councils ignore government guidance on public health director accountability -
Gove: councils could sponsor failing academies
25-Apr-2012
Education secretary tells Commons committee he would be interested in propositions from local authorities -
‘Right to challenge’ demand ‘underestimated’
25-Apr-2012
Third sector warning: more groups will want Localism Act support than government predict -
Public health leader chooses Canada over councils
24-Apr-2012
Frank Atherton says local government “not the right destination” -
Labour pledges free end-of-life social care
23-Apr-2012
All terminally-ill patients should be offered free care at home, argues shadow health secretary -
Public health directors query LGA alcohol stance
18-Apr-2012
ADPH president ‘surprised’ by minimum price concerns
