Plans to make the Midlands an ‘engine of growth’ by creating 300,000 jobs in addition to boosting the national economy by £34 billion has been unveiled at the University of Birmingham.

Labour has retained its seat in Oldham West and Royton, in the first by-election of this parliament.

Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council have signed a new district deal to further develop joint working between councils.

Councils planning to save money by cutting the length of the primary school week are to be banned from enforcing the cuts.

Westminster City Counci has partnered with Smart Parking to pilot an electronic permit which will be issued to disabled drivers that will communicate with parking sensors in the road.

A new housing body has been introduced to examine ways in which councils can build more ‘desperately needed’ homes.

A new report published by Centre of Cities has warned that local authorities are unable to make the most of their public assets due to ‘restrictive and counterproductive policies’. 
The report entitled ‘Delivering Change: making the most of public assets’ recommends a number of suggestions to encourage economic growth, including abolishing Stamp Duty on the transfer of assets between public bodies and local authority areas. 

A new study conducted by Comensura’s Social Care Index has found that a greater demand for trained social care workers over 35 could result in a shortage of experienced younger care workers when their older colleagues retire.

Councils are seeing increased costs from the rising number of public health funerals, according to a Freedom of Information request by BBC Local Radio.

Scottish Parliament has called for local authorities to maximise the opportunities presented through pension funds to improve local infrastructure.