Third of local authorities forced to top up housing benefits
Data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shown that around a third of councils in England have spent additional money topping up government housing benefits, in order to make up for new welfare changes.
Clark ‘impressed’ with devolution deal despite lacking mayor plans
Communities secretary Greg Clark has confirmed he is ‘impressed’ with a devolution bid for Leicester and Leicestershire which lacks proposals for a directly elected mayor.
Health staff instrumental in councils' efforts to improve mental health, LGA says
The Local Government Association (LGA) has released a report stressing the importance of councils working together with health professionals to promote good mental health in children.
Education select committee MPs have rejected the government’s plant to appoint Amanda Spielman as the next head of Ofsted, claiming they were concerned about her suitability for the job.
Councils overcharged for IT purchases, study warns
The annual IT Margins Benchmarking study has highlighted that local authorities are being charged up to 11 times too much for IT purchases, as a result of excessive margins by suppliers.
New figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) have revealed that councils’ spending in England will fall by one per cent in 2016-17.
