Labour launches local election campaign
Labour has fired the starting gun on the local election campaign, as it tries to make serious political inroads on the back of the coalition’s unpopularity.
Council bosses’ pay jumps again
The number of council employees earning six-figure salaries jumped by nearly a fifth last year, figures show.
Threat of ‘planning vacuum’ in England
England is at risk of a “planning vacuum” after regional planning is dismantled, an influential committee of MPs has found.
Relief as government secures council tax freeze
New data suggesting that local councils in England will freeze their council tax this year has been greeted with relief in government.
Councils told to share services to survive cuts
Councils have been urged to “boldly go beyond the back office” when it comes to shared services.
Cameron eyes private sector future for public services
David Cameron has signalled a renewed emphasis on handing public services to the private sector.
Localism bill ‘too centrist’
The localism bill’s provisions on council housing have come under fire from the Local Government Association (LGA) for being too centrist.
PM’s volunteering model ‘won’t cover costs’
Specialist responses from the volunteering sector “won’t happen” if the government does not change its course, a homeless charity chief has said.
Pickles exposes £100k council salaries
Council staff earning over £100,000 will have their salaries publicly approved by councillors, Eric Pickles has announced.
Cameron addresses ‘big society’ concerns
The prime minister has addressed growing concerns about his ‘big society’ agenda head-on in an article for a Sunday newspaper.
