Four-day working week ‘on trial’
Councils should be free to pilot innovative solutions to local challenges, the LGA has said, in response to ministerial demands for a council to abandon its trial of a four-day working week.
‘Scrap single-word ratings for adult social care’
Plans to introduce ‘single word’ inspection ratings for adult social care services should be dropped, as they set local councils up “to fail”.
‘System reset’ to tackle audit backlog
A ‘system reset’ of local audit has been proposed by the Government to tackle the backlog of unaudited accounts dating back up to seven years.
Wider benefits of adult learning recognised
The Government has reversed its decision to focus adult education courses in England purely on employment outcomes, which could have resulted in courses such as family learning and household budgeting being cut.
Gove promises simpler funding system
A plan to simplify aspects of the funding landscape for councils and tackle multiple funding pots for local growth was announced at the LGA’s annual conference in July.
Labour focuses on housing and devolution
Labour will “take the housing crisis head on” and deliver on devolution if it forms the next government.
‘Devo requires change in mindset’
A change in mindset and culture in Whitehall and Westminster is needed for councils to get real devolution, according to the Leader of the Liberal Democrats.
Speakers’ corner
Ahead of the next General Election, new Independent and Green council leaders set out their asks and messages at a ‘speakers’ corner’ session at the LGA’s annual conference.
Meeting the challenge
This year’s Local Government Challenge has been won by Lewis Sheldrake, Lead Commissioner at Barking & Dagenham Council, with a project on AI Labs.
Meet the new LGA chair
Local government is in his DNA, says Councillor Shaun Davies, the LGA’s youngest ever Chair.