Government pledges to modernise lending to councils
The government has launched a consultation on transferring the powers of the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) to the Treasury, in a move it claims will modernise lending to local authorities.
Strong public support for metro mayors, poll suggests
Members of the public across the five biggest city regions due to introduce metro mayors support the idea, according to new polling published by Centre for Cities.
Oxfordshire County Council is considering how local government can be reorganised to reduce costs and protect services, including the option to become a unitary authority.
MPs pay relatives higher wages than other staff, Ipsa finds
According to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), family members employed by MPs are paid on average £5,600 more than other staff.
Council appoints experts to explore local government models
Oxfordshire County Council has appointed accountancy firm Grant Thornton to identify what new model of local government should be established in the county.
‘Unviable’ high performing schools at risk of academisation
Despite the government’s U-turn on academisation, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has maintained that some outstanding local authority schools could still be forced to covert to academies, if the are deemed as ‘unviable’.
