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Local Government Chronicle
11 December 2008

View all stories from this issue.

  • Address the cause

    In Stockport a painstaking regeneration programme has restored the historic character of the town’s medieval market area.

  • An ordered state of local economics

    Neil McInroy continues his blogs during a global study into how local government helps to secure local economic resilience.

  • Anti-migrant law divides societies

    Creating a sharper, fairer immigration system is obviously important but it’s crucial we don’t end up processing people into a state of alienation.

  • Baby P: Haringey replaces councillors

    Haringey council has replaced the two senior councillors who quit in the wake of the Baby P tragedy and subsequent critical reports.

  • Baby P: Haringey sacks Shoesmith

    Haringey Council has sacked Sharon Shoesmith, the head of children's services who was suspended after inquiries into the Baby P case.

  • Balls launches primary school report

    An interim report from the Rose Review into the Primary Curriculum is due to be lanched later today by the Education Secretary Ed Balls at a north London school.

  • Barnet's service approach

    Councils must concentrate on what they can do well, says LGC editor Karen Day.

  • Blears' Mayoral model set aside

    Communities secretary Hazel Blears’ drive to create a new generation of directly elected mayors has been placed on the back-burner after being left out of the Queen’s Speech.

  • Break down the barriers

    The idea of a truly integrated public sector still has a certain utopian feel to it, says Jim Savege.

  • Burger ban - last day for consulting

    It is the final day for public consultations by a council looking to make it harder for fast food restaurants to open for business.

  • Call to streamline regional agencies

    The next government should consider a dramatic streamlining of England’s regional development agencies, says a new report.

  • Catalogue of delights

    As the festive season begins, I partake in my annual perusal of the Christmas Gifts for the Discerning Councillor catalogue. Its delights are numerous.

  • Child protection won't go away

    The controversy surrounding child protection threatens to reverse the move towards ‘light-touch’ regulation and audit.

  • Children's staff recruitment problem

    Social workers for children are the hardest group of local government employees to recruit and retain, according to new research.

  • City council suspends housing boss

    Norwich City Council has suspended a senior officer following reports she moved into decommissioned sheltered homes.

  • Coen's position in doubt

    Paul Coen is expected to leave his post as Local Government Association chief executive, LGC understands.

  • Council heads for commissioning role

    Barnet LBC could reduce itself to a mere commissioning hub for services as the financial squeeze forces councils to look beyond Gershon-style efficiency savings.

  • Council housing delay for immigrants

    Immigrants may have wait up to 10 years to claim UK benefits and council housing under measures in the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship bill.

  • Councils get£605m housing boost

    The government has unveiled a£605m pot which 163 local councils will be able to access for housing and associated infrastructure.

  • Councils' higher demand for benefits help

    Two-thirds of English councils have reported increases in applications for benefits as a direct result of the economic downturn, Audit Commission research has revealed.

  • Councils 'lack flood risk cash'

    Nearly two-thirds of local councils lack sufficient funds to fulfil their flood risk responsibilities, according to a new survey.

  • Councils' transport surplus slammed

    Local authorities have been criticised for failing to spend£57m allocated for transport projects.

  • Craven’s financial failings exposed

    A crisis meeting is to be held at Craven District Council over allegations of errors, lack of financial expertise and the collapse of its budgeting monitoring.

  • Cumbria 'interested' in nuclear waste

    Cumbria CC has agreed to 'express interest' in the Government process to find a location for a deep nuclear waste repository in the UK - but without the council making a formal commitment.

  • Eaton call over first-time buyers

    The Local Government Association has called for the government to set aside£1.5bn to help around 60,000 first-time buyers onto the property ladder.

  • Economic downturn 3: Impact on communities

    While business closures and redundancies will, potentially, have a devastating impact on a number of local economies, the impact on the families may be felt elsewhere.

  • Economic downturn 3: Impact on economies

    With a high level of employment in financial services, it is not surprising that London and the south east have the highest overall exposure, followed by the north-west and West Midlands.

  • Economic Downturn: Implications

    Many local authorities are already preparing to deal with the full impact of the recession. They will need to monitor developments carefully and assess the extent of the possible impact both on businesses and communities.

  • Efficiency info on council tax bills

    The Communities & Local Government department is to plough ahead with plans to force councils to put efficiency information on council tax bills.

  • Explained: Recruiting in a downturn

    Top 10 ways to recruit in a downturn.

  • Fear over 'distracting' snap checks

    Fear has been expressed that unannounced annual checks on children’s safeguarding teams in the wake of the Baby P case will result in more bureaucracy for staff and distract them from vital work.

  • Fishing in the recruitment pool

    As the recession increases the pool of talent available to employers, councils must take advantage of the situation and hook the best staff.

  • Foster heads public service commission

    The former Chief Executive of the Audit Commission, Sir Andrew Foster, is to chair an independent commission looking at the future of public services.

  • Gibb to head social work taskforce

    Camden council's chief executive Moira Gibb will chair a taskforce to improve the quality of social workers.

  • Health and safety probes urged

    Questions about suppliers’ health and safety records should form part of councils’ tender processes, the Health & Safety Executive’s chair has urged.

  • Homelessness figure 'down 60%'

    Local councils have been praised for contributing to figures showing that the number of appicants judged to be homeless has fallen by 60% since 2003.

  • Impact of recession revealed

    Many councils are still in denial about the local impact of the looming recession, the author of research exclusively disclosed to LGC has warned.

  • India's pulsing economy

    Neil McInroy continues his blogs during a global study into how local government helps to secure local economic resilience.

  • Innovation not reorganisation

    During the Banham Commission in the 1990s, I recall seasoned local government professionals and academics rolling their eyes in a 'seen it all before' way.

  • Involve the community

    The rescue and restoration of around 30 historic buildings restored local pride in the area and captured the enthusiasm of local businesses.

  • Jobs to go at Coventry City Council

    Around 190 jobs at Coventry City Council could go if senior councillors approve a£9m cost-cutting plan next week.

  • Kemp quizzes Balls on Baby P response

    England’s most senior Liberal Democrat councillor has delivered the Local Government Association’s biggest rebuff so far to the government’s response to the Baby P tragedy.

  • LACORS warning over pirate DVDs

    Trading standards chiefs are warning Christmas shoppers not to be lured into buying cheap, poor quality pirate DVDs because of the economic downturn.

  • LGA criticises Smith’s recycling claim

    The Local Government Association has slammed Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith for suggesting councils were abandoning recycling services.

  • Local government must seize the power

    Have concerns about the economy trumped the drive to strengthen local democracy, or can we really have it all?

  • Manchester congestion charge rejected

    All 10 areas voting in Manchester's congestion charge referendum have rejected the proposal.

  • Manchester vote: turnout nears 40%

    The latest figures in the Manchester congestion charge referendum show an overall turnout of 38.2%.

  • Mapping the economic downturn

    John Fisher, director of the Local Futures group, outlines the areas most vulnerable to looming job losses.

  • McGarry quits East Staffordshire

    East Staffordshire Borough Council has lost chief executive Jeanette McGarry after just seven months in office.

  • New children's director in Haringey

    Stricken Haringey LBC’s new director of children’s services will be Peter Lewis, who previously held the same post at Enfield LBC.

  • Newcastle City Council to cut£20m

    Newcastle City Council has unveiled plans to save£20m over the coming year and the loss of 270 management posts.

  • Ofsted considers whistleblower strategy

    A 'whistleblower survey' could be introduced for children’s social workers to flag up problems with their department ahead of Ofsted inspections.

  • Olympics: 'Councils failing to capitalise'

    Most local councils are not making the most of the opportunities presented by the 2012 Olympics, the games’ minister has told LGC.

  • Plea to councils to kick-start economy

    Councils have been asked to bring forward capital expenditure on school renovation as part of the government’s bid to kick-start the economy.

  • Putting change to the test

    The comprehensive area assessment faces challenges if it is to measure and monitor the changing needs and capabilities of local government.

  • Raise standards

    In Oxford, the conversion of a prison and castle dating back to the 11th century have helped transform the city’s west end.

  • Recreating the past

    Heritage projects can be a key part of councils’ regeneration strategies.

  • Regulatory work ‘consistent’

    Two-thirds of businesses are satisfied with councils’ regulatory work, despite this process facing a radical upheaval to deal with complaints about inconsistent regulation.

  • Sack failing staff, chiefs urged

    Chief executives must intervene to fire poorly performing child protection staff, the review of safeguarding work in the wake of the Baby P tragedy is to be told.

  • Scotland councils' 5.1% settlement

    Councils will share£11.7bn from the Scottish government next year after the announcement of a 5.1% funding increase.

  • Solace criticises Balls over Baby P

    Council leaders believe the children's secretary, Ed Balls, has been 'irresponsible' in his response to the death of Baby P, it is reported.

  • Taxpayers accuse councils over PR

    Local councils have been criticised for doubling their spending on publicity over the past decade.

  • The Queen's Speech - in detail

    A Private Eye cover from 1964 showed the Queen with a speech bubble that said: “And I hope you realise I didn’t write this crap.”

  • Tobacco displays to be banned

    Tobacco displays will be removed from shops and access to vending machines restricted as part of moves to cut smoking among young people.

  • Welsh councils' dismay at settlement

    The grant settlement in Wales for next year - up by 2.9% to£3.9bn - has dismayed local councils.

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