Tag Archives: local government

For local government to be meaningful, it needs to have the power to make a difference over things that people care about

By Guest | Published: April 12, 2013

Labour’s announcement that it would give councils more control over “use classes” is extremely welcome. In England, any “development” requires planning permission, unless it is “permitted development”. However, under current legislation, many changes in the use of a building count as “permitted development”, and many more (specifically, changes within a certain “use class”) do not count as development at all.

Posted in Good Society | Tagged | 3 Responses

JRF: Council tax benefit – the sting in the tail

By Guest | Published: February 1, 2013

Katie Schmuecker, research manager for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, looks at the sting in the tail of council tax benefit.

Posted in Sustainable Economy | Also tagged , , | 31 Responses

Birmingham’s widening “jaws of doom”

By Joseph D'Urso | Published: February 1, 2013

Birmingham’s Labour-run council is facing a £625 million deficit by 2016/2017. Budget cuts of up to 50% are planned. What public services will survive?

Posted in Public Services for All | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Responses

Comment: We need a clearer vision for the future of local government

By Guest | Published: January 16, 2013

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council It has been refreshing and invigorating to see serious debate in the Labour movement about the long term future of local government in the wake of yet another disastrous settlement from Eric Pickles. Labour local authorities have been beacons of hope for residents over the past two years, [...]

Posted in Public Services for All | Also tagged , , | 21 Responses

Will an elected Mayor bring the glory days back to Coventry?

By Amanda Ramsay | Published: May 1, 2012

Amanda Ramsay reports on campaign for an elected mayor in Coventry ahead of the referendum this Thursday.

Posted in Clean Politics | Also tagged , , , | 30 Responses

Will Birmingham say ‘alrite’ to an elected Mayor?

By Amanda Ramsay | Published: March 29, 2012

Amanda Ramsay takes a look at the debate in Birmingham on whether the city should have an elected Mayor and talks to campaigners on the ground.

Posted in Good Society | Also tagged , | 15 Responses

Will Manchester say yes to an elected Mayor in May?

By Amanda Ramsay | Published: March 6, 2012

With referendums in ten of the biggest cities outside London in May, residents in Manchester will decide if they wish to have an elected mayor.

Posted in Good Society | Also tagged , , , | 16 Responses

Elected Mayors: Let the referendum campaigns begin

By Amanda Ramsay | Published: January 26, 2012

The government announced yesterday that residents from Bristol to Newcastle, along with nine other English cities, will go to the polls on May 3rd.

Posted in Good Society | Also tagged , | 23 Responses

Pickles’s failed attempt to reduce complexity risks a planning free-for-all

By Alex Hern | Published: September 22, 2011

Under the guise of reducing complexity in the planning system, the government devolves crucial decisions to under-funded councils in a failed attempt at growth.

Posted in Sustainable Economy | Also tagged , , , , , | 11 Responses

Councils and Whitehall must work together to avoid a homelessness epidemic

By Guest | Published: September 12, 2011

Central and local government are going to have to have to work together and invest in housing if we are to avoid a homelessness epidemic, writes Anna Turley.

Posted in Left Foot Forward | Also tagged , , , | 27 Responses