Local Government Chronicle
Ruth Keeling
Chief Reporter
Covering local government’s corporate core including management, finance, human resources, legal and communications.
-
Core Cities to probe Work Programme
22-May-2013
‘Deep dive’ examination of poorly performing programme follows meeting with ministers -
Pension fund mergers mooted
22-May-2013
Minister calls for pension fund mergers to be considered as government prepares for further reform -
Court win creates huge rates bill for charity
22-May-2013
Charity faces further demands following councils’ success over exemption -
Cameron writes to community budget hopefuls
21-May-2013
Almost 100 councils bidding to be involved in next stage of community budget work -
Welfare funding announcement imminent
21-May-2013
Lord Freud tells councils details of universal credit funding should come in ‘next couple of months’ -
Core city hopeful knocked back
21-May-2013
Yorkshire city is latest authority to unsuccesfully request role in influential cities group -
Exclusive: East Midlands LEP merger discussed
20-May-2013
Some board members ‘very keen and some less so’, reveals chief executive -
Family workers in demand as targets missed
17-May-2013
Troubled family targets lead to spike in recruitment of social workers -
Government 'keen'on neighbourhood budgets
17-May-2013
Dozen pilots could be rolled out to ‘as many as 100 new areas’, LGA told -
Ministers 'deaf to rent arrear concerns'
17-May-2013
Direct payment demonstration project accuses ministers of ‘sticking their heads in the sand’ -
Derbyshire chief to depart
16-May-2013
Departure of Nick Hodgson announced after Labour takes control of council -
National agreement 'not fit for purpose': LGA
16-May-2013
LGA workforce team to help councils secure terms and condition changes locally -
Ukip councillors will be 'independents on steroids'
16-May-2013
Residents’ views to take precedence over party policies, says Ukip local government leader -
Counties call for their own growth deals
16 May 2013
Research shows counties account for almost half of England’s economic output -
A rural idyll or an economic wasteland?
16 May 2013
A growth policy with a clear urban focus is leaving other areas fearing they have been ‘left to die off’ -
LGC View - A race against time
16 May 2013
Economic growth is desperately needed, so county calls for their own deals ahead of the 2015 growth deals makes sense, writes Ruth Keeling -
Coalitions take shape following local polls
15-May-2013
The latest round-up of the situation on each council where elections took place which led to no overall control. -
Job cuts on the cards at LGA
15-May-2013
‘Core posts’ to be reduced in number as LGA grapples with last minute funding cuts -
London demands taxing powers
15-May-2013
Commission claims new funding model could be applied to all cities -
Ballot box kicking fails to materialise
14-May-2013
Council tax risers increase majority despite ministerial predictions of electoral beating -
Peers to fight retrospective council tax rules
14-May-2013
Application of new rules to past decisions ‘unlikely to survive’ legislative process, Labour spokesman warns -
Cipfa slams retrospective council tax penalty
13-May-2013
Proposed changes to council tax setting rules raises concerns with finance directors -
Solace calls for funding distribution review
13-May-2013
‘Piecemeal’ funding mechanisms require review, chief executives tell government -
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 -
Community budget 'lock' mooted for Whitehall
9 May 2013
LGA calls for ‘lock and key’ mechanism for departments and suggests community budgets should be targeted at authorities on the cusp of financial trouble -
Euro/local poll ‘will boost Ukip’
8-May-2013
‘Stupid decision’ to combine next year’s local and European elections will mean further Ukip success, Labour’s most senior councillor warns -
LGC View - Ukip in the council chamber
8-May-2013
With so little of its agenda being decided in the council chambers, there are few local issues Ukip can coalesce around, writes Ruth Keeling -
Councils call for 'back to work' role
8-May-2013
LGA joins call for councils to be given a greater role in work programme -
Elections: final results
3-May-2013
Final results from all councils as they complete their counts -
Districts demand planning fee freedom
3-May-2013
Treasury told districts could struggle to balance books without freedom to cover planning costs -
Birmingham & Solihull bid for Heseltine cash
2-May-2013
Enterprise partnership’s growth strategy promises 100,000 more jobs and £8.25bn economic growth -
Bristol appoints city director
1-May-2013
Former Hull chief executive appointed to new post at Bristol City Council -
Cheshire East selects chief candidate
1-May-2013
Lambeth finance director in the frame for top role -
Ministers defend sector-led improvement
1-May-2013
No need for NAO to assess council led performance assessment, ministers tell MPs -
Final spending round cases being presented to Whitehall
29-Apr-2013
Whitehall departments are set to receive spending round submissions from local government bodies in the next few days as negotiations about 2015-16 budgets heat up. -
MPs question LEP accountability
26-Apr-2013
Committee calls for performance measures and a single LEP minister -
Treasury hints of whole place funding model
26-Apr-2013
Uncooperative departments could lose community budget funding in spending round -
Warm words but no revolution as Whitehall thwarts change
26-Apr-2013
Another huge round of cuts could make many local government services unsustainable. Ruth Keeling reports -
LGC View - Spending round 2015-16
26-Apr-2013
The government’s devolutionary rhetoric does not always translate into practice and there is a risk that it just becomes about cost and risk shunting -
Employers offer 1% pay rise
24-Apr-2013
Employers offer 1% increase to all staff after unions refuse to negotiate terms and condition changes -
Westminster 'too busy' to share a chief
24-Apr-2013
Tri-boroughs rule out a shared chief across three councils because of Westminster’s ‘scale’ -
Bids placed for community budget network
24-Apr-2013
‘Tight window of opportunity’ for councils to apply for transformation network -
Cumbria chief takes early retirement
24-Apr-2013
Chief announces departure ahead of elections and management restructure -
Tri-borough chiefs to stand down
23-Apr-2013
Both Mike More and Derek Myers to stand down before end of year -
Lords back revised home extensions plan
23-Apr-2013
Lords pass amended plans despite concerns about council costs -
Copyright agency eyes scores of councils without licences
23-Apr-2013
Agency warns authorities could face retrospective charges and legal costs for unlicensed copying by staff -
Pickles rethinks permitted development plans
22-Apr-2013
But questions raised about who will pay for new ‘light touch’ consultation -
Planners 'are not blocking growth'
22-Apr-2013
Councillors defend their planning departments as row over planning reforms deepens -
Blackburn director to leave local government
22-Apr-2013
Solace board member announces departure to third sector -
Districts lack confidence in DWP delivery
18-Apr-2013
Department willl struggle to deliver payments to claimants and landlords, survey suggests -
Business rate discount schemes are shunned
18 April 2013
Budget cuts blamed as just 5% of councils opt to set up bespoke rate relief schemes -
Leaders and chiefs call for localised Work Programme
17-Apr-2013
Local authorities in bid to run Work Programme as government flagship misses targets -
'Disgrace' as pay falls below minimum wage
17-Apr-2013
Unison criticises local government employers as minimum wage overtakes council pay -
Clark's call for decentralisation reports rejected
16-Apr-2013
Decentralisation ministerial brief deleted -
Sir Merrick stands down as leader
16-Apr-2013
Kensington & Chelsea leader stands down to focus on final year as LGA chairman -
London Councils call for local work scheme
16-Apr-2013
Report finds local employment schemes work better than national programme -
Welfare reform new burden cash announced
15-Apr-2013
Almost 400 councils to share £24.1m fund for implementation costs -
Business rate delays 'costing councils'
15-Apr-2013
Valuation Office Agency told to ‘get its act together’ over ratings backlog -
Pravda law 'completely unnecessary'
12-Apr-2013
Sir Merrick Cockell issues strong rebuke after Eric Pickles unveils plans for publicity law -
Auto enrolment requirements reconsidered
12-Apr-2013
Department for Work & Pensions consultation signals possible reprieve for smaller councils -
UPDATED: Gove U-turn spells confusion for sector led improvement
11 April 2013
Education secretary accused of ‘fundamental misjudgement’ as funding cut ‘further muddles’ government stance on sector led improvement -
Universal Credit's ‘digital by default’ ditched
10-Apr-2013
Technology in doubt as officials’ change tone and talk of ‘digital as appropriate’ -
Law Commission sets out tenancy reform
10-Apr-2013
But only Welsh tenants will benefit after English government rejected advice -
Leaders discuss £2m funding cut
10-Apr-2013
LGA leadership board to examine which services could be cut following reduction in top slice -
EXCLUSIVE: Children's improvement funding cut
9-Apr-2013
‘Complete shock’ as Department for Education announces £8.5m in-year cut to sector led improvement -
Pickles proposes anti-'Pravda' law
8-Apr-2013
Communities secretary seeks power to force councils to follow publicity code -
'Out of touch' ministers slammed by 'volunteer' councillors
8-Apr-2013
Some councillors working a 40 hour week and could be compensated for loss of earnings, argues LGA -
EXCLUSIVE: Welfare 'partnership forum' established
5-Apr-2013
Chief executives and civil servants to meet and discuss implementation progress -
DCLG moves in with Home Office
4-Apr-2013
DCLG to save £8m a year by leaving Eland House -
MPs criticise 'cavalier' Budget move
4-Apr-2013
Last minute decision to bring forward pension reforms will have ‘significant implications’ for employers -
Training budgets cut
4-Apr-2013
Authorities cut spend on officer training but maintain member development funding -
Pension reform costs 'not sustainable'
3-Apr-2013
LGA calls for meeting with Treasury over reform’s multi-million pound cost for employers -
Welfare reforms 'will hit councils'
3-Apr-2013
DWP criticised for failing to provide timely information for councils implementing changes -
Employers consider pay options
2-Apr-2013
Employers said to be ‘disappointed’ by union demands for an improved offer -
Charity rate 'scam' hitting coffers
2-Apr-2013
Local government appeals for business rate relief rules to be tightened -
Southwest One staff return to council
28-Mar-2013
Staff and services returned to Somerset as pair resolve their differences -
Heseltine urges Whitehall ‘culture change’
28 March 2013
But LEP contact with ‘senior’ Whitehall sponsors subject to strict protocol -
LGC View - Budget 2013
28 March 2013
The Budget presented a mixed bag for local government, writes Ruth Keeling -
'No fee hike' for LGA despite 7% budget cut
27-Mar-2013
Leaders discuss ‘unexpected’ budget reductions while core cities indicate they could leave body next year -
Community budget network plan branded ‘a fudge’
27-Mar-2013
Ministers’ rollout criticised by pilot areas awaiting response to business cases submitted to Whitehall six months ago -
Two fifths of councils reject freeze funding
27-Mar-2013
‘Short term’ funding offer rejected with 39% of councils opting to increase council tax -
Councils call for Universal Credit rollout detail
27-Mar-2013
Two thirds of authorities tell conference they had no contact with DWP managers -
Broadband savings 'not yet known'
26-Mar-2013
‘Reprofiling’ of £1.2bn broadband programme ‘ongoing’ says department -
'Volunteer' councillors asked for their views
25-Mar-2013
MPs ask councillors whether ministers are right to describe their role as voluntary -
Shared services fund opens
22-Mar-2013
Awards of up to £2m available to councils sharing services ‘whilst maintaining their separate identity’ -
Department cuts LGA funding by 7%
22-Mar-2013
Association describes funding cut as ‘unexpected’ and ‘astonishing’ -
Community budgets to be rolled out
22-Mar-2013
Authorities have until mid-April to submit expressions of interest -
'Project' borrowing rate allocated to LEPs
21-Mar-2013
But projects should be ready for construction by June next year says Treasury -
Mediawatch - Welfare reform: look back in anger?
21 March 2013
LGC’s chief reporter Ruth Keeling reviews the week’s media -
Pension change to cost £1bn a year
20-Mar-2013
Simplification of state pension described as ‘massive stealth tax’ on local government employers and staff -
Budget 2013: Further cuts for local government
20-Mar-2013
But council budgets protected from first year of cuts as they were in Autumn Statement -
Unions united in call for improved pay offer
20-Mar-2013
Unison, GMB and Unite to push local authority employers for better pay deal -
Heseltine growth teams lack 'heavy hitters'
20-Mar-2013
‘Senior Whitehall sponsors’ to be director generals and directors, not permanent secretaries and ministers as recommended -
Single pot eligibility set out
18-Mar-2013
No area will miss out on single pot funding, but some will be subject to central controls -
Growth teams 'cannot be new bureaucracy'
18-Mar-2013
Core city demands dedicated growth team and calls for single pot to be ‘significant and genuine’ -
DCLG to disclose spending cuts model
15-Mar-2013
Ministers respond positively to national auditors’ request -
Ministers to examine pension merger
15-Mar-2013
Call for evidence to take place ‘in next six months’, pension fund managers told -
Budget to give councils keys to surplus land
15-Mar-2013
Authorities to head up efforts to reclaim brownfield sites -
Benefit schemes to be cut back next year
14 March 2013
Low-income residents face council tax rises when transition funding runs dry -
‘Confidential’ peer report won't be published
14 March 2013
Another authority keeps assessment under wraps despite advice from LGA to publish -
A question of engagement
14 March 2013
Despite widespread support for sector-led improvement, Ruth Keeling finds the sector still has critics to reassure -
LGC View - Sector-led improvement
14 March 2013
More and more councils are involved with sector-led improvement, although concerns remain about those who don’t engage -
Disciplinary plans ‘undermine accountability'
13-Mar-2013
Government accused of ‘inconsistency’ over whistleblowers as chief officer protections look set to be removed -
Better design 'can transform services'
13-Mar-2013
Projects in Cornwall, Staffordshire and other councils cited as “great examples” -
Chancellor told to free up council finances
12-Mar-2013
Leaders and chief executives urge chancellor to give councils new financial powers in Budget bid to boost economic growth -
Watchdog to judge local growth policies
12-Mar-2013
National Audit Office announce assessment of government’s growth policies -
Broadband delivery chief to meet council leaders
11-Mar-2013
Councils not to blame for broadband delays, says LGA ahead of meeting -
Right to appeal denied by DCLG
8-Mar-2013
No power to appeal business rate levels, but ministers working to tackle valuation delays -
Two thirds take freeze funding
8-Mar-2013
Authorities rejecting funding incentive and putting up council tax doubles -
Second union rejects offered pay rise
7 March 2013
Unite joins Unison in rejecting national offer as LGC research confirms staff are better off under local bargaining -
LEP leaders call for single pot ‘flexibility’
6-Mar-2013
Whitehall offers a range of governance options for consideration -
Small districts 'in danger of becoming unviable'
5-Mar-2013
More districts could find themselves in West Somerset DC’s position, warns report -
Tax benefit help for half of councils
5-Mar-2013
60% of councils secure share of transitional cash -
Pilot councils sees online claimants fall
5-Mar-2013
Data from Universal Credit pilot cases casts doubt on ‘digital by default’ emphasis -
Reduce union facilities time, councils told
4-Mar-2013
Union leader brands minister’s comments ‘unjustified’ and ‘insulting’ -
Exclusive: Brent reveals chief is off pay roll
1-Mar-2013
Arrangement comes to light as MPs demand to know scale of practice in councils -
London maintains low tax record
28-Feb-2013
Cipfa survey confirms rising number of councils rejecting freeze funding -
Reserves increase as uncertainty grows
28-Feb-2013
Business rate retention and welfare reform blamed as reserve levels grow -
Rate appeal data based on 'guesstimates'
28 February 2013
Wide variation in business rate loss estimates as directors grapple with new task -
Unison leaders reject both pay offers
27-Feb-2013
Branches to be advised to reject deal and consider strike ballot -
Pay offer leaves both sides dissatisfied
27-Feb-2013
Pay offer branded ‘disappointing’ by unions while reforms ‘don’t go far enough’ for employers -
West Somerset 'is viable', top official claims
26-Feb-2013
Sir Bob Kerslake quizzed by MPs over financial sustainability of local government -
South east makes early bid for single pot cash
25-Feb-2013
Biggest LEP advises against competitive bid system -
Wandsworth among 100-plus council tax risers
22-Feb-2013
Flagship Conservative authority plans 3.1% rise without referendum because of levy “loophole” -
Unions given two options on pay
21-Feb-2013
Employers place two pay offers on the table as negotiations continue -
Bristol appoints interim 'city director'
21-Feb-2013
Interim strategic director to fill role until permanent appointment made -
Ministers unveil new chief sacking rules
21-Feb-2013
Short consultation launched over plans to scrap senior officer protections -
Doubt cast on voluntary improvement regime
21 February 2013
Whitehall concerned sector-led improvement model could miss poorly performing councils -
LGC View - Universal credit
21 February 2013
It is ironic that some councils are now shying away from involvement in this ambitious reform of the welfare state, but perhaps not too surprising -
We want to build on the work with councils
21 February 2013
Lord Freud outlines his vision for the role of local government in the rollout and delivery of welfare reform -
Minister warns LEPs over missed deadline
20-Feb-2013
At least one partnership at risk of missing £250,000 capacity funding -
Counties frustrated by city deal focus
20-Feb-2013
Clegg invites ‘all’ to submit ideas, but county says plans were met with ‘blank faces’ -
Second wave cities given green light
19-Feb-2013
Cities given go ahead to enter year-long talks over finalised deal -
Quarter of authorities planning council tax rise
19-Feb-2013
More authorities unveil plans for council tax rises of up to 7.8% -
Ministers renew criticism of Tower Hamlets
18-Feb-2013
Mayor ‘mismanaging staff and resources’, says Lewis -
'Jury out' on city deals say first wave cities
18-Feb-2013
Deals have ‘potential’ but may prove fleeting, warn core cities -
Rescue for 'unviable' council takes shape
18-Feb-2013
Taunton Deane councillors to discuss sharing with West Somerset -
Give 'stressed' staff a pay rise, says Unison
18-Feb-2013
Survey reveals increased workload alongside job and pay cuts -
Fifth of authorities to increase council tax
14-Feb-2013
LGC research shows 65 councils are planning a rise -
LGC View - Levies and council tax
14 February 2013
Few people understand the increasingly complex council tax regime, perhaps not even those setting the rules -
The layman’s guide to council tax
14 February 2013
Calculating the percentage by which a local authority’s council tax level will change sounds simple. So why are some councils claiming they could trigger a referendum with a council tax freeze? Dan Drillsma-Milgrom and Ruth Keeling explain -
Shared services fund announced
13-Feb-2013
Efficiency grant should allow ‘unviable’ district council to pursue shared services -
Scrap metal licensing passes Lords
13-Feb-2013
Licensing system to tackle thefts to be established -
Harman intervention branded 'unacceptable'
13-Feb-2013
Newcastle leaders reacts angrily to claims Labour MP secured arts funding rethink -
DWP stakes claim on purse strings
12-Feb-2013
Consultation suggests Jobcentre Plus managers, not councils, should manage funding -
Cornwall names chief executive
12-Feb-2013
Assistant chief to take on job until after elections -
Whitehall resistance 'will not kill single pot'
12-Feb-2013
Chancellor has taken an ‘active role’ in funding devolution plan, says Lord Heseltine -
Local Partnerships appoints chief
12-Feb-2013
Former council chief exec makes move from Cabinet Office -
'Loophole' councils warn of judicial review
11-Feb-2013
Ministerial threats to target council tax increasers next year could result in legal challenge, argues Bolton -
Pension board to involve all employers
8-Feb-2013
Reformed governance arrangements will include non-council employers -
Quarter of councils lose sparsity funding
8-Feb-2013
Grants for 29 councils withdrawn as government reissues allocations 24 hours after announcement -
'Low value' offer scuppers pay talks
8-Feb-2013
An early local government deal to deliver a pay rise in place of a fourth freeze is looking increasingly unlikely -
Spending review's 'biggest casualty' to be DCLG
7-Feb-2013
Institute for Fiscal Studies analysis sets out trajectory for local government -
Mediawatch: Clouds of doom with a hint of a silver lining…
7 February 2013
LGC’s chief reporter Ruth Keeling reviews the week’s media -
Three into one will go
7 February 2013
How Trevor Holden will manage three councils at once -
Under political pressure
7 February 2013
The salary drop remains relatively constant, but the political assault has a new energy. Ruth Keeling reports -
Isle of Wight to delete chief post
6-Feb-2013
Isle of Wight plans to scrap post following retirement -
Preparing for old age
6-Feb-2013
Preparations for auto enrollment of pensions will not take a ‘couple of weeks’ as some employers seem to believe, so it is time to start planning says the Pensions Regulator -
County to split outsource contract
6-Feb-2013
Single deal with Mouchel to be broken up for local economic growth -
Doncaster mayor leaves English Democrats
6-Feb-2013
Peter Davies resigns over BNP concerns -
Boris calls for locally retained stamp duty
6-Feb-2013
Stamp duty change and relaxation of borrowing rules ‘could solve housing crisis’ -
Extra support for hardest hit
5-Feb-2013
Final settlement contains £9m more for rural areas and hardest hit -
Former leader censured in incinerator row
5-Feb-2013
Norfolk’s former leader abandons election hopes after standards verdict -
MPs issue warning on transport bodies
5-Feb-2013
Financial worries could hamper decision making, committee warns -
MPs to investigate skills and growth
5-Feb-2013
Cross-party group inquiry to examine role of LEPs -
Waste body defends PFI deal and levy rates
4-Feb-2013
Pickles’ parliamentary account ‘inaccurate’, councillor claims -
Pickles defends his tough love approach
4-Feb-2013
Minister admits to taking liberties in his passion to ‘push’ local government on -
Treasury backs bigger business rate grab
4-Feb-2013
Councils could secure larger chunk of retained rates -
Oxford secures five-year pay deal
1-Feb-2013
Local deal guarantees 1.5% a year for five years -
Pickles performs U-turn on levies
31-Jan-2013
Levies to be included in referendums one year after proposal vetoed -
Levy omissions spark ‘bespoke’ formula
31 January 2013
Met handed special council tax formula to avoid referendum anomaly -
Third county opts to increase tax levels
30-Jan-2013
Surrey defies warnings as Pickles hints at changes to levy rules -
Prepare for 'widespread financial failure', ministers warned
30-Jan-2013
‘Alarming’ NAO sustainability report prompts reprimand from Hodge -
Freud defends welfare reform record
30-Jan-2013
Prisk and Freud accused of leaving authorities without proper guidance -
Benefit teams to receive £14m for reform work
28-Jan-2013
Welfare reform new burdens funding announced -
Standards debate was 'inappropriate'
25-Jan-2013
Naming and shaming of monitoring officers was unfair, minister told -
Tower Hamlets appoints interim
25-Jan-2013
Head of paid service to remain until after mayoral elections -
Tory leaders warn PM of 'fractious' relationship
24-Jan-2013
Election victory at risk because of ‘constant criticism’ by ministers -
Penalties for councils caught in levy trap
24 January 2013
Curbs on future rises planned as department mulls reconsideration of levy exclusion -
LGC View - IT outsourcing
24 January 2013
Ruth Keeling on a difficult dilemma for cash-strapped councils -
Ministers allow extra time for appeal refunds
23-Jan-2013
Multi-million pound cost of appeals can be repaid over five years, says DCLG -
County proposes tax rise 'for growth'
23-Jan-2013
Second county plans council tax increase in election year -
Tower Hamlets to look internally again
23-Jan-2013
Top role discussed after intervention warning -
District chief takes second job at county
23-Jan-2013
Dual role for chief executive as authorities scope sharing potential -
Third of business rate pools withdraw
18-Jan-2013
Late tweak to funding system and risk of business rate appeals blamed -
Lavery cites culture of contempt in UK exit
18-Jan-2013
Fears for future of Whitehall policymaking as top-tier departures take their toll -
County confident of voter support over planned council tax rise
18-Jan-2013
Oxfordshire CC is the first county to indicate it will increase council tax in March, just two months before many councillors face re-election -
Double count casts doubt on funding figure
17 January 2013
Pickles’ cut estimation questioned as calculation anomaly puts spending power fall figure closer to 2.6% -
LGC View - Interview with Don Foster
17 January 2013
Mr Foster suggests council who feel ‘excluded’ could themselves make use of the powers the coalition has provided for communities -
Community budget details imminent
17 January 2013
Requests for Whitehall reform to be decided ‘in next few weeks’, says LGA -
Officials discuss benefit funding confusion
16-Jan-2013
Protection for council tax support raises questions for funding levels elsewhere -
Quarter of councils to plug council tax benefit gap
15-Jan-2013
Majority to pass on cuts to claimants - but most will qualify for £100m transitional support -
Government 'backtracks' on benefit cut
11-Jan-2013
CLG denial contradicts claim at LGA exec meeting -
Leaders hit back in pensions row
11-Jan-2013
Judicial review mooted as all parties criticise ministers in renumeration row -
LGA warns of further council tax benefit cut
10-Jan-2013
Leaders claim further 8.5% cut to council tax support -
Cutting to the settlement chase
10 January 2013
An overview of the local government financial settlement and the implications - both good and bad - for council budgets -
Lobbying on council tax changes
10 January 2013
The disappearance of council tax support funding as a distinct revenue stream is among the changes causing concern -
Councils stoic in face of double-digit grant cuts
10 January 2013
LGC analysis shows effect of cuts to core funding streams -
Fifty shades of exasperation
10 January 2013
The DCLG’s money-saving guidance has provoked scorn among many in the sector -
LGC View - A new funding system for councils
10 January 2013
The way the settlement was spun to the national media does not bode well for those looking to strike a new ‘contract’ with central government -
Councils' tax intentions emerge
9-Jan-2013
Pickles’ praises borough’s tax cut but county announces rise intentions -
Minister showed 'contempt' with pension plan
9-Jan-2013
Further opposition over plan to axe pensions for councillors -
Norfolk leader faces standards probe
9-Jan-2013
‘Case to answer’ over incinerator row with fellow Tory leader -
Hardest hit face cuts of 15% next year
2-Jan-2013
‘Spending power’ figure masks much larger reducations for many authorities -
Districts given thumbs up for tax rises of up to 8%
2-Jan-2013
‘Low cost’ councils given flexible referendum limit PLUS full list of potential increases available to districts -
Pools to ponder position over break
21-Dec-2012
Authorities pooling business rates have 10 working days to assess their funding position -
London boroughs to pilot benefit cap
20-Dec-2012
Four councils to implement welfare reform in April next year -
Lewis fields questions on settlement
20-Dec-2012
Minister and officials challenged over timing and presentation of cuts details -
Pickles lays out settlement figures
19-Dec-2012
Spending power cuts to be limited to 8.8% in return for service improvements -
Ministers set out '50 ways to save'
19-Dec-2012
Chief executive posts, councillor pensions, away days in ‘posh hotels’ & subsidised canteens ‘should be scrapped’ -
'Unviable' council switches saviour
19-Dec-2012
West Somerset abandons plan to work with Sedgemoor on business plan for joint working -
Finance chiefs hit back over missing millions
18-Dec-2012
Legal challenge and council tax rise mooted following late change to baseline calculations -
Treasury 'won't budge' on protections
18-Dec-2012
But ministers ‘open’ to rethink for 2016-17 and beyond -
Housing powers given to Milton Keynes
14-Dec-2012
Unitary authority to dispose of Homes & Communities Agency assets -
Universal Credit review agreed
14-Dec-2012
Local authorities to play a role in assessment of benefit one year in -
New ‘project rate’ borrowing deal laid out
13 December 2012
Chancellor announces cut-price loans in bid to drive infrastructure projects -
Officials mull last-ditch blanket tax freeze plan
12-Dec-2012
Exclusive: Department considered emergency legislation to strip funding from those planning council tax increases -
'Unviable' council doubts minister's suggestions
12-Dec-2012
Leader claims Lewis has ‘no answer other than sharing services’ -
Lewis visits 'unviable' district
11-Dec-2012
Minister in talks with council leaders ahead of crunch meeting for West Somerset DC -
Funding almost halved since 2010, says IFS
7-Dec-2012
Local government cuts predicted to be more than 40% by 2017-18 -
West Somerset to become 'virtual authority'
6-Dec-2012
Minister accepts council ‘unviable’ but refuses to back merger plan -
Audit Commission hands Pickles ammunition
6 December 2012
Communities secretary cites rising reserve levels in attack on ‘doom and gloom predictions’ -
Pay and terms deal may not be ‘cost neutral’
6 December 2012
Sources say deal on conditions need not raise as much as pay rise costs -
Accountants warn of financial ‘tipping point’
6 December 2012
Several councils could reach a financial “tipping point” within two years, which could leave them unable to meet their legal obligations, according to a health check by auditors Grant Thornton -
Autumn Statement: Heseltine review backed
5-Dec-2012
Single funding pot confirmed along with cheaper borrowing rate -
Autumn Statement: Further cuts confirmed
5-Dec-2012
Autumn Statement confirms further cuts within spending review; embeds local government’s disadvantage into next review -
Treasurers 'confused' by parish decision
4-Dec-2012
Whitehall rejects majority view despite minister’s favour for grassroots authorities -
North Norfolk leader found dead after shooting
3-Dec-2012
Bodies of Conservative leader and his wife found following reports of gunshots -
Pickles heaps praise on 'impressive' community budgets
30-Nov-2012
Minister commits central government to further work on test project -
Heseltine to test run LEP proposals
29-Nov-2012
Birmingham & Solihull partnership to work with peer on practical application of review -
Sir Merrick pushes local growth role
29 November 2012
Last-ditch bid to dissuade ministers from reopening local government budgets -
‘Ludicrous’ tax rules trigger referenda at 0%
29 November 2012
Meanwhile, others could increase rates by 3% without a poll -
Levy rate cap prompts pooling rethink
29 November 2012
Treasurers welcome levy cap but warn pooling could be less likely as a result -
Hodge brands LGA data 'appallingly incomplete'
28-Nov-2012
But NAO defends sector body’s role in collating comparable data -
Waste PFI deal faces further delays
28-Nov-2012
Wakefield expect to sign deal in New Year - two years later than expected -
Leader bypasses DCLG in direct appeal to Number 10
23-Nov-2012
Cameron warned that “regressive” cuts put community cohesion at risk -
Free schools lodge planning fee complaint
23-Nov-2012
Education and communities secretaries ‘urgently’ examining council planning demands -
Shared chief councils form lobby group
23-Nov-2012
Joint chiefs and leaders request creation of ‘special interest group’ -
Pickles freeze plans left in a puddle
22-Nov-2012
Number of councils rejecting freeze funding looks set to double next year -
The thaw continues
22 November 2012
With a less generous government offer and a more severe referendum trigger, LGC’s survey takes an early snapshot of council tax plans -
LGA members give notice
22 November 2012
Number on notice to quit rises to highest number for some time -
LGC View - Council Tax
22 November 2012
Councils now not only have to face residents primed by ministers for a council tax freeze, they must do so for a below-inflation increase -
Mixed feelings on Pickles plan
22 November 2012
Proposals to drop additional employment safeguards for senior council officers provoke mixed response -
Ministers confirm safety net and levy rates
21-Nov-2012
Safety net tightened and levy reduced following sector complaints about lack of growth incentives -
Neighbours pledge support for 'unviable' council
21-Nov-2012
But nearby districts refuse to comment on calls for a boundary review -
Ministers asked to release settlement data early
21-Nov-2012
Sector calls for clarity as settlement date pushed back to late December -
'Stressed' councils set to struggle financially
21-Nov-2012
Quarter of councils could struggle to balance books over next two years says Audit Commission -
Southampton chief to depart
19-Nov-2012
Chief exec takes salary cut to move to Herefordshire -
Doom graphs branded 'pessimistic' by DCLG
19-Nov-2012
LGA and sector forecasts of funding crisis questioned by senior officials -
Independent wins Bristol mayoral election
16-Nov-2012
Former Liberal Democrat councillor beats party hopefuls in city mayoral elections -
Hartlepool dumps mayoral system
16-Nov-2012
Referendum vote means football mascot will be town’s first and last directly elected mayor -
‘Unviable’ district seeks help from ministers
15-Nov-2012
Updated: Leader accepts viabililty questions; pledges savings measures -
Expert criticises Pickles’ employment plans
14-Nov-2012
Commentators fear proposals could lead to a rise in tribunals and related costs -
Reigate proposes 2% council tax rise
14-Nov-2012
Second Conservative authority sets out plans for increase -
Transition funding 'shambolic'
13-Nov-2012
Ministers say cash will protect vulnerable from ‘badly run Labour councils’ -
Action urged on London pension 'time bomb'
12-Nov-2012
DCLG’s oversight of scheme described as ‘shocking’ by pensions experts -
Brent misconduct allegations dropped
12-Nov-2012
Finance director Clive Heaphy leaves borough voluntarily -
Chiefs sacking rules to be revoked
9-Nov-2012
Finance and monitoring officers will also lose right to independent review, ministers say -
Tories jettison Parsons ahead of elections
9-Nov-2012
Party discipline must be ‘teeth’ to new standards regime, says Parsons’ successor -
Tory council mulls tax rise
9-Nov-2012
Canterbury considers 1.99% increase due to ‘larger than expected cuts’ -
Local growth, national recovery
8 November 2012
Functional economic market areas and ‘local growth teams’ put sub-regional relations at the heart of a long-term business plan -
LGC View - Lord Heseltine’s review
8 November 2012
Ruth Keeling assesses the likelihood of Lord Heseltine’s growth proposals being implemented -
Parsons resigns ahead of crunch meeting
7-Nov-2012
Successor vows to win public trust ahead of disciplinary meeting -
Early birds set out stall on freeze funding
7-Nov-2012
Some move quickly to reject council tax offer but others embrace deal -
Pension rules tweaked in growth drive
6-Nov-2012
Ministers look to relax rules in search for infrastructure investment -
Minority of councils shun cheaper borrowing
6-Nov-2012
All but 45 councils get access to lower ‘certainty rate’ -
Threat of pension contribution increase returns
6-Nov-2012
Whitehall warns low-paid could lose protection from pension cost hike -
Benefit changes 'will be straightforward': Freud
5-Nov-2012
Minister confident about direct payments to claimants as pilots return results -
Pension cost management plans unveiled
1-Nov-2012
Unions and LGA push on after ministers fail to respond to proposals -
Huggins to leave joint role
1-Nov-2012
Groundbreaking joint chief to stand down in New Year -
Ex-chiefs among candidates for PCC posts
1 November 2012
And almost half of police and crime commissioner candidates are - or have been - councillors -
‘Unachievable’ deadline sparks call for ‘automatic pooling’
1 November 2012
Council calls for county and district councils to be treated in the same way as unitary areas -
Heseltine's restructure plans unilaterally panned
31-Oct-2012
Recommendation to pool Whitehall cash into growth fund is welcomed -
Minister considers further funding for worst hit
30-Oct-2012
Appeal to protect dozen worst hit districts reaches Westminster -
Pension negotiators seek end to delays
29-Oct-2012
Departmental delays putting 2014 reform date at risk, warns LGA and unions -
Public sector 'pushed to the limit'
29-Oct-2012
Finance body warns of crises ahead in ‘long downturn’ -
Second wave of city deals launched
29-Oct-2012
Twenty new regions make Treasury shortlist -
Council tax funding decisions 'worrying': IFS
26-Oct-2012
Analysts criticise ‘dangerous’ last minute rethinks by DCLG -
Richmondshire appoints managing director
26-Oct-2012
Internal appointment following demise of sharing arrangement -
Pickles looks to tighten transparency rules
26-Oct-2012
Guidance on data and pay transparency set to become legally binding -
Barnet names next chief
26-Oct-2012
Internal candidate to take post on an interim basis -
Auditors call for transport clarity
25-Oct-2012
Department asked to set out standards and intervention plan -
Killian aims to build up sector's capacity
25 October 2012
Solace’s new chair talks to Ruth Keeling about her hopes for the future of the society and the wider local government family -
City to scrap services as extra cuts bite
24-Oct-2012
Birmingham asks residents to think about decommissioning services -
Cornwall joint venture plans put on hold
23-Oct-2012
Backbenchers secure a rethink on shared service deal following leadership challenge -
Benn stands firm on council tax discounts
23-Oct-2012
Peers again told to oppose LGA amendment seeking greater flexibility for councils -
Regional pay briefings cancelled
22-Oct-2012
LGA abandons employer soundings to focus on talks with unions -
'Uncertain' borrowing figures, warns OBR
22-Oct-2012
Office of Budget Responsibility casts doubt on borrowing data -
LGA finance leads appointed
19-Oct-2012
City chief executive and Audit Commission adviser to lead finance team -
Growth bill branded a 'missed opportunity'
19-Oct-2012
LGA calls for relaxed borrowing over further planning reforms -
Maude calls for local government mutuals
18-Oct-2012
But self-confessed ‘localist’ won’t force government’s reform agenda on sector -
Labour-opposed benefit amendment fails
17-Oct-2012
Labour peers whipped against bid to give councils flexibility over single person discount -
OBR admits local government errors
17-Oct-2012
Erroneous forecasting of council spending and reserves blamed on changing policy landscape -
Labour opposes extra council tax powers
16-Oct-2012
Flexibility over single persons discount to be opposed by government and opposition -
Cap-for-funding deal announced
16-Oct-2012
Ministers unveil £100m for authorities that protect workers -
Spending review ‘already reopened’, officials claim
4 October 2012
Experts list funding streams withheld from councils -
Prisk asks councils to spend £1bn locally
28-Sep-2012
Ministers wants Decent Home cash spent ‘as soon as possible’ -
Bailey takes on new role at City Hall
27-Sep-2012
Local Partnerships chief executive to join London mayor’s team -
Parsons' successor vows to 'repair damage'
27-Sep-2012
New Leicestershire leader orders party to investigate former leader over expenses -
Fears grow over reopened settlement
27 September 2012
Missed deficit reduction targets could spell bad news for local government -
Treasurers call for stronger safety net
27 September 2012
‘Highly geared’ councils could see ‘economic meltdown’ and still not receive payments -
Anglesey intervention steps down a notch
26-Sep-2012
Commissioners take on monitoring role as councillors regain powers -
Mid Devon publishes peer challenge report
26-Sep-2012
Authority reconsiders decision to keep report under lock and key -
Business rate pooling deadline shifts again
26-Sep-2012
Pool membership ‘can change’ after all, says DCLG -
Empty homes discounts: winners and losers emerge
20 September 2012
New flexibilities to allow two-thirds of single-tier authorities to cover council tax benefit funding cut -
County’s pooling bid turned down
20 September 2012
Late application hopes dashed by civil servants -
Pensions bill sparks fears for reform deal
19-Sep-2012
UPDATED - More concern over Treasury role but expert seeks to allay fears -
Audit Commission abolition to save 'just £1.7m'
19-Sep-2012
UPDATE - Council leaders claim LGA will perform future negotiation role -
Freud promises to fund new burdens
18-Sep-2012
Minister says ‘reasonable’ costs for Universal Credit responsibilities will be paid -
Civil servants question LGA on transparency
17-Sep-2012
Improvement system felt not to be ‘publicly accountable’ at senior levels -
Workforce shrinks further
14-Sep-2012
Town hall jobs fall by 8% in a year -
Pension reform bill published
13-Sep-2012
Governance and employer cost cap details revealed -
Business rate pooling - scale of interest becomes clear
13 September 2012
Time frame means many miss out on opportunity to gain under new system -
Details of performance network emerge
13 September 2012
Information Sharing Network does not discuss individual councils, LGA insists -
Pensions deal could be changed despite union, employer approval
10-Sep-2012
Low-cost ‘50/50’ option at risk -
An essential balancing act
6 September 2012
Michael Coughlin is the face behind the LGA’s improvement and leadership drive. He talks to Ruth Keeling about the job ahead -
Questions asked as councils fail to publish peer challenge results
6 September 2012
LGC research finds councils treating reports as ‘internal documents’ -
Support systems Q&A
6 September 2012
Ruth Keeling takes a look at the spectrum of new improvement structures, from support for struggling councils to peer challenge -
Leadership: training and support
6 September 2012
Michael Coughlin is the face behind the LGA’s improvement and leadership drive. He talks to Ruth Keeling about collaborative leadership -
Improvement: the transparency challenge
6 September 2012
Tackling underperformance in councils is not a job that takes place in the public domain, Ruth Keeling finds -
Contractor sues council over unpaid fees
5-Sep-2012
Troubled joint venture Southwest One takes legal action in long running dispute -
Universal Credit costs 'cannot be known now'
5-Sep-2012
Long term evaluation of new burden needed, says LGA chair -
Homelessness grant funding confirmed
3-Sep-2012
Provisional allocation of £160m published -
Unison and Unite back pension changes
24-Aug-2012
Overwhelming support for pension reforms from employees with sector’s first and third largest unions -
Outcry as deadline for pooling business rates brought forward
23 August 2012
Councils given four weeks to finalise lists as benefits to shires become clear -
Deal brokered in city pay dispute
22-Aug-2012
Strike called off with prospect of pay cut reversal -
LGA call for audit bill clause to be scrapped
21-Aug-2012
NAO involvement in council improvement “simply not appropriate”, government to be told -
Pension reforms get union backing
20-Aug-2012
Overwhelming support for new scheme from GMB members -
Auditors to assess funding changes
17-Aug-2012
Watchdog turns eye to impact of funding reforms and cuts to councils -
LGA to assess transparency costs
10-Aug-2012
Association admits research yet to be commissioned -
Planning delays will stifle growth, ministers told
9-Aug-2012
Prominent Conservative council criticises failure to localise setting of planning fees -
Senior pay: the top line and the subtext
9 August 2012
The latest LGC Salary Tracker shows a steady dip in newly appointed chiefs’ salaries. But that’s only half the story, Ruth Keeling reports. -
Shared services not enough to bridge funding gap, LGA claims
9 August 2012
But LGA-commissioned research criticises lack of financial and performance data -
Shire demand for business rate rethink
8-Aug-2012
Modelling shows split in two-tier areas rendered irrelevant by levy -
Freud congratulated on localist apporach
7-Aug-2012
Universal credit role presents ‘great opportunity’ for councils, chief executive says -
Sitting councillors told to register interests
6-Aug-2012
Minister intervenes following confusion over new standards rules -
'Certainty rate' borrowing deal laid out
3-Aug-2012
Better rate available from November for councils submitting annual plans -
Fears over council tax benefit delay
2-Aug-2012
‘Parish problem’ may require further consultation, treasurers told -
Shropshire to go chiefless
1-Aug-2012
Leader focused on MD appointment to new trading company -
Transparency costs 'should be assessed'
1-Aug-2012
MPs call for cost benefit analysis of data publication -
Planning reform urged for broadband
31-Jul-2012
Contractors complain of delays and costs of street work permissions -
Unison branches back pension reforms
30-Jul-2012
Overwhelming majority support changes to local government pensions -
No record of procurement claim check
30-Jul-2012
No evidence controversial report was checked by statisticians -
Stunell benefit comments 'misleading'
27-Jul-2012
‘Inaccurate’ figures criticised as department clarifies empty homes powers -
Don't be distracted by spending review uncertainty, councils told
26 July 2012
Sector responds to Cameron’s comments on plans for rest of Parliament -
Parishes pressure ministers into council tax benefit review
26 July 2012
DCLG considers policy change as local councils dominate consultation concerns -
Financial freedoms 'needed for growth'
26 July 2012
Infrastructure investment at risk as councils feel the pinch -
Councils 'right at heart' of universal credit
26 July 2012
Welfare reform Minister hints at growing role for councils in reform plans -
New burden cost exceeds funding cut
25-Jul-2012
Birmingham estimate cost of council tax benefit policy to be £40m -
Dawes to take retirement
23-Jul-2012
Lichfield chief executive to retire after 30 years in local government -
Bristol chief to retire
23-Jul-2012
No decision on whether to recruit until after mayoral election -
Herefordshire chief to depart
23-Jul-2012
First ever NHS-local government chief executive announces plan to move on -
Growing universal credit role for councils
23-Jul-2012
Sector ‘at heart’ of reforms as all councils asked to assess reform impact on services -
Welfare pilots shortlist unveiled
20-Jul-2012
Those in running to test universal credit revealed -
Dorset names new chief
20-Jul-2012
Internal candidate to succeed David Jenkins when he retires in October -
LGA bonds prospectus sent to councils
19-Jul-2012
Finance directors invited to regional briefings to discuss alternative borrowing proposal -
Casey calls for single worker for families
18-Jul-2012
Troubled families adviser recommends single ‘assertive’ family worker -
Ministers publish small print of new funding system
18-Jul-2012
Consultation demonstrates impact of new finance system for each council -
Bleak future leads councils to reserve cash
18-Jul-2012
More councils build reserves as expenditure drops below 2007-08 levels -
Department's EU funding response 'inadequate', say MPs
17-Jul-2012
Department criticised for ‘disappointing’ response to regional development concerns -
Controversial contractors 'not systemic'
17-Jul-2012
Only 13 people on personal service contracts, according to LGA trawl -
Tower Hamlets searches for interim chief
16-Jul-2012
Interim sought after council fails to agree on permanent appointment -
Rules on EU fines unveiled
16-Jul-2012
Independent panel included in regulations -
Shapps grilled by councillors
16-Jul-2012
Leaders express frustration with welfare and funding reforms constraints -
Thurrock and Barking shared chief agreed
13-Jul-2012
Essex unitary and east London borough sign ‘pioneering’ deal -
Betts: Regional fund money at risk
13-Jul-2012
Ministers deny there is any problem -
Finance chiefs grapple with CTB timetable
12 July 2012
Settlement scheduled for December despite complex funding changes in pipeline -
Self-regulation on housing mulled
12 July 2012
Voluntary code of conduct for local authority self-financing of housing could be established -
Pressure group's latest pensions report slammed
11-Jul-2012
Taxpayers’ Alliance claims LGPS unsustainable ‘flawed and inaccurate’ -
Pension cost cap plans 'not good enough'
11-Jul-2012
Proposals ‘too loose’ for employers looking to keep control of contributions -
Hull chief executive departs
9-Jul-2012
Need for post questioned as chief leaves with immediate effect -
Audit bill reveals sector savings
9-Jul-2012
Local audit set to save councils £150,000 a year, government estimates -
Planning services key to growth - Kerslake
6-Jul-2012
Senior official urges finance directors not to neglect their planning departments -
Districts battle upper-tier financial focus
5 July 2012
Leaders express concern over ‘potentially divisive’ LGA funding report -
Pickles tells councils to ‘lobby hard’ for larger rates share
5 July 2012
Local share could increase in next spending review, minister suggests -
Unison defies colleague unions to back plan for merged pay talks
5 July 2012
Largest union supports employers’ plan for merged pay talks -
Affordable homes scheme gets mixed review
4-Jul-2012
Targets exceeded but transfer of financial burden to tenants criticised -
Ministers rethink standards concession
3-Jul-2012
Independent members of ‘old discredited regime’ unwelcome in ‘fresh start’ -
Minister dismisses welfare timetable fears
2-Jul-2012
Stunell says no guidance needed to keep existing council tax benefit schemes -
Wirral senior officers suspended
29-Jun-2012
Three top officers asked to stay at home as highways contract is investigated -
Future of most council services 'in doubt'
28 June 2012
Rising social care costs could spell end for libraries, leisure and planning services, report warns -
Funding crisis within a decade, warns LGA
26-Jun-2012
Rising social care costs set to leave nothing for libraries, leisure and planning services -
Shapps asked to back housing campaign
25-Jun-2012
Ministers asked to end cap on borrowing, review right to buy and reduce bureaucracy on empty homes -
Manchester chief to advise central London
25-Jun-2012
Sir Howard Bernstein to chair West End Commission -
Brighton & Hove chief is City bound
22-Jun-2012
Leader firmly denies ‘scurrilous’ claims he wants to be ‘executive leader’ -
Localise housing benefit, says thinktank
21-Jun-2012
Councils could broker lower rent with landlords and build affordable homes, says IPPR -
Hopes of council tax discount flexibility ended
21 June 2012
Ministers ‘receptive to messages’ - but single person discount not negotiable -
South-east offers Pickles a tax freeze
21 June 2012
Pickles offered new council tax freeze - in return for 75% business rate retention -
Kelly in line for Southwark job
20-Jun-2012
Acting chief gains support of members searching for permanent candidate -
Employers call for high-level talks to avoid new battle over pay
14 June 2012
LGA figures admit ‘relationship issue’ with unions over terms and conditions -
Pension reforms to help funds at next valuation
14 June 2012
Employer contribution rates to pension funds should be 2% points lower in 2013 valuations, says negotiator of reform deal -
'I don't think what is required is another national watchdog'
14 June 2012
NAO’s Lynda McMullan talks exclusively to LGC -
Battle ahead over pay, warns GMB
11-Jun-2012
Union slams LGA proposals to rewrite terms and conditions for local government staff -
Cabinet Office boosts mutuals team
8-Jun-2012
Extra civil servants drafted in as government pushes for more employee-owned spin offs -
Planning gain defended
7-Jun-2012
Ministerial plans to reopen section 106 deals will prevent council efforts to solve housing crisis, LGA warns -
Pension reforms face further delay
6-Jun-2012
Cost cap and governance proposals ‘ready for ministers this month’ - but drafting of government pension bill likely to delay final agreement -
Deal struck on pension reform
31-May-2012
Low-paid employees to be protected from pension contribution rate increases -
Top thinktank's withering welfare reform verdict
31 May 2012
IFS claims failure to merge council tax benefit with universal credit threatens work incentive -
Shapps' B&B assault prompts backlash
31 May 2012
Targets hit back, claiming ‘perfect storm’ of rising rents, housing shortages and downturn -
Business rate pooling under threat
31 May 2012
Birmingham chief among those arguing deadline for submitting applications likely to be too tight -
Empty and second homes 'could fund bill cut'
29-May-2012
Pickles says new taxes should fund reduction for families - after Stunell suggests cash could plug 10% funding cut -
Chiefless council sets date
28-May-2012
Showdown meeting over London borough’s failure to appoint new chief executive -
Broomhead returns to Warrington
25-May-2012
Former chief executive to return to job on interim basis -
North-west councils to pioneer universal credit
24-May-2012
Metropolitan boroughs in the Cheshire and Greater Manchester to be first to pilot new single benefit for working age claimants -
Experts hit back at Stunell's council tax benefit comments
24 May 2012
Claims that councils can meet 10% cut in council tax benefit funding by increasing taxes on second and empty homes questioned by finance officers -
So much to do, so little time
24 May 2012
Despite a wealth of change - and a lack of wealth - councils will strive to find the positives in welfare reform -
Anger over plan for 50:50 business rate split
24 May 2012
Ministers accused of putting central government control above economic growth -
Pensions team call for meeting with ministers
23-May-2012
‘Ridiculous’ delays hindering announcement on pension reform -
Stunell says 10% benefit cut 'easily covered'
22-May-2012
Cut in council tax benefit grant can ‘easily’ be plugged by increasing charges on second and empty homes, claims minister -
Plymouth appoints interim chief
21-May-2012
Plymouth names interim chief executive to help new Labour administration to “hit the ground running” -
Whitehall uneasy about localism
21-May-2012
Almost a third of civil servants hold negative views about localism and suggested it is a flawed concept for service delivery and unlikely to work -
Council tax benefit funding set out
18-May-2012
Hardest hit councils to see some protection - but others advised to use reserves and efficiency savings to plug funding cut -
Councils to keep just 50% of business rates
18-May-2012
LGA slams proposals as “falling well short” of hoped-for freedom -
Climate watchdog calls for duty on councils
17-May-2012
Committee on Climate Change calls for statutory carbon plans - but LGA dismisses duty idea as “a blunt instrument” -
Welfare changes could leave councils footing redundancy bill
17 May 2012
DWP tells councils housing benefit staff will not be covered by Tupe regulations -
‘Certainty rate' indecision posing 'time and money' burden for councils
17 May 2012
Uncertainty over Treasury’s March announcement that councils could access cheaper borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board -
Whitehall shunning anti-fraud drive
16-May-2012
Audit Commission chair petitions civil service chief over disengaged departments -
Watchdogs urge peer review publication
16-May-2012
LGA warns against ‘compulsion’ and calls for decisions to ‘be left up to councils’ -
Fraud officer took Kent to court
16-May-2012
Tribunal ruled council should pay accused’s wages -
Could councils achieve more innovation?
14-May-2012
Research shows there are inspiring examples of innovation in local government, but cuts, risk averse politicians and lack of training and skills are holding even the best councils back, writes Joan Munro -
Pension deal 'in touching distance'
14-May-2012
Negotiators ‘days away’ from deal with ministers -
Regional growth team boosted to tackle delays
11-May-2012
Ministers increase the number of civil servants tasked with helping to ‘rebalance the economy’ -
District decisions set to send counties’ welfare bills soaring
10 May 2012
In two-tier areas precepting authorities will have to find some 80% of the cost of savings -
Labour surpasses election ambitions
10 May 2012
Rise in Labour councillors also significantly more than gains mooted by the party pre-election -
Welfare pilots fail to allay funding concern
9-May-2012
No final decisions on role and funding for councils before pilot results, says DWP -
Children's bill sets new rules for councils
9-May-2012
Queen’s Speech includes legislation to limit time spent in care -
Social care bill delayed
9-May-2012
Promise of further ‘engagement and pre-legislative’ scrutiny with draft bill in Queen’s speech -
Brent returning officer hits back in delay row
8-May-2012
Chief executive blames Greater London Authority’s management of count and accuses officials of spreading “erroneous” information -
'Weak' governance criticised at fraud-hit Kent
4-May-2012
Damning review of governance arrangements leaked as former procurement manager is sentenced for fraud -
Elected mayors rejected in all but one city
4-May-2012
Only Bristol backs the government’s directly elected mayors proposal with key cities including Birmingham rejecting the idea -
Alexander wants officials back on payroll
3-May-2012
Public officials to be on the payroll in all but exceptional circumstances, says minister -
Pickles creates chief officer post... for ombudsman
2-May-2012
Chief operating officer to handle ‘day to day running’ so ombudsman can ‘focus on strategic direction’ -
Unison members split on NHS pensions
1-May-2012
Union ballot on government’s NHS pension reform plan fails to deliver a clear verdict -
Clegg aims for city votes
30-Apr-2012
Liberal Democrat leader highlights party’s “proud record of success” in cities as party prepares for local election losses -
Anglesey to introduce secret leadership ballot
30-Apr-2012
Constitution of troubled council to be rewritten as end sought to political instability -
Freud details Universal Credit pilots
27-Apr-2012
Local authorities have just three weeks to bid for a role in Universal Credit pilots -
Council tax legal challenge risk
26 April 2012
“Extremely tight” timescale could leave councils at risk of legal challenge over council tax benefit changes -
Cabinet Office paper rejected
26 April 2012
Councillors refuse to sign government procurement pledge over big business concerns -
Graduate places on the rise
26 April 2012
Increase despite significant budget cuts and major changes to curriculum -
Community budget pilots eye service reform
25-Apr-2012
Spending review to influence key ministerial meeting -
Tory leaders criticise ministerial attacks over council tax
25-Apr-2012
Private correspondence seen by LGC shows leaders “very disappointed” by ministers’ behaviour -
'Rich list' unites employers and unions
25-Apr-2012
Lobby group criticised over quality of research after publishing third annual ‘Town Hall Rich List’ -
Wage costs reduced by £1.4bn
24-Apr-2012
Workforce costs reduced by almost a tenth in one year, according to latest earnings data -
Regional staff transfer questioned
24-Apr-2012
MPs query why redundant development agency staff weren’t transferred to local partnerships -
Concerns over Universal Credit workload
23-Apr-2012
Union warns face-to-face claimants may be more numerous than government hopes -
Barnsley chief named
23-Apr-2012
Authority selects new chief executive following departure of Phil Coppard -
Kent leader says a chief could be ‘appropriate’ if council ‘lost direction’
19 April 2012
Top officers not needed if staff are “pretty competent” -
Whitehall issues welfare resource warning ahead of reform roll-out
19 April 2012
Chiefs overseeing reductions in revenues and benefits services warned about resources needed for welfare reforms -
East Herts appoints new chief
18-Apr-2012
Director to take on role following departure of Anne Freimanis earlier this year -
Battle for single standard code ends... with two standard codes
18-Apr-2012
First there were two codes, then there was one – now there are two again -
Urban parish council goes to the vote
17-Apr-2012
Westminster City Council to hold referendum on establishing London’s only urban parish council -
Combine efforts for growth, says NLGN
16-Apr-2012
‘Social venture capitalism’ needed to counter cuts in development funding -
Pickup vows to fight for reform
11-Apr-2012
Next president of Association of Directors of Adult Social Services to continue predecessor’s battle for Dilnot reforms -
Standards row settled
11-Apr-2012
Long-running row over future standards regime comes to a close as single code of conduct agreed -
Bournemouth whistleblower absolved
10-Apr-2012
Senior official suspended for concerns over controversial outsourcing deal is reinstated -
A message from the districts?
5 April 2012
Break down the headline figures of LGC’s research into what councils are prepared to pay their staff next year and there are some interesting results. -
Budgeted pay rises 'small consolation'
5 April 2012
More than a third of councils have set aside money for pay rises, according to exclusive research by LGC -
Calls to tackle children's care crisis ignored
5 April 2012
Members and officers in north-east take concerns to Whitehall -
Discount rate to begin in January
5 April 2012
New rate on loans from the government set to be introduced early next year -
Unions reject 'ill-judged' single-table pay negotiation proposals
5 April 2012
Attempts to reform the national pay bargaining system rebuffed as “ill-judged” -
The data in full: pay in 2012/13
5 April 2012
Earlier this year, as employers considered the union demand for a “substantial” pay rise following a two year freeze, LGC asked councils what their budget assumptions were for pay over the next couple of years. -
Growth fund deals reach £540m - Clegg
3-Apr-2012
Deputy prime minister makes a purdah period visit to north-west ahead to announce regional growth funding deals -
Bonds to 'struggle' as borrowing rates fall
29 March 2012
Treasury cuts borrowing rates but still hope for LGA’s proposed bond collective -
‘Ridiculously low' finance salary sparks expertise concern
29 March 2012
Leicester City Council raises eyebrows with £85,575 salary for vacant section 151 role -
Revealed - full details of troubled families scheme
28-Mar-2012
Local discretion and ‘realistic’ targets at heart of payment-by-results mechanism -
'Councils want to do this'
28-Mar-2012
Louise Casey tells Ruth Keeling how councils are going to turn around the lives of 120,000 troubled families -
Workforce cut by 10% as budgets slashed
27-Mar-2012
More than 200,000 local government jobs cut in 12 months following chancellor’s spending review cuts -
Budget 2012: Extra council tax support funding hinted at
23-Mar-2012
Officials suggest £30m council tax benefit transition funding is only start of financial assistance -
Strike threat remains as unions mull both pay and pensions
22 March 2012
Prospect of end of national pay negotiations also overshadowing industrial relations -
All mapped out for reform
22 March 2012
A route to radical transformation or tunnelled vision? The Welsh jury is split on prescriptive collaboration -
Details of improvement regime emerge
22 March 2012
LGA seeks to head off ‘big brother’ concerns over intervention procedure -
Budget 2012: Osborne warned off regional pay for councils
21-Mar-2012
The chancellor’s call for departments to move to regional pay next month has sparked fears councils will move to a similar system. -
Budget 2012: One council in ten to increase council tax
21-Mar-2012
Sizeable rebellion despite ministerial pressure and funding for a freeze, figures confirm -
Appeal over pensions fails
21-Mar-2012
Relief to fund managers as indexation challenge rejected -
Single improvement framework to be drawn up
15 March 2012
Details of ‘sector-led improvement’ to be set out as LGA encourages councils to take part -
Prospect of compromise in standards row
14-Mar-2012
Advice on new standards regime still to be sent to councils as negotiations over model code continue -
Pension reform pushed back by Whitehall delays
14-Mar-2012
Timetable for negotiations to be rewritten following ministerial delays in signing off deal agreed by unions and employers -
Capita letter sparks action at DCLG
13-Mar-2012
Ministers respond after suppliers warn IT systems will not be ready for localised council tax benefit -
Chief of three to go ahead
12-Mar-2012
First shared chief executive post covering three councils set to be created in May -
Chief executive pay 'frozen'
12-Mar-2012
Incomes Data Service reports no growth in pay as many take voluntary pay cut -
Rochdale chief named
9-Mar-2012
Met announces Roger Ellis’ successor following failed shared chief talks -
Members and officers clash over standards codes choice
8 March 2012
Conflict called a “dog’s breakfast”, as groups plan to circulate their own advice -
Talks hit deadlock as unions discuss industrial action
8 March 2012
Both sides refuse to return to the negotiating table -
Pension savings 'to be kept by councils'
5-Mar-2012
Treasury denies suggestion it will attempt to bank pension reform saving cash by cutting funding streams -
Employers "baffled" by unions
2-Mar-2012
Pledge to involve arbitrators in row over pay spreads confusion -
Councils budgeting for pay rises despite freeze bid
1 March 2012
LGC research indicates 40% of respondents budgeting for some form of pay rise -
One council in ten to reject tax freeze offer
1 March 2012
Size of rebellion becoming clearer as Cipfa publishes first budget analysis -
Hertfordshire chooses new chief
29-Feb-2012
Executive director selected to take over from chief executive Caroline Tapster -
Whitehall drags heels on pensions
29-Feb-2012
Frustration over delay before consultation -
'Perverse incentives' for business rates
28-Feb-2012
Proposed business rates funding system risks will disadvantage ‘urban outliers’, says Centre for Cities -
Loss of staff accelerates
23 February 2012
Despite councils’ efforts to limit the damage, they will have fewer choices in future -
Fag packet figures or accurate prediction?
23 February 2012
So who was right and who was wrong -
Suppliers join in criticism of welfare deadline
16 February 2012
More firms join Capita in questioning council tax benefit changes -
LGA says it could 'go nuclear' over welfare reform
16 February 2012
Leaders promise robust approach -
Fresh flaws found in funding reform plan
16 February 2012
Treasury rethink needed over how to claw back excess business rates -
One-day housing cash window extended
16 February 2012
Contingency plans drawn up over web site crash fears -
‘More than 30' set lower referendum limits
15-Feb-2012
Peers and Electoral Commission appeal for government to rethink over council tax votes -
National pay talks at risk
15-Feb-2012
National pay bargaining threatened as unions express frustration at possible third year without pay rise -
'Misinformation' claims on council tax vote
14-Feb-2012
Row over council tax referendums deepens with flurry of letters between Whitehall local government -
Benefit reform deadline 'impossible', says Capita
13-Feb-2012
Supplier tells councils it will not have new systems in place in time -
Parsons clings on to leadership
13-Feb-2012
Leicestershire leader calls for resignation over wide ranging whistleblower allegations -
Politicisation row over Neill letter
13-Feb-2012
Ministers accused of using civil service resources for “overtly political ends” in “aggressive” attack on council tax raisers -
Ministers threaten council tax retaliation
9-Feb-2012
Authorities rejecting government freeze grant cash could find their tax base reduced in 2013, says Grant Shapps -
Call for clarity on council tax 'confusion'
9 February 2012
Finance directors claim small print will mean rises below 3.5% could trigger referendums -
Chiefless councils skip meeting
9 February 2012
Kent and Wiltshire do not take up invitation to send alternative officer -
Councils urged to rethink graduate investment
9 February 2012
Only 13 councils have signed up to the sector’s graduate programme this year to date, as applications from graduates continue to increase. -
Tories resist pressure to freeze council tax
8-Feb-2012
Eighth Conservative administration proposes council tax increase as ministers step up pressure for freeze -
Leader's expenses referred to standards committee
7-Feb-2012
Leicestershire’s David Parsons (Con) referred to council’s standards committee over delayed repayment of travel expenses -
Parsons' expenses investigated
3-Feb-2012
Leicestershire leader and one-time LGA front runner investigated over thousands of pounds of expenses stretching back five years -
Council tax benefit reform row deepens
2 February 2012
Ministers and councils disagree over who should bear the brunt of 10% cut in spending -
Plea for pooling incentives rejected
2 February 2012
Call for government to incentivise business rate pooling go unheeded -
European fines system unveiled
1-Feb-2012
Safeguards for councils liable for EU fines set out by government -
Chiefs bow out of sharing race
1-Feb-2012
Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury chiefs rule themselves out of running for joint role -
Borough pips London Councils to post
1-Feb-2012
Wandsworth’s performance comparison website goes live ahead of launch of London Council’s pan-city project -
Brentwood sharing arrangement to end
1-Feb-2012
Only district-county shared chief executive post to be dissolved because of “significant challenges” faced by both councils -
Pickles names 150 council tax freezers
31-Jan-2012
DCLG publish list of councils freezing or cutting council tax -
Unite returns to pension talks
30-Jan-2012
Unite returns to pension talks in time for decisions on “big ticket” items -
Residents want tax rise, says Tory leader
26-Jan-2012
Tory leader says residents want to pay more to protect services after minister warns of punishment at the ballot box -
Tax freeze damage deliberate, Pickles hints
26-Jan-2012
Communities secretary says ‘purpose’ of offer to reduce tax bases -
Neill defends continuing Treasury cash grab
26 January 2012
Ministers dismisses “unrealistic” calls for local government to keep all business rates -
LGC Salary Tracker: latest findings
26 January 2012
New chief executives continue to be paid less than their predecessors, according to our latest exclusive research -
First signs of councils’ pay stance emerge
26 January 2012
Unions call for ‘substantial’ pay rise as Balls gambit on lowest paid backfires -
LGC view 26 January 2012: Senior pay
26 January 2012
There has been much talk about the risks inherent in the sensational deletion of chief executive posts at a time when local government continues to face huge challenges. -
Whitehall ‘mean-median muddle’ poses data difficulty for councils
26 January 2012
Whitehall mix-up over “average” causes confusion in salary transparency documents -
Armchair auditors set on unions
25-Jan-2012
Publication of spending on trade union representation should be required by law -
London Councils criticise Boris advice
25-Jan-2012
Mayor’s call for London-wide council tax freeze “completely unnecessary” say boroughs -
Buckinghamshire districts to share
25-Jan-2012
Doubling of shared chief executives predicted as new pair sign deal to share management team -
Hertfordshire sets out chief executive plans
23-Jan-2012
County confirms it will not copy Wiltshire & Kent in deleting post -
East Herts to consider management options
20-Jan-2012
Council could do without a chief executive following departure of Anne Freimanis -
East Cambs joins tax-raising Tory group
20-Jan-2012
Another Conservative authority to increase council tax next year despite government’s offer to fund freeze -
Pickles fires warning as Tories join council tax freeze rebellion
19 January 2012
Communities secretary cites ‘moral duty’ as three more consider joining Peterborough -
Chiefless councils set out new structures
19 January 2012
Reading to recruit for ‘director and council manager’ with ‘internally focused’ role -
Three-year limit for troubled families unit
19 January 2012
Short-term funding time frame casts doubt over lifespan of flagship initiative unit -
Q&A: The troubled families programme
19 January 2012
The government wants to turn around the lives of 120,000 troubled families - how will it be done? -
Ministers criticised as 'media evidence base' drives decision-making
19 January 2012
Freedom of Information request reveals minister’s “double dipper” campaign based on handful of newspaper stories -
Survey reveals mutual antipathy
19 January 2012
Few report interest from employees in government-backed mutuals and social enterprises -
Cockell calls for Whitehall shake-up
16-Jan-2012
Review of Whitehall structures needed to meet new ways of delivering public services, says LGA chairman -
Tory city rejects council tax freeze
13-Jan-2012
Conservative council breaks rank and proposes a 2.95% increase next year -
Councils withhold sharing details
12 January 2012
Details of a failed sharing arrangement between two Greater Manchester councils continue to be withheld from the public. -
Pickles hits back at finance bill 'grumblers'
11-Jan-2012
Communities secretary says critics of the Local Government Finance Bill have ‘missed the point’ -
Unison backs pension deal
11-Jan-2012
Activists vote to continue with talks on local government pension reform -
Few fans as Pickles unveils future of council funding
11-Jan-2012
Criticism of resource review proposals mounts -
'Grave concerns' over business rate plans
10-Jan-2012
London Councils calls on government to “urgently rethink” its “fiendishly complex” business rate plans -
Unite rejects pension deal
10-Jan-2012
But employers and other unions say Unite’s decision will not derail talks -
Mouchel deal given go ahead
9-Jan-2012
Bournemouth councillors approve second phase of outsourcing following independent assessment of firm’s finances -
Standards regime changes delayed
9-Jan-2012
Ministerial decision to move deadline for new standards system welcomed by sector -
Chief to depart in cost cutting measure
9-Jan-2012
Another council announces chief executive will leave as part of cost cutting measures -
Second wave of job cuts announced
6-Jan-2012
Further local government job cuts announced as councils set 2012 budgets -
Instructions issued on public health role
6-Jan-2012
LGA backs government demand for directors of public health to report directly to chief executives -
Employment law reform welcomed
4-Jan-2012
LGA says councils will welcome shorter consultation periods for dismissals and changes to terms and conditions -
Bournemouth to decide Mouchel future
4-Jan-2012
Council plans to hold back £135,000 payment in case troubled contractor goes under -
Honours for local government officers and members
3-Jan-2012
Former Camden chief amongst those named in New Year Honours list -
Christmas job news 'appalling' says GMB
23-Dec-2011
Union condemns councils telling employees their jobs are at risk in the run up to Christmas. -
Council tax places strain on county coalition
23-Dec-2011
Cumbria’s Tory group backs council tax freeze but effect on services branded “totally unacceptable” by Labour coalition partners -
Pickles dismisses referendum concerns
22-Dec-2011
Row develops between ministers and Electoral Commission over sector’s ability to run council tax referendums next year -
Unison and GMB back pensions deal - but not Unite
22-Dec-2011
Reform of local government pensions appears back on track following high-level emergency meeting between ministers and unions -
Pension deal in doubt after Pickles' letter
21-Dec-2011
Employers and unions call for urgent meeting with ministers after reform deal placed in jeopardy by communities secretary Eric Pickles -
Bigger growth role for districts
20-Dec-2011
Districts welcome bigger role in economic growth under system of localised business rates while counties warn they still have a role to play -
Rethink on contribution increases
20-Dec-2011
Members of the local government pension scheme may not face increase in contribution rates next year -
Government amends set-aside proposal
20-Dec-2011
Consultation response reveals fundamental changes to business rate retention plan -
Coppard to leave Barnsley
19-Dec-2011
Outspoken chief executive to leave the authority “by mutual consent” in the New Year -
Taxpayers' Alliance research questioned
16-Dec-2011
Pressure group accused of getting figures wrong in report detailing costs of suspended staff -
Pickles defends £435k finance chief
16-Dec-2011
Communities secretary criticised for attacking council salaries while department paid £435,000 a year for interim finance chief -
Middlesbrough joins council tax rebels
16-Dec-2011
Fourth Teesside council to turn down government funding for council tax freeze -
Fresh Treasury clawback sparks calls to review Barnett formula
15 December 2011
Labour sector leaders including David Sparks want Barnett formula reviewed, while Tories question overall figures -
Councils rise to the challenge of accounting standards change
15 December 2011
One council received qualified opinion on accounts this year - reduction from three authorities in 2010 -
'Fag packet' figures ring true
14-Dec-2011
Almost 200,000 local government jobs are cut in a single year -
Tory leader considers council tax rebellion
14-Dec-2011
County leader considers joining Labour and Green colleagues rebelling against next year’s council tax freeze -
Pension talks extended
13-Dec-2011
Unions and employers to meet once more this week in attempt to nail down deal over local government pensions -
'Mixed messages' blamed in Kent
13-Dec-2011
Kent leader speaks out over managing director’s departure -
Further funding cuts will total £740m
12-Dec-2011
UPDATED - Treasury confirms effect of wage cap -
Claimants to work for benefits
12-Dec-2011
London borough launches contract heralding end of ‘something for nothing’ culture -
Children's director loses tribunal challenge
9-Dec-2011
Salford City Council’s decision to sack director for gross misconduct is backed by court -
Kerswell to leave Kent
9-Dec-2011
Following a month of speculation, county announces departure of managing director -
Council tax rebels growing in number
8 December 2011
North-east councils set to follow Brighton’s lead with three backing a 3.5% increase next year -
Pension reform deal a step closer
8 December 2011
Major reforms to the LGPS could be implemented ahead of the 2015 deadline for overall reform of public sector pensions -
Council tax 'rise and rebate' bid scuppered
7-Dec-2011
Attempt to give residents freeze without damaging taxbase ruled out by lawyers -
Councils told to find ways to reduce annual wage bill of £29bn
7-Dec-2011
Report details ways to cut local government’s £29.2bn wage bill as negotiators meet to discuss “substantial” pay rise demands -
Southampton to reduce redundancy terms
5-Dec-2011
After lengthy strike action over pay cuts, city council announces changes to redundancy compensation -
High Court backs pension change
2-Dec-2011
Judges dismiss legal challenge to pension reforms - but unions vow to appeal decision -
Unite members barred from strike
2-Dec-2011
Almost 200 union members were prevented from striking after local authority employer secured an injunction -
Reef chief to replace Donnellan
1-Dec-2011
Successor set to take over when Bournemouth chief executive Pam Donnellan retires next year -
Thinktank to examine shared chief model
1 December 2011
LGA commissions research as enthusiasm for new management arrangements falls -
More may shun council tax freeze
1 December 2011
More local authorities set to defy government’s call to freeze council tax -
Union facilities time revealed
1 December 2011
Data on union representation reveals wide variation between councils as ministers call for review of arrangements -
Pension dispute talks condemned ahead of strike action
30-Nov-2011
Ministers and union leaders blame each other as strike takes place -
Excessive pay is damaging for companies and society
29-Nov-2011
The High Pay Commission has taken the spotlight on senior salaries in the public sector and turned it to the private sector. Commissioner Brian Bailey explains its conclusions. -
Pension and infrastructure plans questioned
28-Nov-2011
Unions and fund representatives express scepticism about government’s call for pension funds to finance infrastructure projects and boost economic growth -
Third of deadlines missed by department
28-Nov-2011
Department for Communities & Local Government misses almost a third of its own deadlines -
Full take-up of council tax freeze unlikely
24 November 2011
Survey finds serious doubts over viability of government offer of funding for council tax freeze -
Cipfa warns opt-outs will reverse pension savings
24 November 2011
The £900m saving from increased pension contribution rates will be wiped out if just 20% of scheme members opt-out, fund experts warn -
Cockell calls for 'earn back' pilots
24 November 2011
Senior officers could have part of basic pay held back in performance measures advocated by LGA -
Future strikes could face legal challenge
23-Nov-2011
Leading Conservative council considers legal action despite reluctance of party colleagues -
Trend towards abolishing chief executive post continues
23-Nov-2011
All eyes on Kent as other councils eye up ‘Wiltshire model’ -
Gateshead chief to retire
21-Nov-2011
Councillors to start search for a new chief executive immediately ahead of March departure -
Barber accuses ministers of offering 'false hope'
21-Nov-2011
Low paid, part-time workers will not escape pension changes says TUC as ministers appeal directly to workforce -
DCLG publishes guide to pay policies
18-Nov-2011
Councillors should vote on whether senior officers can be rehired after receiving redundnacy or retirement, ministers have said. -
Kerswell position uncertain at Kent
17-Nov-2011
UPDATED: Council response to report that county could follow ‘Wiltshire’ model -
Investing in the future
17 November 2011
LGC considers LGA advice to councils to take a longer-term and more strategic approach to pay and reward -
Cost of pensions promise to older staff to be met by employers
17 November 2011
Ministerial promises to protect the oldest local government workers from changes to public sector pensions will be footed by council employers -
Case study: a win-win deal
17 November 2011
Oxford City Council has proudly retained an “in-house” approach to public services and at the same time has implemented a novel approach to pay and performance management. -
Case study: Cornwall Council - leading by example
17 November 2011
Cornwall Council has a collective agreement set to save £6m in employment costs this year by freezing pay and changing staff terms and conditions -
Southern councils split on pay claim
17 November 2011
Sympathy for employees hit by inflation and stagnant wages tempered by lack of cash to fund pay rise -
Union warns pension membership could halve
16-Nov-2011
GMB survey shows tough opposition to contribution increase as ministers suggest new approach to pension changes -
Anti-social behaviour tops voter priorities
15-Nov-2011
Concern police commissioners will focus on local matters as poll shows voters’ biggest concern is anti-social behaviour -
Wiltshire redundancy deal revealed
14-Nov-2011
Soon-to-be former chief executive reported to be paid £200,000 after post deleted -
District pulls plug on shared chief
14-Nov-2011
One of the first shared chief executive arrangements to end -
Fears over forced community governance arrangements
10 November 2011
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Big society’ programmes demand councils set up separate bodies -
'Steam age' pay talks criticised
10 November 2011
Chief executives and leaders criticise regional pay briefings as time-consuming and simplistic -
Union slams Treasury 'propaganda'
9-Nov-2011
Treasury accused over accuracy of case studies -
Job cuts worsen north-south divide: IPPR
7-Nov-2011
The pace of job cuts in the public sector is “too fast” for the northen economy and is deepening the country’s economic divide, a thinktank has warned -
Police commissioner salaries lowered by review
4-Nov-2011
Prospective candidates and police authority chiefs concerned pay will be set too low -
Unison members back pension strike
3-Nov-2011
Three quarters of local government members back strike on turnout of 30% -
Treasury increases cost limits for pensions
3-Nov-2011
Ministers make improved pension offer to unions – but warn deal is time limited -
‘Minimum standards' for LGA membership could be considered
3 November 2011
Senior members contemplate membership acting as ‘kitemark’ to demonstrate commitment to improvement -
Bill U-turn over codes of conduct
3 November 2011
Ministers perform u-turn on relaxed standards regime following concerns about overly “localist” system -
Still no detail on union post cuts
3 November 2011
Ministers tell councils to reduce number of full-time union officials to private sector levels -
Deadline falls back as pension talks falter
2-Nov-2011
Local government negotiations fail to produce proposal | Crunch time for national talks as ministers make new offer -
Scottish council appoints first female chief
1-Nov-2011
Scottish Borders Council’s acting chief executive gets role -
Ministers rethink relaxed standards regime
31-Oct-2011
Peers seek clarity on sanctions for councillors as government concedes code of conduct necessary -
Pension cost cap disputed
28-Oct-2011
Confusion over Treasury cost limits for local government pensions - and cost ceiling for employer contributions revealed -
Incumbents not guaranteed shared role
27-Oct-2011
District chiefs will have to compete with external and internal candidates for new job, leader says -
Neill to address pay conference
27 October 2011
Minister advocating pay cuts for senior officers to address local government conference on senior executive salaries -
Unions demand 'substantial' pay rise
26-Oct-2011
Pay rise “in line with inflation” is long overdue after two years of pay freezes, employers are told -
Community safety cuts take their toll
26-Oct-2011
Anti-social behaviour teams at risk as councils prepare for 60% cut in funding and arrival of police commissioners -
Herbert dismisses funding complaints
25-Oct-2011
Funding for police and crime panels sufficient for councils to play “narrower” scrutiny role, says minister -
Suffolk set for sharing hat-trick
24-Oct-2011
Third and final pairing of councils is on the cards as districts publish plans for a shared chief executive -
Doncaster chief decided
24-Oct-2011
Next chief executive of troubled council decided after lengthy wait for secretary of state’s decision -
Staff: Cuts leave councils under-resourced
20-Oct-2011
Survey shows noticeable drop in morale -
Myers set to start twin-borough role
20-Oct-2011
London’s first shared council chief executive job given the go-ahead by West London councillors -
Suffolk names Hill replacement
20-Oct-2011
Head of East of England’s soon-to-be abolished regional development agency is to be next chief executive -
Negotiators angered by pension cost ceiling
20 October 2011
Unions and employers baffled by revelation that cost ceiling was reduced from 18.8% to 17.3% -
Downs 'will not restructure' LGA as it decides on future direction
20 October 2011
Next LGA chief focuses on new approach to central government, members and other local government bodies -
Camden looks internally for next chief
19-Oct-2011
Current deputy sees off external candidate -
Welsh council funding up by 0.2%
19-Oct-2011
Households will not be protected from council tax increases, minister says -
Singh calls for riot evidence
18-Oct-2011
Chief executives asked to coordinate response to official panel investigating the summer riots -
Open services reform vision too limited: LGA
17-Oct-2011
‘Short’ list of four services to be decentralised may lead some Whitehall departments to think they are exempt, LGA warns -
Salary outrage 'unfounded', say pay experts
14-Oct-2011
Pay data shows public sector managers accused of acting like football managers have consistently earned less than private sector managers -
Welsh auditor in budget warning
14-Oct-2011
Councils better prepared than health bodies, WAO finds -
Pension scheme cost 'to be capped at 17.3%'
13 October 2011
Further details emerge of government plans to cut costs of local government pensions -
National graduate training course to focus more on 'practical skills'
13 October 2011
National Graduate Development Programme will be less academic and focus on what councils need, association promises -
Ex-Islington chief in frame for Doncaster
12-Oct-2011
Communities secretary considers two possible candidates for chief executive job -
DCLG compromise not enough, says Prentis
11-Oct-2011
Concessions over contribution rates will not stop biggest-ever strike ballot -
Council funding call to halt job cuts
10-Oct-2011
CIPD calls for increase in council funding to halt redundancy programmes -
Details of pension changes published
7-Oct-2011
DCLG proposes smaller contribution increase to be compensated by reduced benefits in search for £900m saving -
Wiltshire scrap chief executive post
7-Oct-2011
Andrew Kerr is out of a job after doing an “excellent job” during 18 months with council -
District 'can't afford' full-time chief executive
7-Oct-2011
Council puts off recruitment for second time and talks to neighbours about sharing -
Strike rumbles on in Southampton
6-Oct-2011
Southampton staff walk out as Barnet workers announce new strike date and Bridgend employees are balloted over possibly industrial action -
Councils face picking up bill for electoral registration changes
6 October 2011
Move from household to individual registration may leave councils out of pocket, voting officers warn -
Stress the 'most common cause' of absenteeism
5-Oct-2011
CIPD figures show higher absence rates in public sector -
Policy on trade union officials unclear
5-Oct-2011
Details of how communities secretary will end council funding of union representatives to be announced “in due course” -
Negotiators ready for 'extremely difficult' pay talks
4-Oct-2011
Chief executives and leaders urged to speak up ahead of talks with unions -
Significant drop in local government vacancies
4-Oct-2011
Demand for new employees and contractors down, says recruitment consultancy Badenoch & Clark -
Mersey bridge gets go-ahead
3-Oct-2011
Government agrees £470m funding for new bridge across River Mersey -
Conwy select new chief
30-Sep-2011
Internal candidate chosen following suspension and resignation of predecessor -
Transparency law for councils considered
30-Sep-2011
Ministers want to make new code on publication of council data and spending legally binding -
‘Slim chance' LGA plan will make consultation
29 September 2011
Employers put forward ideas for changes as talks with unions fail to reach consensus -
FoI law ‘applies to personal email accounts’ used for official business
29 September 2011
Personal email accounts cannot be used to shield the contents from information requests, lawyer warns -
Labour slams cost of elected police chiefs
28-Sep-2011
The shadow home secretary slams government for cutting police funding while spending more than £100m on electing police commissioners. -
Parties undecided over police vote
28-Sep-2011
Parties unsure whether they will field police commissioner candidates in every police force area -
London councils to share internal audit
26-Sep-2011
Neighbouring councils announce first step in sharing since shared chief executive fell through -
Job losses creep towards 140,000 prediction
26-Sep-2011
Figures confound criticism of LGA claims -
Trio to discuss shared management
26-Sep-2011
Norfolk district set to join existing pair -
Unions reject pensions offer
23-Sep-2011
Employers suggest increased retirement age with choice of ‘pay more’ or ‘receive less’ -
County leader to stand down
23-Sep-2011
Surrey leader wants to “develop business interests” -
Suffolk post draws attention despite 25% pay cut
23-Sep-2011
Local names feature heavily in early list of those tipped for the position -
Chief fears for council as his post faces axe
22 September 2011
Existing high levels of strategic leadership are no longer needed, says Wiltshire Council -
Part-time chief set to get thumbs up
21-Sep-2011
District poised to make part-time interim arrangement permanent -
Extra council tax to be levied on empty homes
20-Sep-2011
Owners of empty homes could be charged extra council tax to raise income for new homes -
Baker promises help for trams and bus services
20-Sep-2011
Transport minister promises more help for cash-strapped local authorities -
Plymouth takes Unison back
16-Sep-2011
Unison and Plymouth City Council patch up their differences - but questions remain over details of deal -
'Relief' as police authorities are axed
16-Sep-2011
Police authorities welcome end to uncertainty and promise ‘seamless’ transition -
‘Radical change’ predicted from ‘charismatic leader’
15 September 2011
New chief executive Carolyn Downs has reputation for high standards -
Pension reform decision may be imposed
15 September 2011
Unions unable to agree on alternatives to raising employee contributions by deadline -
Shropshire staff vote to strike
14-Sep-2011
Unison members set to take industrial action over council’s cuts to pay -
Local government leads workforce reductions
14-Sep-2011
Almost a quarter of a million public sector jobs have gone in the last year with local government leading central government in staff reductions, according to the Office for National Statistics. -
Unions to ballot for strike on pensions
14-Sep-2011
Local government unions complain of lack of openness from government in reform negotiations -
Miliband warns against pension strikes
13-Sep-2011
Labour party leader says ministers and union leaders need to engage in ‘meaningful negotiations’ -
LGA chief to receive £169k salary
12-Sep-2011
The LGA appoints former Shropshire chief executive Carolyn Downs to take top officer role on £169,000 salary -
Districts eye shared chief for five councils
1 September 2011
Single chief executive could manage five councils at once, leader claims -
Sector leads way on cutting workforce costs
1 September 2011
Research finds local government is more proactive about reducing workforce costs than other parts of the public sector -
DCLG resorts to identity checks to stall ‘vexatious’ FoI requests
1 September 2011
DCLG officers battling ‘vexatious’ armchair auditors request identification to kill requests -
Unions prepare for next month's pay claim
1 September 2011
Union branches begin consulting members about next year’s pay claim -
Have the wheels fallen off shared management?
1 September 2011
LGC examines the reasons behind a spate of failed talks on shared chiefs -
Treasury responds to pensions judicial review
26-Aug-2011
The government has submitted its arguments ahead of a legal battle with trade unions over changes to the way pensions are calculated. -
Shapps calls for boycott of Solace
25-Aug-2011
Professional body for local authority chief executives denies ministerial claims it ‘bumps up ‘fat-cat pay’ -
Electoral watchdog intervenes
25-Aug-2011
Electoral Commission completes work with 45 poorly performing electoral registration officers -
A quarter of employers cutting costs
23-Aug-2011
Not enough public sector bodies are cutting workforce costs, according to a consultant’s survey -
Unison reject call for quiet in Plymouth row
22-Aug-2011
Banned union issues defiant press release after Plymouth calls for media silence over derecognition row -
May's criticism 'ill-informed or wilfully inaccurate'
18-Aug-2011
Cross-party criticism of home secretary’s ‘quite extraordinary allegations’ -
Unite and GMB withdraw from Plymouth deal
18-Aug-2011
Unions go back on previous agreement following lock-out of union representing 20% of staff -
Unions call for more time to discuss pension alternatives
18 August 2011
Negotiators concerned three weeks is not long enough to broker deal -
Staff consider more strike action
18 August 2011
Striking Southampton employees to meet next week to discuss next step -
City council 'de-recognises' union
17-Aug-2011
Biggest union blacklisted by authority in row over equality impact of new contracts -
Anglesey councillors 'not the whole problem'
17-Aug-2011
Welsh authority’s troubles linked to problems with officers as well as elected members -
'Invisible' police authorities unite to criticise May
16-Aug-2011
Tory, independent and Labour chairmen hit back at home secretary’s claims they were invisible during riots -
Interim chief to stay amidst recruitment fears
16-Aug-2011
Part-time arrangements extended due to lack of suitable candidates -
Youth workers to strike
15-Aug-2011
Oxfordshire staff are to walk out over funding cuts and job losses -
Take lead on transparency, says comms chief
12-Aug-2011
Public bodies should create ‘transparency charters’ ahead of new government rules -
Cameron promises help for police authorities
11-Aug-2011
Authorities will not have to fund claims from businesses and homeowners affected by the riot -
Private sector pensions 'not so rare'
9-Aug-2011
Research details generous packages for directors of major companies -
Violence 'unjustifiable' say London leaders
8-Aug-2011
Council leaders blame criminal gangs as mayoral candidates link disturbances to government cuts -
Staff would prefer pay cut to pension cut
5-Aug-2011
Low morale and frustration at pay and pension policies revealed in survey -
Leicester abolishes role of chief executive
5-Aug-2011
City’s first elected mayor wins councillors’ support for constitutional change -
Whitehall payoffs put councils in shade
4 August 2011
Department for Communities & Local Government agrees three packages of £200,000+ -
Councillors reject allowance cut call
4 August 2011
Councillors reject independent advice to match neighbouring authorities -
Creative Councils shortlist published
4 August 2011
List of radical councils whittled down to 17 ahead of autumn deadline -
Shropshire chief takes councillor to task
2-Aug-2011
Chief executive criticises a councillor for comparing the authority to strike-troubled Southampton City Council -
Early retirement for Carlisle chief
1-Aug-2011
Chief executive to stand down at the end of this month. -
Employers enter pension reform talks
1-Aug-2011
“Constructive” meeting with unions to discuss alternative to increase in contribution rates -
Tower Hamlets successor announced
29-Jul-2011
Mayor appoints two directors to lead management team following departure of chief executive -
Union calls for new bullying policy
29-Jul-2011
GMB request follows bullying claims over new terms and conditions in Central Bedfordshire -
Interim chief made permanent
27-Jul-2011
A West Midlands council confirms interim as permanent chief -
Race to replace Ransford thrown wide open
21 July 2011
Front-runner Rob Whiteman accepts post as chief executive of UK Border Agency -
Council employees may be spared pension rate rise
21 July 2011
Unions and actuaries raise concerns about timetable as Danny Alexander announces next stage of talks -
Greenwich drops crossword to stay within newspaper guidelines
21 July 2011
London council finds novel way to skirt Eric Pickles’ crackdown on council newspapers -
How best to plug a £40bn gap
21 July 2011
At a time of severe financial constraint, local government employers’ contribution rates have stayed very stable -
Pension case studies page
21 July 2011
Ahead of Lord Hutton’s final report there was concern among those in the LGPS he would recommend radical changes to funds’ structure -
Timeline for pension reforms
21 July 2011
Recent developments for the Local Government Pension Scheme -
Auditor to inspect Welsh council
20-Jul-2011
Minister requests special management audit at second Welsh authority -
Employment appeals set to rise
20-Jul-2011
Public sector bodies disproportionately represented in employment tribunal cases, research finds -
Tamworth names next chief executive
20-Jul-2011
Deputy gets full backing of councillors to be next chief executive -
Alexander announces next stage of pensions talks
19-Jul-2011
Council employees could avoid contribution rise, minister confirms -
Shared chiefs fall through
19-Jul-2011
A further two shared chief executive partnerships collapse following failure of Kent pairing -
Directors to share top job
18-Jul-2011
Authority deletes chief executive post in order to save £100,000 a year -
Director to take top post
15-Jul-2011
Broadland DC appoints new chief executive to start in October -
Whiteman to leave local government
15-Jul-2011
Head of Local Government Improvement & Development takes civil service role -
Districts chief deal collapses
14 July 2011
Plans for shared chief executive collapse after councillors fail to agree new candidate -
Library plans face legal challenge
14 July 2011
Library campaigners given go-ahead to challenge plans to close 10 libraries -
Southampton chief dismisses job loss claims
13-Jul-2011
Forecasts of more than 1,000 job losses are “pure speculation” -
Cornwall outlines joint venture plan
13-Jul-2011
Council leader insists his authority will not repeat the mistakes of nearby Somerset CC -
CIPFA: Local government pensions 'affordable'
13-Jul-2011
Union backs research but calls on DCLG to investigate wide funding variations within scheme -
Pension fund is 'sound' says union
12-Jul-2011
Local government’s £145bn pension fund could pay all pensions for next 20 years -
Leaked document details 1,000-plus job cuts
11-Jul-2011
Southampton City Council accused of deliberately misleading staff and public over cuts programme. -
Judge gives go-ahead for pension challenge
11-Jul-2011
Unions given go-ahead for judicial review of changes to public sector pensions calculations -
Camden chief to stand down
8-Jul-2011
London chief executive announces departure -
Southampton tops up social workers' pay
8-Jul-2011
Stike-hit council announces ‘market supplemen’t for children’s social workers -
York ponders cut in hours
7-Jul-2011
Leader slams leak during confidential talks with unions -
Chiefs' union casework doubled last year
7 July 2011
Chief executives turning to trade union as workplace and media pressures increase -
Pension worry in academy roll-out
7 July 2011
Academies not investing in experienced HR staff -
Southampton talks cancelled
6-Jul-2011
Negotiations to end a six-week-long strike break down -
Shropshire sends out dismissal letters
6-Jul-2011
Pay cut set to be imposed on thousands of staff -
Private-public pay gap widens
5-Jul-2011
Gap between pay for public and private sector employees increases -
Southampton port workers join strike
5-Jul-2011
A further 240 workers to join long-running strike over pay cut -
Shrinking local government workforce
5-Jul-2011
Local government workforce shrinks 3% in a year -
Chief executive makes complaint
4-Jul-2011
Sheila Lock lodges complaint about her treatment by new mayor and council -
Telford & Wrekin chief to leave
4-Jul-2011
A chief executive is to make way for new administration’s plans for a co-operative council. -
Director takes Chorley job
4-Jul-2011
Chorley BC names internal candidate as its next chief executive -
Vexatious’ requests prompt third FoI review
30 June 2011
DCLG policy under pressure as ‘armchair auditor’ information demands persist -
Councils promise FoI delay action
30 June 2011
Quintet promise to improve FOI response times -
Cameron quotes LGC research on pay
29-Jun-2011
The prime minister quotes LGC research showing falling salaries for new chief executives -
Ministers to treat pension fund differently
29-Jun-2011
Victory for stakeholders as government accepts funded scheme requires special treatment -
Unions call for wider pension talks
28-Jun-2011
Employers and fund administrators should be involved in pension reform talks -
Ministers agree to LGPS-specific talks
28-Jun-2011
Ministers agree to hold separate talks about changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme -
Pension reform fight 'fuelled by confusion'
27-Jun-2011
Only a tenth of public sector workers accept proposed changes to pensions, according to new research -
Devolved nations enter pensions debate
24-Jun-2011
Scotland’s finance minister brands pension contribution increase “wrong” -
Pension talks back on the rails
24-Jun-2011
Talks on pension reform are to continue despite fighting talk from both sides and an impending strike. -
Forced mergers threatened in Wales
23-Jun-2011
Welsh councils will be forced to appoint joint chief executives and merge if they do not speed up collaborative working, minister warns -
London councils take own decisions on newspapers
23 June 2011
Town hall magazine policies more determined by economics than Eric Pickles’ edict -
Lord Hutton calls for rethink on contribution increase
23 June 2011
UPDATE: Increased pension contribution rates for local government workers should be reconsidered, government’s pension commissioner warns -
LGG restructure could cost £8m
23 June 2011
Changes to Local Government Group likely to cost organisation up to £8m over two years -
Views sought on graduate scheme
23 June 2011
Former graduates, councils and the private sector are to advise on the next steps for the National Graduate Development Programme for local government -
Top earners to be identified
22-Jun-2011
Senior officials have no automatic right to anonymity when salaries are published, transparency watchdog rules -
Birmingham staff vote to strike
22-Jun-2011
Staff back industrial action over proposed changes to terms and conditions -
Southampton faces another week-long strike
22-Jun-2011
Long-running strike to be extended following unsuccesful meetings between unions and council leaders -
No decision on pay rises for outsourced staff
21-Jun-2011
Delay for European reference over outsourced workers’ rights -
District chief to go part-time
20-Jun-2011
Basildon’s chief executive changes hours as part of cost-cutting exercise -
Arun announces new chief
20-Jun-2011
District announces replacement for chief executive Ian Sumnall when he retires later this year -
Conwy chief executive resigns
20-Jun-2011
Chief executive stands down after a 15-month suspension and two separate investigations -
Unison ignores Alexander's call for calm
20-Jun-2011
Delegates told to return to prepare for strike ballot if negotiations over pension changes fail -
Treasury discussing alternatives to pension hike
17-Jun-2011
Pleas for the local government pension scheme to be exempt from a proposed contribution increase are being carefully considered, Treasury minister reveals -
Hutton's pay ratio added to Localism Bill
17-Jun-2011
Local authorities should detail the pay ratio between their highest and lowest paid staff, government says -
Details of pension contribution increase emerge
17-Jun-2011
Public sector workers earning less than £15,000 will not have to pay more towards their pension, minister reveals -
Counties split between two candidates
16 June 2011
Chairmanship contest wide open with key voters undecided -
Senior salaries show a downward trend
16 June 2011
A combination of financial and political pressures leads to sharp fall in chiefs’ pay -
Alternatives to pension hikes 'possible'
16 June 2011
Options being ‘very carefully’ considered other than £900m increase in employee contributions -
Chiefs' union meets employers
16 June 2011
Union representing chief executives meets Local Government Employers for the first time in two-and-a-half years -
FoI-exempted contract criticised
16 June 2011
Information officers have been reprimanded for exempting a report without reading the document -
Public sector employment falls
15-Jun-2011
Employment in local government decreases by 3% in last year, according to official figures -
Shropshire proposes 5% pay cut
15-Jun-2011
Staff asked to take a 5.4% pay cut as a unitary council attempts to save £7m in staffing costs and avoid job cuts -
Union launches bullying probe
14-Jun-2011
Union launches an investigation into allegations of bullying over new contracts -
Kemp, Lister, chiefs amongst birthday honours
13-Jun-2011
More than thirty councillors, officers and other individuals awarded for services to local goverment -
Tory attacks Parsons over LGA chief exec row
10-Jun-2011
Outgoing Tory leader in local government deals blow to former deputy David Parsons’ hopes of becoming next chairman of the Local Government Association -
Neill ponders alternatives to pension rise
10-Jun-2011
Ministers to investigate alternatives to proposed 3% increase in pension contributions -
Union to give pension reform negotiations time before voting on strikes
9 June 2011
No strike ballot until talks with government exhausted, GMB says -
Parsons: 'officers hijacked chief recruitment'
9 June 2011
Would-be Local Government Association chair David Parsons accuses officers of hijacking chief executive appointment -
Leadership skills concerns voiced
9 June 2011
Almost two-thirds of managers do not believe their senior leadership have skills needed, survey shows -
Street cleaners join strike over pay
7-Jun-2011
Southampton City Council street cleaners are to join parking staff, toll collectors and refuse collectors on strike against changes to terms and conditions -
Parsons demands recruitment rethink
3-Jun-2011
Advertisements for new Local Government Association chief executive should be cancelled, says candidate for chairmanship -
Hammond appointed equalities chief
2-Jun-2011
The former chief executive who left West Sussex CC unexpectedly last year is to head up the Equality and Human Rights Commission -
Graduate programme loses 40% of funding
2 June 2011
Scheme faces restructure after Local Government Group slashes funding by £200,000 -
Thousands more low-paid staff likely to leave pension scheme
2 June 2011
More than 50,000 of the lowest paid local government workers will stop saving for their pension if they are asked to pay more, according to Treasury documents -
Unions insist on cost neutrality as starting point for pension reform
2 June 2011
Reforms to public sector pensions must be cost neutral, union leaders tell ministers -
Scheme cuts drive sector commitment
2 June 2011
LGC’s revelation of significant changes to the National Graduate Development Programme caused quite the stir -
Pickles 'scaremongering' on pensions
1-Jun-2011
Communities secretary slapped down for using inaccurate pension cost figures -
Employers criticise costly Hutton reforms
1-Jun-2011
Maintaining the final salary link to past pension contributions will prove expensive for employers, Local Government Group warns -
Southampton strike extended
1-Jun-2011
Parking attendants to strike for extra week in bid to force management to reopen talks -
Bennett to leave Solace
26-May-2011
New boss will stand down later this year -
MPs concerned about pension reform
26-May-2011
Treasury approach to pension reform criticised by public accounts committee -
Districts end shared chief role
25-May-2011
Sharing districts abandon joint management arrangements after just seven months -
Last director general named
23-May-2011
Former local government finance director takes DCLG finance role -
Week-long strike over pay row
23-May-2011
Bins set to go uncollected as hundreds of council staff in Southampton strike in a bitter dispute over pay -
Eaton urges Pickles to intervene over Treasury pension plan ‘damage’
19 May 2011
Communities secretary Eric Pickles called on to step into pensions row -
Call to publish pension estimates
19 May 2011
Concerns raised about wide variation in pension fund performance -
Employment law ‘wholesale review’
19 May 2011
Protection for outsourced workers and staff threatened with redundancy to be reviewed, the chancellor announces -
Strike threat intensifies in Southampton
12-May-2011
Management urged to return to negotiating table after second strike ballot -
‘Suicidal' cuts to training scheme raise future leadership concerns
12 May 2011
Business school criticises LGID decision to withdraw from partnership -
Tory review comes out in support of chiefs
12 May 2011
Central-local relations Commission contradicts Eric Pickles’ view of value of senior role -
Local Government Association casts net wide for new chief
12 May 2011
Civil servants and charity bosses said to be in the frame for the chief executive job -
Lincolnshire staff to work to rule
11-May-2011
Unison warns of further unrest as members support work to rule -
Unions to fight pension changes in court
11-May-2011
Unions launch a judicial review against changes to public sector pensions calculations -
Damning Anglesey assessment published
9-May-2011
Confidential report reveals harassment of officers by councillors and a workforce with no confidence in members -
Pay cut leads to strike action
9-May-2011
Southampton City Council employees poised to strike over imposed pay cut -
Minister asked to intervene in Lewisham library closures
5 May 2011
Campaigners ask libraries minister Ed Vaizey to prevent Lewisham LBC from closing five libraries -
Councils to flout Pickles' 'four issues a year' edict on papers
5 May 2011
A third of councils publishing newspapers more than quarterly do not intend to abide by ministerial rules -
Bid to vote down Barclays top pay deal fails
5 May 2011
Richmond and Croydon target bank’s London AGM for directors’ remuneration protest -
Union says staff missing out on pensions
5 May 2011
Minister dismisses claims of auto-enrolment failure, citing ‘many variables’ for low take-up rates -
Don't scrap Fair Deal protections, warns LGA
5 May 2011
Scrapping or “watering down” pension protection for outsourced workers will stop employees creating mutuals, the Local Government Association (LGA) warns -
Casino firms challenge Newham
4-May-2011
Newham LBC faces judicial reviews over claims it did not take regeneration into account when awarding a casino licence -
Cornwall washes its hands of sea-link project
4-May-2011
Cornwall Council refuses to continue working on transport project after ministerial u-turn on funding -
LGA data counters 'myth of profligate councils'
29-Apr-2011
Number of people working in local government has fallen, LGA figures show -
Hertfordshire accused of holding staff to ransom over sick pay
29-Apr-2011
Unison members vote to accept reduced sick pay and allowances -
London councils oppose bankers' pay
27-Apr-2011
London councils instruct fund managers to oppose salary deals for Barclays directors -
Lib Dems call for commissioners to be piloted
26-Apr-2011
Leading Liberal Democrat peers call for police commissioners to be piloted -
Pension reform timetable 'too tight'
21 April 2011
‘Not a hope in hell’ of reaching agreement on employee contribution rates, say unions -
Spending reserves increases public sector borrowing, experts warn
21 April 2011
Spending council reserves as recommended by ministers will increase deficit, says IFS -
Whitehall queries library closures
21 April 2011
Chiefs hauled in to DCMS explain library cuts -
Oxford to share savings with staff
21 April 2011
Oxford City Council employees in line for £550 bonus if council exceeds savings target -
Unions face cut in facilities time
20-Apr-2011
Unions brand cuts to time off for union officials as “vicious” -
Sir Peter to join Boris' team
20-Apr-2011
London Development Agency chief executive to join mayoral team -
Ministers trade blows as campaign hots up
18-Apr-2011
Ministers have slammed councils for cutting services while sitting on large reserves and awarding pay rises to their chief executives. -
Newham appoints resources director
15-Apr-2011
Merton LBC’s transformation director is to move to Newham LBC -
Early results show sharp rise in fund deficits
14 April 2011
Councils told to increase the amount they pay into staff pensions as funds hit by market troubles -
Membership levels scrutinised
14 April 2011
Pension managers have begun to monitor membership rates as employees increasingly reject pensions as too expensive -
Temp worker deal set to save £10m
13-Apr-2011
Purchasing framework predicted to cut 12% off temping bills -
Southampton staff ignore new contracts
13-Apr-2011
Union members balloted over strike action as 60% of new contracts remain unsigned -
Herts staff to vote on contract changes
13-Apr-2011
Union ballot on terms and conditions changes to go ahead after union returns to negotiating table -
Capita to buy part of Tribal
11-Apr-2011
Tribal to sell its government and health business to rival Capita for £15.87m -
Confusion slowing joint venture take-up
7 April 2011
Joint ventures are underused by local government because they are poorly understood, according to experts -
Leicester chief 'on sick leave'
7 April 2011
Leicester City Council’s chief executive signed off sick as council readies itself for mayoral elections -
New structure for DCLG
7 April 2011
Department for Communities & Local Government names 59 deputy directors as it finalises new structure -
Dorset apprenticeship scheme suspended
7 April 2011
Dorset CC faces £164,000 salary bill for apprentices denied placements by jobs cuts -
Q&A Guide: joint ventures
7 April 2011
A beginner’s guide to joint ventures and how they are being used -
Free sheet pulled following advertising deal
6-Apr-2011
Hammersmith & Fulham LBC cancels its free magazine following deal with local paper -
Anglesey director to take helm
6-Apr-2011
The next chief executive of troubled Isle of Anglesey CC is named -
May warned not to rely on council tax
5-Apr-2011
MPs and police authorities warn that precept increase to protect front-line policing is impossible for some forces -
Last Anglesey commissioners named
4-Apr-2011
Elected members told they still have role to play while minister’s commissioners run council -
Icelandic court rules in councils' favour
1-Apr-2011
English local authorities should be at the front of the queue for repayments following the country’s banking crash -
Wirral appoints chief executive
31-Mar-2011
“Outstanding” manager to head up council, says leader -
Morrison leaves Blaenau Gwent
31-Mar-2011
Chief executive leaves in wake of audit report and ombudman investigation into redundancy -
DCLG explores alternatives to pension rise
31 March 2011
DCLG officials looking for alternatives to Treasury demand for £900m increase in employee contributions -
'Extra £100m' for redundancies paid by Treasury
31 March 2011
Treasury reserves pay for extra £100m of capitalisation allowances -
Unwelcome extra burden
31 March 2011
There were a number of items of bad news for council employers in the Budget including costly National Insurance changes and controversial pension decisions -
Service mergers in Wales urged
30-Mar-2011
Some local government services should be delivered regionally and nationally -
Tribal exits recruitment market
29-Mar-2011
Tribal Group closes its resourcing business as chief executive joins rival -
Hounslow considers week-long closure
29-Mar-2011
Unions resist plan to close council offices in August and make staff take unpaid leave -
Anglesey boss to stand down
28-Mar-2011
Interim managing director who described leading councillors as “unprincipled politicians” to stand down -
Bucks trio step closer to joint management
28-Mar-2011
Buckinghamshire districts take significant step towards appointing the first joint chief executive of three councils -
Putting Hutton’s pension plan into practice
24 March 2011
The Treasury must now implement Lord Hutton’s recommendations - and it faces a fight on two fronts. -
Employers face £81m bill
23-Mar-2011
BUDGET 2011: Increases to National Insurance contribution rates will cost equivilant of 3,500 employees, government told -
Unions slam 'disgrace' of broken pay promise
23-Mar-2011
BUDGET 2011: Union accuses chancellor of breaking promise to protect workers from pay freeze -
Pension increase confirmed
23-Mar-2011
BUDGET 2011: Public sector workers to pay more for their pensions, chancellor confirms -
LGA refuses ministers' requests to back PCSOs' funding
17 March 2011
Councillors claim marginalisation of sector to blame for withdrawal of cooperation -
Pension changes 'not based on LGPS data'
17 March 2011
Treasury estimates of the impact of increased contribution rates on pension schemes are not based on Local Government Pension Scheme data -
Employers reject Hutton proposal for performance-related contracts
17 March 2011
One tenth of chief executives’ salaries should be withheld in order to encourage good performance, according to a review of public sector pay -
Joint management teams set to triple
17 March 2011
Many councils are exploring sharing their senior teams but are waiting for the results of May’s local elections before going ahead -
Map marks out greater collaboration
17 March 2011
Shared services have been around for years, and talked about for years before that, but now we can actually see what’s happening. -
Scotland and Wales
17 March 2011
While the Local Government Group’s new compendium covers just England there is plenty going on both west and north of the border -
Boland's successors appointed
16-Mar-2011
Details of the Greater London Authority’s management restructure announced -
Auditors advise Anglesey take-over
16-Mar-2011
Ministers urged to strengthen intervention in troubled Anglesey CC and take over delivery of services -
Minister removes island councillors' powers
16-Mar-2011
Wales’ local government minister appoints commissioners to take over at Anglesey CC following damning auditor’s report -
Review calls for performance-related pay
15-Mar-2011
Chief executives should have part of their pay withheld unless they meet certain objectives, the government is told -
Duckworth to lead animal charity
14-Mar-2011
Former Newham LBC chief executive Joe Duckworth to lead the League Against Cruel Sports -
Hutton call for 'career-average' pensions prompts union warning
10-Mar-2011
Final report from Lord Hutton recommends final-salary pensions should be scrapped for public sector workers -
Committee to scrutinise issue of paid time off for union activity
10 March 2011
Chief executives are asked about paid time off granted to union officials -
Treasury admits effect of pension rate hike is 'uncertain'
10 March 2011
MPs told of Treasury doubts over claims that increased pension contribution rates will have only a small impact -
Suffolk denies banning journalist
8-Mar-2011
Suffolk CC denies claims it blacklisted a local journalist who reported on a £12,000 training bill for its chief executive -
Police pay cuts could save £500m
8-Mar-2011
Almost £500m could be saved on police pay over the next three years, the home secretary is told -
Smith standing down as chief
8-Mar-2011
City & County of Swansea’s chief executive to retire as part of a management review -
Union warns of legal action over job cuts
8-Mar-2011
More than three-quarters of councils did not carry out equality impact assessments says union -
Scotland's chiefs set out reform plan
8-Mar-2011
Solace Scotland calls for a general power of competence and local taxation -
Southampton to impose pay cut
8-Mar-2011
Southampton City Council to dismiss and re-engage staff following failed union talks -
Derbyshire districts appoint joint chief
7-Mar-2011
Bolsover’s chief executive to lead joint management arrangement with North East Derbyshire DC -
Harbord to stay on
7-Mar-2011
Boston BC asks its interim chief executive to stay on until after the elections -
Trio delay sharing talks
7-Mar-2011
Three-way sharing talks between Cambridgeshire district councils are put off until after elections -
Yes result in Welsh referendum
4-Mar-2011
Wales to get greater law-making powers after almost two-thirds of voters back the move in a referendum -
Daventry appoints managing director
4-Mar-2011
Daventry DC reluctantly abandons its “pioneering” rotating corporate board structure -
Picture of job losses becomes clearer
3 March 2011
Mets and London boroughs head unique survey into local government posts shed -
Complaints over press reports on pay
3 March 2011
Press Complaints Commission asked to investigate alleged inaccuracies in three local government stories -
District buys in finance post
3 March 2011
North Dorset DC is to save about £30,000 a year by buying section 151 services from Dorset CC -
Profile: Paul Kirby - tough times ahead
3 March 2011
Warning of even tougher times ahead for local government following arrival of Paul Kirby in Downing Street -
Why the numbers may not add up
3 March 2011
How cuts in council budgets will translate into job losses is a highly charged question -
London-wide standards code to be developed
2-Mar-2011
Boroughs to develop their own standards as government prepares to abolish existing system -
Quirk poised to go part-time
2-Mar-2011
Lewisham LBC’s chief executive to work part-time ahead of his retirement in three years -
Rochdale chief to stand down
24-Feb-2011
The chief executive of Rochdale council MBC has applied for early voluntary retirement -
Eaton warns of LGPS opt-outs
24 February 2011
Employers and unions unite in opposition to Treasury plan to increase pension contribution rates -
Pay deals happen more at local level, say union leaders
24 February 2011
National pay bargaining is ‘defunct’ and may not have a future, union leaders have warned. -
Pickles sets £100,000 'as the place to start'
24 February 2011
A headhunter warns that requirement for councils to vote on salaries over £100,000 could prevent appointments being made -
Ministers berated for encouraging 'fat cat' attacks
22-Feb-2011
Concern at “malicious and vindictive” personal attacks on local government officials -
Neill accused of 'slapdash analysis' by LGA
18-Feb-2011
Ministers accused of “slapdash analysis” for counting policing staff to back “bloated” town hall bureaucracy claim -
LGA asks ministers to reconsider pension changes
18-Feb-2011
Implications of increased pension contribution rates “may not have been fully considered”, LGA warns -
Union brands £10k pay rise 'indefensible'
17-Feb-2011
Hartlepool chief’s £10,000-plus pay rise defended by elected mayor -
Pay freeze: LGE inform unions
17-Feb-2011
Local Government Employers inform unions that there will be no pay rise this year -
DCLG demands limit on publications and cracks down on posters
17 February 2011
Local government leaders slam ministers’ non-localist approach to publicity code -
Harrow wins four-year legal fight over LAML
17 February 2011
Supreme Court ruling gives councils freedom to use innovative ventures -
Pickles mistakes FTSE 250 pay for councils'
16-Feb-2011
Eric Pickles’ claim that council chief executives pay rose by 78% is based on a figure for FTSE 250 bosses -
Community safety cash cut by 60%
16-Feb-2011
Belated funding announcement reveals massive cuts -
Somerset staff reject council 'offer'
16-Feb-2011
Somerset CC staff members reject plans to reduce redundancy terms and payment protection. -
Hertfordshire abandons union talks
14-Feb-2011
Unison warns of “direct action” if council insists on negotiating contract changes on individual basis -
New figures on council chiefs' salaries revealed
14-Feb-2011
Study by Incomes Data Services reveals almost half of council chiefs paid more than £150k -
Eden DC appoints interim chief
11-Feb-2011
District says cost of interim arrangement outweighed by savings expected -
'South & Vale' to freeze pay
11-Feb-2011
Unison members in Oxfordshire agree to forgo their normal pay rise -
Eaton slams 'draconian' DCLG
11-Feb-2011
LGA respond after Eric Pickles publishes latest version of publicity code -
LGA consolidates efficiency programme
10 February 2011
Work to be aimed at areas likely to bring most benefits to the sector. -
‘Too few’ DCLG staff agree to go
10 February 2011
Unions warn against speed of department’s cuts programme -
Ministers rejected salary cap over equal pay fears
10 February 2011
A central cap on senior officer pay could have left government facing equal pay claims, ministers told -
MPs march on with mayoral plan
10 February 2011
Government determined that new elected mayors will take on chief executive powers -
Deficit warning over pensions hike
9-Feb-2011
Pension fund managers join unions in protest over Treasury plans to increase employee contribution rate -
Tribal Resourcing sold for £1
9-Feb-2011
Tribal sells parts of its recruitment business to competitor TMP -
Harrow wins landmark case
9-Feb-2011
Supreme Court says councils were within their powers to set up insurance shared service -
Bristol abandons deputy recruitment
8-Feb-2011
City council responds to criticisms about advertising the £130,000 a year role -
Managers should go part time: Wei
8-Feb-2011
Government’s Big Society tsar suggests local authority managers work part-time and volunteer -
Essex districts to decide on sharing
8-Feb-2011
Colchester and Braintree councils to discuss proposals to share a chief executive -
Southampton prepared to force pay cut
4-Feb-2011
Councillors ready to dismiss and re-engage reluctant staff -
Derbyshire districts consider sharing
3-Feb-2011
Neighbouring councils consider merger of their senior management team -
GLA to consult on scrapping chief role
3-Feb-2011
Senior staff at Greater London Authority to be consulted on need for chief executive’s post. -
Pension reform decision on hold
3-Feb-2011
Contribution rate increase will not be announced in Budget after union intervention -
True scale of redundancy costs reveals yawning funding gap
3 February 2011
Councils face trying to cut staff while being denied access to capital funding -
Unions prepare to accept freeze on salaries
3 February 2011
Employees unlikely to protest as concerns over jobs take precedence -
Community safety funding cut by 25%
31-Jan-2011
Department for Communities and Local Government figures confirm cut -
Mid Suffolk and Babergh advertise for chief
31-Jan-2011
Suffolk councils advertise for a joint chief executive with a maximum salary of £115,000 -
'Easy Council' staff discuss strike
31-Jan-2011
Barnet LBC employees consider industrial action over cuts -
Byron Davies remains suspended
28-Jan-2011
Conwy CBC chief executive remains suspended from his post after being found not guilty of rape -
New chiefs face salary reduction
27 January 2011
Councils pay less to new appointees as scarce funds and political pressure begin to take their toll -
Unions and employers face stalemate on pay
27 January 2011
National pay talks set to fall into “deadlock” for second year running -
Falling staff morale at DCLG laid at the door of ministerial team
27 January 2011
Disatisfaction in department blamed on “very negative” comments from ministers -
Leader to be reported to ombudsman for ‘misleading councillors’
27 January 2011
Ombudsman to investigate claims he misled councillors in relation to a £300,000 redundancy package for senior officer -
Existing chiefs take effective cut in pay
27 January 2011
One-in-four chief executives takes a pay cut, but the majority has no plans to bow to ministerial pressure, LGC research shows -
Somerset trio drop merger idea
27 January 2011
Plans for three Somerset district councils to share offices and a senior management team are abandoned -
Letting off steam
27 January 2011
Chief executives rail against the “prejudice and dogma” shown by ministers -
Wirral to discuss shared chief
26-Jan-2011
Councillors to examine options for future, including a shared chief executive -
West Lancashire cutting senior managers to two
26-Jan-2011
Council changes expected to be implemented later this year -
Cornwall staff back pay freeze
26-Jan-2011
Unitary authority believes the collective agreement is the first on such a large scale -
Somerset bill for Jones departure revealed
24-Jan-2011
County pays six-figure sum to former chief executive -
Kerslake to examine localism issues
24-Jan-2011
Accountability implications of Localism Bill to be investigated by DCLG boss -
Private-sector pay freezes to end soon
24-Jan-2011
Public-sector bodies predict much longer wait for salaries to rise again -
London considers mayor-chief model
21-Jan-2011
The chief executive of the Greater London Authority orders a review into whether his role is needed. -
Moving to mayors 'could cost £3.3m'
20 January 2011
Warning that forcing out existing chiefs will lead to redundancy costs -
District holds crisis talks with minister
20 January 2011
West Somerset DC’s leader says the district cannot afford to make redundancies and could soon go bankrupt -
Pension hike will lead to 'exodus', GMB warns
19-Jan-2011
The Local Government Pension Scheme in danger of collapse if the government increases contribution rates, according to members -
Prentis warns of lack of jobs
18-Jan-2011
The head of Unison says the government’s economic recovery programme is a “sham” -
Unions 'outraged' over pay silence
18-Jan-2011
Unions slam local government managers for failing again to make a pay offer -
Union says no to pay cut
17-Jan-2011
Southampton staff protest over pay cut as Neath Port Talbot employees accept reduction -
Barking boss to be paid £150k
14-Jan-2011
Former Coventry boss set to be lowest paid chief in London -
New mayors will be forced to take on chief powers
13 January 2011
Legal changes could affect some of local government’s biggest names -
Pickles' evidence to MPs sparks further row
13 January 2011
LGA rejects communities secretary’s claims that sector backed down over call to increase capitalisation allowance -
Community safety partnerships are still awaiting their funding fate
13 January 2011
Ministers set out their expectations for next year but fail to deliver full funding information -
Liverpool opens London 'embassy'
13 January 2011
City to invest £350,000 in a bid to attract new businesses -
London borough to slash chief's pay
12-Jan-2011
Council set to reduce its chief executive’s salary by £50,000-a-year -
Industrial relations increasingly strained
6-Jan-2011
Birmingham workers announce strike and unions in Hull and Southampton discuss options following cut announcements -
Redundancies ‘being paid out of reserves’
6 January 2011
Councils dip into reserves as ministers refuse to raise limit on use of capital funding for redundancy costs -
A perfect storm for workforce planning
6 January 2011
The financial strain being placed on councils is set to present a significant challenge to positive employee relations, staff engagement and skills retention -
Lawyers highlight risks of executive mayors
5-Jan-2011
Legal experts warn against changes to councillor-officer roles as Torbay’s chief executive suggests elected mayor could do her job -
Boston shares statutory post
5-Jan-2011
Lincolnshire borough steps in after neighbour is left without section 151 officer -
Female chiefs top honours list
4-Jan-2011
Chief executives from Wales and Lancashire are awarded CBEs -
Treasury delay decision on pension increase
January 2011 - online articles
Contribution rate increase will not be announced in Budget after union intervention -
Chief-less council gets thumbs up
22-Dec-2010
Independent consultants find “nothing fundamentally wrong” at council that deleted chief executive post -
Pension 'tax' slammed by unions
22-Dec-2010
Middle and high earners could see their pension contributions more than double, unions warn -
Colchester & Braintree in sharing talks
21-Dec-2010
Pair of Essex district councils considering shared management -
Tribal in takeover talks again
21-Dec-2010
Unnamed bidder in talks with outsourcing specialist over buy-out -
Swansea sets out pay-cut plans
21-Dec-2010
Chief executive writes to staff listing plans to reduce sick pay and overtime payments -
'Two-tier' code under review
21-Dec-2010
Ministers to review pay and pension protection for employees of outsourced local services -
Cornish staff to decide on contract changes
20-Dec-2010
Unions to ballot members on £6m package including pay cut -
Redundancy funding was 'scaled back'
20-Dec-2010
Figures show demand for support outstripped capitalisation fund last year -
Chief chosen for West Sussex
16-Dec-2010
Council choses internal candidate as next chief -
Welsh chief to stand down
16-Dec-2010
Wrexham chief announces plans to pursue a different career -
Chief executive chosen in Bury
16-Dec-2010
Bury MBC selects internal candidate to be next chief executive -
Employers weigh up options on pay
16 December 2010
Councils consider pay rise in return for changes to terms and conditions -
District considers sharing
16 December 2010
Epping Forest DC is considering sharing a chief executive with another council in Essex -
No funds for extra redundancy help
16 December 2010
LGA criticises the government’s failure to find extra help for councils to fund redundancy programmes -
A policy on pay
16 December 2010
Eric Pickles has railed against the salaries of a number of appointments - at one point comparing the market for chief officers to that for footballers -
How councils in a devolved Britain are faring
16 December 2010
Although English councils had to endure a significant delay before finding out what their individual settlements were, they can at least console themselves that they are not in Northern Ireland -
Pension deficit claims dismissed
15-Dec-2010
Claims the local government pension deficit in England has hit £100bn since the last valuation disputed -
West Somerset on financial brink
15-Dec-2010
The leader of England’s smallest district council warns that it may not be financially viable in a year’s time -
Birmingham bin men to strike
15-Dec-2010
Pay cuts could be worth more than £4,000 a year in some cases -
Delayed Localism Bill published
14-Dec-2010
Local authorities and some town and parish councils are to get a ‘general power of competence’ -
Localism Bill gives Pickles say on pay
13-Dec-2010
Ministers will be able to issue guidance on pay – but councils will be under no legal obligation to take the advice -
Damping stays in place for police forces
13-Dec-2010
The police authority funding formula is to be reviewed in two years -
Liverpool cuts annual wages bill by £4.5m
13-Dec-2010
Liverpool City Council to save cash by shedding posts and cutting salaries -
Pay and pension protection scrapped
13-Dec-2010
Ministers scrap pension and pay protection for employees of outsourced public services -
Shared chief given go-ahead
10-Dec-2010
Cross-county collaboration aims to save more than £1m a year -
O'Higgins takes new chairmanship
9-Dec-2010
Audit Commission chairman named next chair of The Pensions Regulator -
Police funding row delays settlement still further
9 December 2010
Town halls forced to prepare budgets on theoretical figures -
Redundancy help possible
9 December 2010
Ministers could be preparing to increase the support available to councils that need to fund redundancy payments. -
Southwest One savings fall far short
9 December 2010
Somerset CC not reaping promised benefits from outsourcing contract -
Salary for Sutton chief £11k lower
9 December 2010
Sutton LBC’s new chief executive to be paid almost £11,000 less than his predecessor -
LGA welcomes power of veto for policing panels
9 December 2010
Policing panels able to veto police commissioners’ budgets and chief constable appointments, policing bill confirms -
London shared deal falls through
9 December 2010
Councils cite redundancy costs amid suggestions of a personality clash -
Cardiff to cut management posts
7-Dec-2010
Cardiff Council announces plans to lose three senior managers as the first step in reducing the size of its workforce -
Ministers urged to rethink timing of policing cuts
6-Dec-2010
Police authority chairmen have called on the Home Office not to front-load cuts to police funding -
Camden and Islington ditch joint chiefs
3-Dec-2010
A “major personality clash” between chief executive and leader caused a ground-breaking sharing arrangement to fail -
The step-by-step strategy to sharing
2 December 2010
LGC reporter spends the day in Devon with one of the first chief executives to share posts -
Staff asked to propose mutuals to save money
2 December 2010
A shared chief executive wants staff to set up mutuals as her councils look to merge back-office functions. -
A day in the life of Nicola Bulbeck
2 December 2010
LGC reporter Ruth Keeling joined the chief executive of Teignbridge and Torridge DCs during a typical day -
Stoke faces two-pronged legal challenge
1-Dec-2010
Former chief executive dismissed while recovering from cancer to take council to court -
Police Bill published
1-Dec-2010
The government’s plans for the reform of policing, licensing and drug laws are unveiled -
Hutton says yes to pay multiple
1-Dec-2010
Strong case for maximum-pay multiple to limit senior public sector executive salaries, government is told -
18,000 council jobs lost
December 2010 - online articles
Local government employees bear the brunt of job losses in the public sector, according to the latest official figures -
Sutton's new chief named
26-Nov-2010
Sutton LBC selects a new chief executive following the departure of Paul Martin to nearby Wandsworth LBC -
Pickles dismisses LGA's "fag packet" figures
26-Nov-2010
Communities secretary rejects Local Government Association claims that front-loaded cuts will mean 140,000 council job losses next year -
Councillors told to challenge police VfM
25-Nov-2010
Community safety partnerships are asked to examine whether their police force delivers value for money -
Ransford: £80,000 pay deal agreed in March
25 November 2010
LGA chief John Ransford tells LGC his salary is to be cut by almost two-thirds next year in a deal agreed eight months ago. -
Welsh council funding plans unveiled
23-Nov-2010
Welsh councils are set to for a much smaller decrease in funding than their English counterparts -
Ransford takes massive pay cut
23-Nov-2010
Local Government Association chief executive John Ransford is to take a massive two-thirds cut in pay and benefits, it is announced -
Leaders demand pay cut for Ransford
23-Nov-2010
Council leaders publicly call on LGA chief executive to cut his salary by at least 10% -
Chief constable questions ministerial maths
23-Nov-2010
Cuts to police funding will not be softened by an increase in the council tax precept, a senior police officer warns -
Derry chief gets Aberdeen job
22-Nov-2010
Derry City Council’s chief executive is to move from Ireland to Scotland after getting the top job at Aberdeen City Council -
London grant changes face judicial review
22-Nov-2010
Plans to abolish a London-wide grants scheme could be subject to a judicial review over claims that the equalities impact has not been properly assessed -
Veolia wins transparency case
22-Nov-2010
A waste contractor wins its fight to keep details of its charges out of the public eye -
Newham's acting chief made permanent
19-Nov-2010
Newham LBC announces that acting chief executive Kim Bromley-Derry is to be its next permanent boss -
Pay and funding pressures threaten sector unity
18 November 2010
Members of key institutions disagree on how to deal with cuts -
Time-served pay rewards queried
18 November 2010
More than half of local government workers are awarded pay rises based on length of service. -
Departing Lucas promises to stay involved with the sector
18 November 2010
Irene Lucas it would be a “tragedy” to walk away from the local government sector -
Manchester votes for new contracts
18 November 2010
Council workers in Manchester back plans for more flexible contracts in an attempt to save money -
This survey sets the scene
18 November 2010
One of the most interesting aspects of the LGG’s annual workforce survey is the light it sheds on the measures councils are taking to reduce costs -
Nuneaton to do without chief executive
17-Nov-2010
District to follow example of Warwickshire neighbour when chief retires -
Mayors should have police powers: NLGN
16-Nov-2010
Directly elected mayors should automatically become police and crime commissioners, a local government think tank argues -
LGPS experts back Lord Hutton
12-Nov-2010
There is a strong case for employees to pay more into their pension, according to a survey of pension experts and local government employees -
GMB tots up 30,000 job losses
12-Nov-2010
Union representatives begin totting up the job losses as councils announce their cut plans following the spending review -
Backward at moving forward?
11 November 2010
The Welsh local government minister’s announcement of a review into the delivery of services made it clear that he was disappointed by the extent of collaboration -
LGA hopes subscription cut will stem membership fall
11 November 2010
Another six councils indicate their intention to leave the Local Government Association -
Pension costs rise ‘is unaffordable’
11 November 2010
Local government employees cannot afford the rise in pension contributions which is set to raise £750m by the end of 2015, unions warn -
Services review urged to go ‘beyond the acceptable’
11 November 2010
Welsh local government minister expects proposals that are “fresh, innovative, and challenging” -
Shared services show the way forward
11 November 2010
From waste to home support for frail residents - Welsh authorities are pooling their expertise -
Acas called into Rhondda row
10-Nov-2010
Trade union officials in South Wales call in arbitrators to help end a dead-locked row over changes to terms and conditions -
Publicity code slammed by LGA
10-Nov-2010
Proposed publicity code “entirely at odds” with localism, LGA warns -
Tribal chief to leave next month
8-Nov-2010
Tribal Group announces that its chief executive will step down before the end of this year following the collapse of takeover talks and a sharp drop in share price -
Ian Lowrie announces retirement
8-Nov-2010
The first shared chief executive has announced that he is to retire early next year after a 37-year career in local government -
LGPS members face 1% annual rise
4 November 2010
Employee contributions to rise in wake of reduction in Whitehall funding -
Union riled by redundancy stats
4 November 2010
Local Government Employers publishes research on redundancy provisions -
Tribal takeover bid comes to nothing
2-Nov-2010
A takeover bid for Tribal Group ends without a sale after months of discussions -
Hutton makes final call for evidence
2-Nov-2010
Lord Hutton hints that the new public sector pension scheme will be a career average as he calls for evidence for his final report -
Liverpool chief chosen
1-Nov-2010
Lancashire CC chief executive Ged Fitzgerald bags the top job at Liverpool City Council -
Manchester staff to back flexibility clause
November 2010 - online articles
Plan to minimise redundancies set to be approved in ballot -
Rhondda accused of threatening staff
29-Oct-2010
Managers at Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC are accused of “holding a loaded pistol to people’s heads” as it negotiates changes to terms and conditions -
Partnership plan abandoned
29-Oct-2010
Cardiff Council abandons plans to set up partnerships in social care and planning services because they would not deliver savings fast enough -
Schools support pay body scrapped
29-Oct-2010
Recently created negotiating body abolished -
£250m aid for equal pay bills
28-Oct-2010
Local authorities struggling to finance equal pay settlements told they can use £250m worth of assets to fund back-pay -
Newcastle-under-Lyme appoints chief
28-Oct-2010
Newcastle-under-Lyme BC announces the name of its next chief executive. -
Pension increase is "unnecessary", GMB
28-Oct-2010
Unions accuse government of making “unwarranted” attack on council employee’s pensions -
Support fund 'not enough'
28 October 2010
Small increase to £240m capitalisation pot will not meet extra costs from expected redundancies -
Mid Sussex deputy made chief
27-Oct-2010
Mid Sussex DC appoints deputy chief executive Kathryn Hall to be its next chief in a move that will save more than £150,000 a year -
Clegg's job cuts advice is questioned
25-Oct-2010
Deputy prime minister wrong to believe councils can avoid redundancies next year -
Absences likely to rise, says CIPD
25-Oct-2010
Absence levels in the public sector are higher than other sectors and are unlikely to reduce in the future, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development warns -
Dorset joint chief appointed
22-Oct-2010
A further two Dorset councils have announced the appointment of a shared chief executive -
Dransfield gets new Birmingham role
22-Oct-2010
Birmingham City Council’s chief financial officer has beaten colleagues to become head of a new super-directorate within the council. -
Lincolnshire to lose a third of managers
21-Oct-2010
Lincolnshire CC is to reduce the number of senior managers it employs by 37% over the next four years, it is announced. -
Hutton: the long-term solution
21 October 2010
Considering the level of passion that can normally be unleashed over pensions, for the most part Lord Hutton’s interim report has been relatively well received -
Hutton: Fair Deal guidance
21 October 2010
Away from the final salary debate, a key issue to watch closely is Lord Hutton’s pronouncement on the Fair Deal guidance -
Hutton: the interim verdict
21 October 2010
Lord Hutton has given his verdict: the figures do not add up for final salary pensions -
Somerset joint venture loses £16m
21 October 2010
A controversial joint venture between Somerset’s councils, police force and IBM has made a multi-million pound loss for the second year running. -
Hutton: at a glance
21 October 2010
What Hutton said - summary -
Hutton: LGPS is a special case
21 October 2010
The Local Government Pension Scheme is very different from other schemes in the public sector -
Pension contributions to increase from 2012
20-Oct-2010
Public sector workers will have to pay more towards their pensions but the low paid will be protected under the changes, the chancellor has announced -
Barking & Dagenham slashes chief's salary
20-Oct-2010
Barking and Dagenham LBC cuts the salary of its chief executive by nearly 25% following Rob Whiteman’s departure -
Chorley and Wyre BCs to share a chief
20-Oct-2010
Lancashire to get first shared chief executive -
Tendring top job goes to audit body manager
20-Oct-2010
Senior Audit Commission manager to be next chief executive of Tendring DC -
'Ministers open minded' on police commissioners
19-Oct-2010
Ministers sympathetic to councillors’ concerns, Kemp claims -
Lucas not DCLG's top earner, data shows
18-Oct-2010
The Department for Communities and Local Government identifies its most highly paid senior civil servants for the first time -
Killian to take a pay cut
18-Oct-2010
Essex CC chief executive Joanna Killian agrees to take a pay cut - but it is less than the 10% demanded by communities secretary Eric Pickles -
Pickles criticised over pension-cost claims
14-Oct-2010
Communities secretary’s claim that local government pensions cost a quarter of all council tax challenged by auditors and unions -
Essex explores creating a unitary management team
14 October 2010
County and district councils could merge their workforces to create a unitary management team -
Council staff could fill police shortfall
14 October 2010
Staff may be encouraged to become special constables as force faces cutbacks -
Hutton to 'look closely' at LGPS administration costs
14 October 2010
Lord Hutton will look at the administration costs of the Local Government Pension Scheme ahead of his final report -
Public sector pension report published
7-Oct-2010
Lord Hutton’s report calls for an end to final-salary pension schemes but recommends that local government pensions remain funded -
Take-home pay index to show sector split
7-Oct-2010
The growth rate of take-home pay in the public sector is below that in the private sector for the first time in 18 months, according to a new salaries index -
Schools support staff costs could rise
7 October 2010
The coalition government’s bonfire of the quangos could cost local authorities millions, a union warns -
Wandsworth plans £1.5m cut in staff costs
6-Oct-2010
Wandsworth LBC sets out plans to save £1.5m a year with cuts to sick and overtime pay, reduced redundancy compensation and staff parking charges -
Bristol plans 300 more job losses in draft budget
6-Oct-2010
Bristol City Council publishes a draft budget setting out a 20% cut in spending over the next four years -
Cross-county management to save £1m a year
6-Oct-2010
Two district councils looking to share their senior management teams believe they could save more than £1m a year -
District set to abandon local pay
6-Oct-2010
Maldon DC is set to rejoin the national pay bargaining structure following a ballot of staff -
'Enhanced leader' gets enhanced allowance
5-Oct-2010
Rugby BC’s leader is to be paid an additional £6,000 for the “enhanced” role he has taken on since the departure of the chief executive -
FOI laggard councils 'named and shamed'
4-Oct-2010
Local authorities feature heavily on a new list of public bodies failing transparency laws -
Equality Act becomes law
1-Oct-2010
Parts of the new Equality Act have come into force offering extra protection against discrimination in the workplace -
Merthyr announces chief exec
1-Oct-2010
Merthyr Tydfil CBC’s deputy chief executive is to become the most senior official in the council, it is announced -
Babergh & Mid Suffolk to merge
1-Oct-2010
Councillors in Suffolk voted to merge two district councils into a single political unit -
Brentwood waits for extra help
30 September 2010
The only district council run by an upper-tier chief executive is to learn if it will receive increased external support -
Southwest One councils charged by auditors
29-Sep-2010
Local authorities in Somerset are billed by the Audit Commission because of problems with their outsourced accounting system -
Chief's exit 'amicable' says council
29-Sep-2010
West Sussex insists its chief executive left “on amicable terms” after its leader is accused of “outrageous” behaviour -
Pickles’ call for lobbying ban ignored by councils
29-Sep-2010
Councils are exhibiting at party conferences in defiance of ministerial calls for an end to the “corrosive and wasteful practice of government lobbying government” -
Welsh council services face mergers
28-Sep-2010
Local government services in Wales could be provided through national and regional delivery units in the future -
May 'determined' on commissioners
28-Sep-2010
Home Office ministers to stick to their commitment to police commissioners despite opposition -
Dorset councils share revenues and benefits
28-Sep-2010
A shared revenue and benefits service is to be launched by three local authorities in Dorset. -
Shared legal service for Norfolk
27-Sep-2010
Norfolk CC and two second-tier authorities set up a shared legal service providing services to public sector bodies -
Union warns of decades-long legal fight
27-Sep-2010
Unison promises to use equality legislation to fight government cuts to jobs and services -
Warning over elected police commissioners
23 September 2010
Proposals for elected police and crime commissioners could clash with plans for elected mayors, councils have warned. -
Shared chief appointed after competition
21-Sep-2010
Dorset has its first shared chief executive following a competition between the heads of two neighbouring councils -
Nuneaton chief to retire
21-Sep-2010
The chief executive of Nuneaton and Bedworth BC announces that she will take early retirement at the end of this year -
Elected police chiefs 'could cost £100m more'
21-Sep-2010
The Home Office is accused of not understanding the cost of plans to introduce directly-elected police commissioners -
Exclusive: Leadership Centre MD quits
17-Sep-2010
Local Government Leadership managing director John Atkinson to leave, LGC reveals -
Waveney to avoid benefits bill
17-Sep-2010
EXCLUSIVE: Intervention averted following talks with government -
Single tier still wary of joint chiefs
16 September 2010
London boroughs needing chief executives appear to be rejecting the idea of sharing with other authorities -
Top post delay for shared service
16 September 2010
Fear of public criticism postpones the appointment of a managing director for two councils’ back-office shared service venture -
Revisit your outsourcing deals, actuaries advise
16 September 2010
Local authorities embarking on outsourcing deals might be able to save money thanks to changes in the way inflation is calculated -
EXCLUSIVE: Esom bags Waltham Forest top job
15-Sep-2010
London borough promotes internally -
Rugby chief-leader 'unsustainable'
15-Sep-2010
Questions raised over chief executive-leader role being pioneered by Rugby BC -
Public-private pension gap questioned
14-Sep-2010
Claims that pay and pensions deals leave public sector workers better off than private sector employees challenged by government data -
Councils to share revenues and benefits
14-Sep-2010
Three Lincolnshire councils embark on work to bring together their revenue and benefits service -
Librarian walk out planned
14-Sep-2010
Librarians in Southampton are to go on strike for a fourth time in protest over closures and the use of volunteers. -
Devon councils to share planning
14-Sep-2010
District councils in Devon take first step towards a shared planning service -
Hughes faces resignation calls
14-Sep-2010
Birmingham City Council chief executive Stephen Hughes is called on to resign after announcing wide-ranging changes to terms and conditions -
Unison warns of future Connaughts
9-Sep-2010
Unison calls for contracted-out housing services to be brought back in-house following the collapse of contractor Connaught. -
NJC comes under scrutiny
9 September 2010
The problem with national pay bargaining is that it cannot keep all of the people happy all of the time -
Dorset shared chief announced
8-Sep-2010
Another pair of West Country councils announce plans to make their chief executives compete for a new joint role -
Nottinghamshire improvement put on hold
25-Aug-2010
The appointment of a new director at Nottinghamshire CC is delayed by a row over the post’s salary -
BNP to field police commissioner candidates
24-Aug-2010
BNP members express an interest in running for election as police commissioners -
Lobbying ban extended to party conference
23-Aug-2010
Non-departmental public bodies are told not to spend money on stalls at the political party conferences this year -
Joint chief salary revealed
19-Aug-2010
Teignbridge and Torridge DCs’ chief executive is to be paid £130,000 a year, it is decided -
Eric Pickles’ lobbyist claims ‘wrong’
19 August 2010
More than a third of the councils named and shamed for using lobbyists deny communities secretary’s accusation -
‘Passive’ managers threaten efficiency drive
19 August 2010
Research seen exclusively by LGC calls for new management style to improve staff productivity -
'Serious problems' in Shetland
17-Aug-2010
Weak financial management, tensions between councillors and a lack of leadership are noted by auditors -
Protect staff from pension costs, says LGE
16-Aug-2010
Employees should not be asked to pay more towards their pension, Local Government Employers (LGE) advises -
Minister slammed for 'denigrating' staff
13-Aug-2010
A union criticises communities minister Bob Neill for attacking Government Office spending when he himself had to repay expenses -
Strike to shut Southampton libraries
12-Aug-2010
Librarians in Southampton are to go back on strike following the collapse of talks between Unison and council bosses -
Maude appoints procurement chief
12-Aug-2010
The Home Office’s commercial chief is to lead the government’s drive to get better value for money through centralised buying -
Pickles to ban 'lobbying on the rates'
6-Aug-2010
Communities secretary Eric Pickles publishes a list of councils which have hired lobbyists and announces plans to end the practice. -
'Inspirational' councillor dies
4-Aug-2010
A Sheffield City Council leader who stepped down as councillor just two weeks ago loses her battle with cancer -
Slough Tory leader charged with bigamy
4-Aug-2010
The leader of Slough BC’s Conservative group, who defected from Labour two years ago, is charged with bigamy -
Councils signing up for new fund
4-Aug-2010
Local authorities have placed £110m into a new fund offering a 1.25% interest rate – about 1 percentage point higher than other options available -
Rugby will not fill chief exec's role
4-Aug-2010
Borough council decides not to replace its chief executive and splits the job between the leader and two senior officers -
Bailey in running for Edinburgh role
3-Aug-2010
Treasury director and former Islington LBC chief executive Helen Bailey is linked to the chief executive post of Edinburgh City Council -
Liverpool's chief exec salary is cut
2-Aug-2010
Liverpool City Council reduces the salary for its chief executive post by around £35,000 -
NLGN director appointed
30-Jul-2010
The New Local Government Network (NLGN) think tank appoints its new director -
Wyre BC chief to retire
29-Jul-2010
The chief executive of Wyre BC is to retire early ahead of a management restructure, it is announced -
Incoll's replacement announced
29-Jul-2010
A deputy director from the doomed government office for the South West is to become one of Devon’s shared chief executives -
Bristol benefits service rated 'poor'
29-Jul-2010
Bristol City Council’s benefits service has been given a ‘zero’ rating due to delays to claims and appeals -
Kirklees appoints new chief executive
29-Jul-2010
A former partner with auditing firm KPMG is to be the next chief executive of Kirklees Metropolitan Council -
Shared top teams set to double
29 July 2010
As the pressure grows to make more savings, an LGC survey finds growing interest among districts in shared management -
Home Office hope on police role
29 July 2010
Directly elected mayors might be allowed to become elected commissioners -
Shared chiefs: taking the partnership plunge
29 July 2010
It isn’t any surprise that, if you take a snapshot in time, there’ll be a small proportion that are pursuing it -
Cornwall to cut 2,000 jobs
28-Jul-2010
Cornwall CC will have to cut staff numbers by around 10% over the next four years, the authority’s leader announces -
Confidence in public sector jobs falls
28-Jul-2010
More than a quarter of public sector workers believe that they could lose their job, accordin to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development -
Fire services 'to make their own decisions'
28-Jul-2010
Regional management boards for fire authorities are to be disbanded, the government announces -
GMB calls for end to final salary pensions
28-Jul-2010
Final salary pensions for local government employees should be abandoned, according to a trade union -
May sets out commissioner plans
27-Jul-2010
Councillors, independent and lay members will form “police and crime panels” to oversee directly elected police commissioners, the home secretary announces -
Managers volunteer for pay cut
26-Jul-2010
Liverpool City Council managers volunteer to take a 10% pay cut and forego the performance-related part of their pay packet -
Redundancy offer is widened
23-Jul-2010
Liverpool City Council extends its voluntary redundancy offer to hundreds more managers. -
Tory adviser to lead Localis
23-Jul-2010
A former adviser to the Conservative party is to lead the local government thinktank Localis -
South Cambridgeshire appoints chief
23-Jul-2010
South Cambridgeshire DC chooses Jean Hunter as chief executive -
Wales fends off Pickles’ criticism
22 July 2010
Newham LBC mayor attacks community secretary as chief executive departs -
Non-neighbouring districts move towards joint chief
22 July 2010
Two district councils plan to establish the first cross-county shared chief executive post between two authorities not sharing a border. -
Who will benefit from pension reform?
22 July 2010
Ruth Keeling takes a look at the recommendations John Hutton might make over pensions and the impact they would have on two typical scheme members -
Hutton’s deadline ‘too tight’
22 July 2010
Experts are concerned the pension review commission’s time frame will not allow in-depth analysis -
Warning of 15% rise in equal pay bill
22 July 2010
The cost of equal pay settlements may rise because of the need to include pension contributions -
Counties to merge back office
21-Jul-2010
Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire CCs are to share their back office functions in an attempt to save more than a £1m a year -
Brighton replaces all its directors
20-Jul-2010
Brighton & Hove City Council’s management team is to get a complete overhaul with four new directors to start work in the autumn -
Watchdogs set out police savings plan
20-Jul-2010
Police forces can save £1bn without reducing the number of police officers on the street, according to a joint report from three watchdogs -
Powys to cut 1 in 10 jobs
19-Jul-2010
A tenth of jobs at Powys CC could go as the authority attempts to save £16m over the next 4 years -
Library strike suspended
19-Jul-2010
A two-day strike over changes to library services in Southampton have been postponed as unions and employers attempt to broker a deal -
Liverpool appoints interim chief
19-Jul-2010
The boss of Liverpool City Council’s joint venture is to take on the authority’s top job for the next six months. -
Hutton to work alone
19-Jul-2010
John Hutton to be the only member of the commission into public sector pensions -
No new chief for Newham, says Pickles
16-Jul-2010
Newham LBC does not need a new chief executive because it already has a well-paid mayor, local government secretary Eric Pickles claims -
Councillors squabble over police proposals
16-Jul-2010
A split has emerged between councillors opposed to the government’s proposed reforms of police accountability -
Duckworth ousted from Newham
15-Jul-2010
Newham LBC’s chief executive is to leave the council next month after two “hectic” years in the role, LGC has learned -
LGA: Councils should hold police to account
15-Jul-2010
Police accountability should be the responsibility of local authorities, the Local Government Association (LGA) claims -
LGA conference hot topics: More for less
15 July 2010
Cuts dominated discussions in Bournemouth - a stark contrast to a few months ago -
Herbert promises continuing role in policing
15 July 2010
Police reform minister Nick Herbert says locally elected politicians will continue to have a “big role” in holding the police to account -
WAG uses reserves to defer spending cuts
14-Jul-2010
Capital spending projects in Wales will be protected from this year’s cuts, the budget minister announces -
Hutton looks for immediate savings
14-Jul-2010
Pension commissioner John Hutton has been tasked with finding ways to cut the pensions bill within the next three years -
Lawyers warn of increase in judicial reviews
14-Jul-2010
Equality and procurement are potential pitfalls for cost-cutting councils, lawyers warn -
Herbert promises councillors big role in policing
13-Jul-2010
Local councillors will have a “big role” in providing the check and balance on directly elected police commissioners, the police reform minister promises -
WAG to discuss local government reform
13-Jul-2010
Wales’ local government minister seeks power to instruct local authorities to collaborate with other public bodies -
Council staff should tackle yobs, says RSA
13-Jul-2010
Public sector workers should be trained to deal with low level anti-social behaviour instead of relying on the police, a report argues -
Recruiter brands chief exec search 'daft'
12-Jul-2010
The recruitment process for chief executives results in the wrong person being appointed, a senior recruiter warns -
Librarians agree second strike
12-Jul-2010
Librarians in Southampton are planning a second strike in protest to the use of volunteers. -
Legal action threatened over pension change
12-Jul-2010
Unions weigh up legal action over changes to the way public sector pensions are to be indexed -
DCLG lines up bills to be scrapped
9-Jul-2010
The Department for Communities & Local Government has identified the rules and regulations which could be scrapped as part of the government’s ‘red tape’ bonfire -
Osborne's £250 pay rise 'not obligatory'
9-Jul-2010
Local government employers may not have to award low paid workers the £250 pay rise set out in the Budget, chief executives are told -
Welsh council reorganisation mooted
9-Jul-2010
Welsh local government minister Carl Sargeant suggests there will be reorganisation of councils in Wales -
We need top talent, argues Wandsworth over chief’s pay
8 July 2010
A flagship Conservative council defies the government’s strictures against high public sector salaries and will pay its new chief executive some 40% more than the PM -
'Too late' to start sharing from scratch
7-Jul-2010
Local authorities have been told they have little time to start work on new shared service arrangements -
'Bloody expensive' to undo shared chiefs
7-Jul-2010
Sharing arrangements are a one-way street, councillors and chief executives have said -
Rugby trials Pickles' 'leader and chief' idea
7-Jul-2010
The communities and local government secretary’s idea of a leader-chief executive has already been put into practice, LGC has learnt -
Liverpool makes redundancy offer
5-Jul-2010
Managers on more than £60,000 offered voluntary redundancy in £6m savings bid -
Heavy snow leads to new emergency plan
5-Jul-2010
London councils are rethinking emergency response plans following their experience of extreme weather conditions -
Pension reform could force out high earners
2-Jul-2010
High-earners in local government will leave the pension scheme because of the government drive to reform, a senior finance officer warns -
Merger with health board falls apart
1 July 2010
Debt and employment contracts derail Welsh deal to integrate services -
Martin to move to Wandsworth
30-Jun-2010
Sutton LBC’s chief executive is chosen for the top job at Wandsworth LBC, LGC can reveal -
National pay council branded 'dysfunctional'
30-Jun-2010
The local government sector is facing a “calamity” because of the way employers are treating the national pay bargaining structure, union officials warn -
Police authorities 'need details', May told
30-Jun-2010
Police authorities are still in the dark about their future with no further details on plans for a directly elected police commissioner, a senior member complains -
Manchester settles abuse claims
29-Jun-2010
Manchester City Council agrees to pay compensation to a second group of people who say they were abused in the council’s children’s homes. -
Sutton chief to advise Treasury
29-Jun-2010
Sutton LBC’s chief executive is to advise the Treasury on local government funding in the run-up to the spending review -
Islington to look for cheaper chief
29-Jun-2010
Islington LBC to cut its next chief executive’s salary by £50,000 when John Foster stands down next May -
No pay rise offered to firefighters
28-Jun-2010
Local government employers have refused to give fire fighters the 5.1% pay rise demanded by unions. -
Dorset chiefs to compete for shared role
28-Jun-2010
District councils in Dorset are set to pit their chief executives against one another as they move to share their senior management teams -
Thurrock chief chosen after 18-month wait
24-Jun-2010
A former London council chief executive is to return to local government and take on the troubled lead role at Thurrock BC. -
Staff on under £21k ‘should not be hit by freeze’
24 June 2010
Local government workers earning less than £21,000 should be protected from a two-year pay freeze, employers are told -
Watchdog faces bill of £70k after chief search blocked
24 June 2010
Audit Commission says interim arrangement is making savings -
John Foster the latest to leave
24 June 2010
Islington LBC’s chief executive is to leave after three years with the local authority -
Shared chief exec plans abandoned
23-Jun-2010
Plans for two Norfolk councils to share a chief executive and move towards shared services have fallen through -
Wales appoints new auditor general
23-Jun-2010
The former chief executive of Gwynedd Council and Denbighshire CC is set to become the next auditor general for Wales, it has been announced -
Lowest paid get small rise
22-Jun-2010
Public sector workers are to have their pay frozen for two years, but more than a million of the lowest paid will receive a small increase, the chancellor announces -
John Foster to leave Islington
22-Jun-2010
Islington LBC’s chief executive is to leave after three years with the local authority. -
Copeland's new boss to review managers
22-Jun-2010
The new chief executive of Copeland BC hopes to save 20% in costs with a reduction of management levels. -
Somerset to consider County Hall sale
22-Jun-2010
Somerset CC seeks to reduce its 32 offices to just 5 -
Cap on pay 'may not suit all'
22-Jun-2010
A ban on public sector bosses receiving more than 20 times their lowest employees’ salary may not be applied to all organisations, government admits -
LGA sets out anti-commissioner campaign
21-Jun-2010
Directly elected commissioners could create a “blame culture” amongst councils and police authorities, warns the Local Government Association -
Youth workers denied pay rise
21-Jun-2010
Youth and community workers will not get the “substantial” pay rise demanded by unions because any increase would “simply not be affordable”, employers say -
Hutton to lead pensions commission
21-Jun-2010
A former Labour minister is to lead a “fundamental” review of public sector pensions for the Con-Lib government, the chancellor announces -
WAG 'should be smaller'
17-Jun-2010
Welsh councils face a funding gap of nearly £1bn over the next four years and their leaders are told to radically rethink the structure of government -
Waltham's deputy to take over
17-Jun-2010
Waltham Forest confirms that chief executive Andrew Kilburn has stepped down following a change of political control -
Doing the right thing
17 June 2010
How do you make sure that you are left with a workforce that can still deliver services and, in many cases, deliver them in a new and more efficient way? -
Where the cuts will fall - crime & community
17 June 2010
Community cohesion and crime prevention funding streams have been cut by £17m: a £4m reduction in cohesion funding, a £7m reduction in preventing terrorism and extremism, and a £5.9m cut to area-based funds from the Home Office. -
Managers prepare for more job losses
17 June 2010
Local government managers have radically rethought their downsizing plans in the past 12 months, an LGC poll has revealed. -
Children's services merger considered
17 June 2010
Conwy CBC and Denbighshire CC are considering a merger of their children’s services in an attempt to save money -
Downsizing - what councils intend to do
17 June 2010
The top five options for change identified in the LGC survey - and experts’ views on the risks involved -
Local government sheds 22,000 jobs
16-Jun-2010
Local government employment has fallen by more than any other part of the public sector, according to ONS -
Kirklees appoint Vincent's replacement
16-Jun-2010
The retiring chief executive of Leeds City Council is to take on responsibility for Kirklees Metropolitan Council -
EHRC to investigate disability harrassment
15-Jun-2010
The equalities watchdog is to investigate whether local authorities and other public bodies have done enough to support disabled victims of harassment. -
Nick Clegg slams 'gold-plated' pensions
15-Jun-2010
Public sector pension pots are “unfair and unaffordable” with costs set to more than double from £4bn to £9bn, says the deputy prime minister -
BP impact on pension fears 'unfounded'
14-Jun-2010
Don’t worry about BP’s misfortunes affecting the value of local government pension funds, say experts -
Shared chief exec role advertised
14-Jun-2010
For the first time that a candidate is to be interviewed for an already-established chief executive role shared between two councils -
Librarians strike over use of volunteers
14-Jun-2010
Librarians are to go on strike later this month over plans to use volunteers instead of trained staff -
Birmingham to appeal equal pay decision
11-Jun-2010
Birmingham City Council is to appeal against a judge’s decision that they discriminated against female staff -
Political change forces chief executive out
10 June 2010
Waltham Forest LBC chief executive to leave after leader pushes for his removal -
Vehicle tracking devices spark union opposition
10 June 2010
Councils stress potential cost and driver safety benefits of new system -
Cotswold shelves redundancy pay reform
10 June 2010
Staff protests over plans to cut redundancy compensation payments lead managers at one council to shelve their reforms. -
Sunderland wins battle over parking zone
10 June 2010
A High Court battle over parking zones ended in victory for councils - but highlights the importance of signage, a lawyer has warned. -
School support staff quango 'on hold'
8-Jun-2010
The future of the new negotiating body for schools support staff is under question, according to a union leader. -
Questions over Waltham Forest chief
4-Jun-2010
The chief executive of Waltham LBC has left the authority under mysterious circumstances, LGC learns. -
Commission calls time on area assessment regime
3 June 2010
The Audit Commission is dealt a double blow after its flagship inspection regime ends and ministers rule out paying its new chief executive £240,000 -
Merton set to launch own graduate scheme
3 June 2010
Merton LBC intends to set up its own graduate scheme because numbers on the National Graduate Development Scheme are too limited -
Davis leaves Birmingham
2-Jun-2010
Birmingham’s head of communications leaves in the midst of a major reorganisation of her department -
Derbyshire CC could share staff with PCT
1-Jun-2010
Health and local government employers in Derbyshire are considering a piecemeal merger -
Council releases salary and spending data
1-Jun-2010
Northamptonshire CC publishes salary details of all its directors and service heads as councils feel the pressure to lift the lid on spending -
Brighton embraces commissioning model
1-Jun-2010
Senior staff in Brighton & Hove City Council are to be made redundant and then asked to reapply for their jobs -
Union warns of 'explosive' situation
1-Jun-2010
Local government workers are “bruised” by pay disputes and industrial relations are a “tinder box” waiting to go off, Unite warns -
Legal bill branded "excessive"
28-May-2010
Newport City Council to contest an “excessive” £500,000 legal bill after losing a judicial review -
FOI figures reveal Anglesey chief costs £275,000
27 May 2010
A troubled Welsh council is spending £1,160 a day on the interim chief executive brought in to change its fortunes -
Elected police chiefs ‘subject to checks
26-May-2010
Details awaited on government’s promised balancing role for local representatives -
Lawyer calls for legally minded chief execs
26-May-2010
Chief executives with a legal background could prevent local authorities getting into governance difficulties, one legal chief claims -
Brighton director to lead Lewes DC
26-May-2010
The next chief executive of Lewes DC is to be neighbouring Brighton & Hove City Council’s director of environment, LGC can reveal. -
Leaders told to take their own medicine
25-May-2010
Local authority leaders and managers should lead by example as they attempt to reduce workforce costs, says LGE -
Scilly officers get 12% pay rise
25-May-2010
Officials in the Isles of Scilly are criticised for giving themselves a 12% pay rise -
Cuts bring job cuts to '30,000'
25-May-2010
As many as 10,000 more jobs could be cut this year in response to yesterday’s announcement that local government make cuts of £1.165bn, CIPD predicts -
Interim chief appointed in Northamptonshire
24-May-2010
Councillors in Northamptonshire agree to save £200,000 a year through management restructuring -
Price tag of Anglesey chief revealed
24-May-2010
The chief executive of a troubled Welsh council is costing rate-payers £1,160 a day, it is revealed -
May warned of 'turmoil' over police plans
24-May-2010
Plans for directly elected police chiefs are uncosted, not backed up by evidence and “driven purely by dogma”, councillors warn -
Tories take West Somerset
24-May-2010
Defections in West Somerset DC give the Conservatives overall control of the local authority -
Backtrack on redundancy figures
24-May-2010
Councillors in Wales are forced to reassure staff after warning that up to 500 jobs could be lost -
Judge performs u-turn on equal pay case
21-May-2010
Local authorities face tens of thousands of new equal pay claims following a landmark court decision for white collar workers -
Ex-police chief to lead Cardiff
21-May-2010
A former police commander is to be Cardiff Council’s next chief executive -
'Checks' on commissioner powers promised
20-May-2010
Directly elected police commissioners will be subject to “strict checks and balances by locally elected representatives” -
Battle over elected commissioners
20 May 2010
Police authorities come out fighting over plans to replace their organisations with directly elected commissioners -
Council forced to seek help from parishes
20 May 2010
Cash-strapped West Somerset DC has asked parish and town councils to take over some of its services as it tries to sort out its finances. -
Library volunteers plan provokes anger
19-May-2010
Librarians in Southampton are being balloted over strike action as the council replaces trained staff with volunteers -
Call to stop Conservative police plans
17-May-2010
A police authority chairman calls for a united front against Conservative plans for directly elected police commissioners -
Liverpool chief to retire early
17-May-2010
Colin Hilton to stand down as Liverpool’s chief executive after election result brings change in council control, saying “the time is right” -
Public sector 'fair pay' review announced
17-May-2010
Chief executive pay to be examined as part of a wider review of public sector pay by the Treasury -
Councillors give green light to shared chief
14-May-2010
District councillors in Norfolk have given the go-ahead to a shared management team -
Tories warned off elected police chiefs
14-May-2010
Police authorities warn Tories against politicising the police service -
Herbert to be police reform minister
13-May-2010
The author of the Conservative’s elected police chief policy is to join the Home Office team -
Pension reform gets mixed welcome
12-May-2010
Commission on pensions gets mixed reviews from leaders in local government -
Union warns of public sector 'industrial strife'
11-May-2010
Unison launches its campaign against proposed cuts to public services and jobs -
Recycling boss calls for action
11-May-2010
Waste chief calls for government to increase production of renewable energy from rubbish collections -
Norfolk DCs to share chief executive
6-May-2010
District councils in Norfolk have announced plans to pool their management teams and save £235,000 a year. -
Muddle over pensions as part of equal pay awards
6 May 2010
Whitehall attempts to clarify how pension payments should be treated as part of equal pay awards have created a legal “nightmare”, employers have claimed. -
What you can expect from the parties after the election
6 May 2010
LGC’s reporters look at what policies are likely from each of the parties if they win on 6 May - or what influence they will seek to exert as part of a coalition government -
LGA rift over pay freeze
5-May-2010
Labour leaders criticise the pay policies of Lib Dem and Conservative colleagues within the LGA -
Legal firms fear less public sector work
5-May-2010
Law firms reveal their pessimism about prospects for public sector work in the coming year -
Devon council votes for shared chief exec
4-May-2010
Councillors at Torridge DC vote to continue with long-distance sharing of their chief executive -
Herts boss to lead county chiefs body
4-May-2010
The Association of County Chief Executives (ACCE) appoints its new chair -
Public sector pressure as private pay freezes wane
4-May-2010
Private sector resorts to fewer freezes on pay, negotiations data reveals -
West Somerset 'too small to be viable'
4-May-2010
Consultant warns that the south west district council cannot survive under the current inspection regime -
LGA told to rethink pay freeze
4-May-2010
Unions call for LGA to abandon pay freeze and open negotiations -
Pension boss calls for 'radical' reforms
May 2010 - online articles
Pension fund boss warns that workers will have to work longer, pay more contributions and receive a smaller pay out -
Police investigate election tweet gaffe
30-Apr-2010
Labour’s “Twitter Tsar” breaks electoral law with tweets about early postal votes -
Public sector bosses see bleak future
29-Apr-2010
Public sector bosses say they feel far less confident than private sector employers -
Keeping the workforce motivated
29 April 2010
Local authorities face a conundrum: they must motivate employees to deliver ‘more for less’ but they have less money to reward staff -
Diversity warning on staff cutbacks
29 April 2010
Management streamlining to help councils through the spending squeeze could hamper efforts to improve diversity among senior local authority officers -
Lawyers disagree over Birmingham payout
28-Apr-2010
Lawyers in the Birmingham equal pay case disagree over what payout claimants can expect -
Equalities framework proves popular
27-Apr-2010
Almost all local authorities are using the Improvement & Development Agency’s equality framework -
Councils adopt shared legal service
27-Apr-2010
Councils in Cambridgeshire are to pool their legal teams in an attempt to reduce spending on external legal services
