John Denham in the news
Denham looks to £20bn Total Place savings
Savings across local services of more than £20bn are said to be possible - based on the Total Place exercise
Denham seeks 'tough decisions' from councils
John Denham says more local authorities need to take “tough decisions” to keep council tax increases low and protect frontline services
New unitary polls 'should be axed'
District Councils Network calls for a delay in reorganisation decisions until after General Election
Local Carbon Framework pilots named
Communities secretary approves nine exploratory schemes for reducing carbon emissions.
Denham takes aim at Tory council tax freeze
John Denham says the Conservatives’ promise to help every council set a two-year council tax freeze will leave a black hole of almost half a billion pounds
Avoid complacency on cuts, states Denham
The public will not accept cuts to frontline services as an alternative to driving efficiency, communities secretary John Denham tells councils
Denham expands faith advisers
Communities Secretary John Denham has announced the appointment of 13 new faith advisers.
Local spending reports to go online
Details of how councils and other agencies spend billions of pounds worth of public money will be put online from the summer
Councils compelled to disclose chiefs' pay
Rules compelling local authorities to disclose the salary packages of top earners are set into law by Communities Secretary John Denham
Confusion as £2.6bn savings set out
There is confusion over the £2.6bn local government efficiency target released alongside the pre-Budget report
Denham admits Prevent problems
John Denham concedes that controversy, criticism and a lack of clarity have limited the effectiveness of the government’s Prevent programme
Festive grants for high streets
Grants worth a total of £2.6m are handed out to 50 high streets in England, to boost recession-battered areas at Christmas
Councils urged to address 'white needs'
John Denham calls on councils and government agencies to ensure the needs of white working class communities are provided for
Councils can lead green revolution
The UK’s commitment to driving down carbon emissions need clear leadership and vision from councils, according to John Denham.
Finance reform key to green push
Councils must be given more freedom to use private sector funding and local green taxes to prevent progress on environmental issues, two reports warn
John Denham Profile
John Denham: Profile
The new communities secretary in the June reshuffle, John Denham, is a former city and county councillor
Features
Power play in the corridors of Whitehall
The letter from Peter Housden to John Denham about unitary status was about as close as one gets to a ‘wow’ moment in local government
His heart is in the right place
There is no doubt communities secretary John Denham’s heart is in the right place
Power comes under scrutiny
John Denham’s claim that his consultation amounts to “the biggest single transfer of power to elected councillors for a generation” is hubristic. But could councils exploit new scrutiny powers?
Denham’s chance to make a real impression
Chris Leslie believes the latest reshuffle gives the new Communities secretary an opportunity to make a difference
Local variation makes a healthy democracy
Dr Phyllis Starkey MP, feels we need to re-examine the relationship between central and local government.
New conference, new councils, new secretary
This year’s LGA conference: Denham’s first big speech; Cameron and Cable - and the recession
Denham has time to make a splash
Our latest leader discusses the fallout of the elections and the appointment of John Denham as Community Secretary.
