Accountants hired to cost community budgets

Localism

24 May 2012
Accountancy experts Ernst & Young have been hired by the four whole place pilot areas and the LGA to develop a fully costed case for whole place community budgets based upon evidence from the pilots.

Anti-Social Behaviour White Paper

24 May 2012
The LGA has consistently argued that a centralised approach to tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) is ineffective, stifles local initiative and problem solving. It also fails to take account of the local nature of ASB which varies between communities and neighbourhoods. Read the LGA's full response to the Anti-Social Behaviour White Paper.

Councils shine as Olympic Torch lands in UK

Sport

18 May 2012
As the Olympic Torch lands on our shores, councils are laying on a whole range of events to make sure it shines a light on local talent.

Launch offer for police and crime commissioners

Community safety

14 May 2012
With six months to go until elections, the LGA has set out a comprehensive offer of support to incoming police and crime commissioners (PCCs).

Government must tackle scrap metal theft

Localism

18 May 2012
Government needs to act now and ensure the country's last chance of tackling scrap metal theft – a Private Member's Bill – is urgently taken forward in this Parliamentary session, council leaders have said.

Pause

Universal Credit

The LGA has been working with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on pilot schemes for the development of Universal Credit. Interested local authorities can apply to become a pilot area through the online application form.

Finance

LGA response to business rates retention statement

18 May 2012
Responding to the Government's statement of intent on business rates retention, Sir Merrick Cockell, LGA Chairman said: "It is a step in the right direction, but with the Treasury pocketing half of business rates growth it falls well short of giving councils the level of freedom from government handouts that we want..."

Strategic leadership in modern local government

21 May 2012
If you're a senior strategic manager or leader within local government, this modular training programme is for you. Find out how to lead and implement strategic change in your authority.

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Excellence on adoption

23 March 2012

Our partnership with children's charity Coram has proved a huge success story in Harrow. Working together we have more quickly placed children waiting to be adopted, without delays or unnecessary red tape.

Council role in education

12 April 2012

Many local authorities are taking a pragmatic and positive approach to academies and the development of a more autonomous school system, and are using the change as a platform to exercise their local leadership, according to new research.

Public sector response

12 April 2012

Local government alone cannot turn around the lives of troubled families the LGA has warned, following the launch last month of the Government's programme to help an estimated 120,000 families facing problems such as unemployment and poor mental health.