Press releases
May 2008
FUNDING FOR CARE OF THE ELDERLY NEEDS ‘RADICAL OVERHAUL’ – COUNCIL LEADERS
12th May 2008
April 2008
NEW WEAPON TO COMBAT ‘LOLLIPOP RAGE’ LAUNCHED TODAY
30th April 2008
RESPONSE TO TAXPAYERS ALLIANCE REPORT ON COUNCIL FUNDING FROM LGA
28th April 2008
FIGURES ON THE NUMBER OF WORKING DAYS LOST DUE TO STRIKES SINCE 1996
24th April 2008
SNAPSHOT SURVEY OF SCHOOLS SET TO CLOSE DUE TO TEACHER STRIKE ACTION - LGA
22nd April 2008
NUT SHOULD ‘PAUSE FOR THOUGHT’ BEFORE EMBARKING ON STRIKE ACTION – COUNCIL LEADERS
21st April 2008
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON NUT STRIKE ON THE 24TH APRIL 2008
18th April 2008
LGA RESPONSE TO OFT REPORT INTO CONSTRUCTION FIRM ‘BID RIGGING’
17th April 2008
COUNCILS UP FOR ELECTION AND LOCAL COUNCIL POLITICAL CONTROL
10th April 2008
‘UNHELPFUL STONEWALLING’ BY POST OFFICE LTD STILL NEEDS TO BE OVERCOME - LGA
9th April 2008
EMPLOYERS MAKE FINAL PAY OFFER TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIONS
2nd April 2008
NUT SHOULD TAKE A 'PAUSE FOR THOUGHT BEFORE STRIKE ACTION - COUNCIL LEADERS
1 April 2008
March 2008
NON EMERGENCY HOTLINE SAVED AFTER HOME OFFICE PULLS PLUG ON FUNDING
31 March 2008
COUNCILS LAUNCH CRACKDOWN ON UTILITIES DIGGING UP THE ROADS
31 March 2008
TAXPAYERS ALLIANCE FIGURES NEED TO BE TAKEN WITH DOLLOP OF SALT - LGA
28th March 2008
TAXPAYERS ALLIANCE TOP TEN LOCAL AUTHORITY NUMERATION PACKAGES
28th March 2008
MIGRATION FIGURES NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE - LGA
21st March 2008
COUNCILS GET GREEN LIGHT TO HELP SAVE POST OFFICES - LGA
19 March 2008
LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYERS SUBMIT FORMAL PAY OFFER TO UNIONS
19 March 2008
LGA LAUNCHES NEW CLIMATE CHANGE CAMPAIGN
13 March 2008
Help hard-pressed council taxpayers, town halls urge Chancellor
12 March 2008
ROAD PRICING NEEDS MAJOR INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND TECHNOLOGY
12 March 2008
FUNDING FOR ROADS, SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS IS VITAL WHEN BUILDING NEW HOMES, SAYS LGA.
12 March 2008
BRING LOCAL PEOPLE TOGETHER WITH PROPERLY FUNDED PUBLIC SERVICES
11 March 2008
February 2008
TAXPAYERS ALLIANCE APPEARS TO CONDEMN COUNCIL STAFF TO A MEAGRE RETIREMENT - LGA
29th February 2008
EXTRA INFORMATION ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONS AHEAD OF TAXPAYERS ALLIANCE REPORT
28th February 2008
AVERAGE COUNCIL TAX SET TO BE REAL TERMS FREEZE IN 2008
28th February 2008
NEW WELFARE PLANS MUST NOT BECOME A ‘RAILTRACK FOR THE UNEMPLOYED’ – COUNCIL LEADERS
28th February 2008
LATEST MIGRATION FIGURES DEMONSTRATE NEED FOR £250MILLION CONTINGENCY FUND - LGA
26th February 2008
‘CASINO MIRAGE’ HAS COST COUNCILS DEAR – COUNCIL LEADERS
26th February 2008
SEASIDE RESORTS MAY HAVE TO END MEALS ON WHEELS TO PAY FOR FREE BUS TRAVEL
26th February 2008
‘IMMIGRANT TAX’ DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF ACCURATE POPULATION COUNTING
20th February 2008
LIST OF COUNCILS HAVING ELECTIONS ON THE 1st MAY 2008
18th February 2008
MY MONEY WENT TO WHITEHALL AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS TAX RETURN - LGA
13th February 2008
‘MANILOW METHOD’ COULD BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR MOSQUITO TO DETER GANGS - LGA
12th February 2008
MIGRANT ‘WELCOME PACKS’ ALREADY PART OF WHAT MANY COUNCILS PROVIDE
4th February 2008
January 2008
ASYLUM SEEKING CHILDREN’S WELFARE MUST BE A PRIORITY
31 January 2008
CONFLICTING GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON RURAL SCHOOL CLOSURES CAUSING CONFUSION
30th January 2008
PEOPLE PAY FIVE TIMES MORE INCOME TAX THAN COUNCIL TAX – NEW FIGURES
22nd January 2008
CENTRAL DIKTATS ON ‘COMMUNITY CONTRACTS’ SIMPLY WON’T WORK - LGA
22nd January 2008
'COUNCILS FORCED TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES BETWEEN FEES, CUTS AND COUNCIL TAX RISES' - LGA
22nd January 2008
STATEMENT FROM TAUNTON DEANE COUNCIL ON THE DEATH OF RHIANNA HARDIE
10 January 2008
ANY COUNCIL WORKER PAY DEAL MUST BALANCE TAXPAYER NEEDS, AFFORDABILITY AND ATTRACTIVENESS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
8th January 2008
ANY PAY DEAL MUST BALANCE TAXPAYER NEEDS, AFFORDABILITY AND ATTRACTIVENESS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
8th January 2008
COUNCIL EQUAL PAY BEING HAMPERED BY NO-WIN-NO-FEE LAWYERS
2nd January 2008
December 2007
COUNCILS SHOULD GET POWERS TO APPOINT AND DISMISS POLICE AND NHS CHIEFS - LGA
12th December 2007
GROUND BREAKING AGREEMENT SIGNED BY CENTRAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
12th December 2007
‘EMPOWERMENT’ AND ‘PLACE SHAPING’ TO BECOME BANNED WORDS IN BATTLE FOR PLAIN ENGLISH
11th December 2007
COUNCIL LEADERS RESPOND TO COUNCILLORS’ COMMISSION
10th December 2007
TRANSLATION HAS ITS PLACE AFTER ENGLISH CLASSES BUDGET SLASHED - LGA
7 December 2007
COUNCILS TO FACE ‘TOUGH CHOICES’ IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE SETTLEMENT - LGA
6 December 2007
MIGRATION TOPS COUNCIL CONCERNS FOR KEY FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT - LGA
6th December 2007
COUNCIL REORGANISATION DITHERING MEANS PEOPLE AND SERVICES WILL SUFFER - LGA
5th December 2007
PEOPLE WILL BE DENIED ACCESS TO VITAL SERVICES WITHOUT COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS - LGA
4 December 2007
November 2007
'COMPETITION IS NO ELIXIR TO DELIVERING EFFICIENCY SAVINGS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT' - LGA
27th November 2007
RECYCLING RATES ON THE RISE BUT INESCAPABLE NEED TO TO MORE - LGA
22nd November 2007
NEW LGA HEALTH COMMISSION LAUNCHED
16th November 2007
MIGRATION FIGURES ARE INADEQUATE SAY COUNCIL LEADERS
15th November 2007
RESPONSE TO CONSERVATIVE PROPOSALS ON CAPPING
13 November 2007
BRITAIN TOPS LANDFILL LEAGUE AND WINS ‘DUSTBIN OF EUROPE’ AWARD
12 November 2007
COUNCIL EMERGENCY PLANNING TEAMS ON FULL ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOODING
8th November 2007
TOUGHER ACTION NEEDED AGAINST CARE WORKER ABUSE- COUNCIL LEADERS
8th November 2007
URGENT REVIEW OF FIRE BUILDING REGULATIONS URGED FOLLOWING TRAGIC WARWICKSHIRE DEATHS
5 November 2007
RESPONSE TO LIB DEM FIGURES ON BED BLOCKING - LGA
3 November 2007
£250 MILLION CONTINGENCY FUND NEEDED TO HELP COUNCILS DEAL WITH MIGRATION
1 November 2007
October 2007
DECISION NOT TO STRIKE BY UNISON BOTH ‘RIGHT AND REASONABLE’ – COUNCIL LEADERS
29 October 2007
LGA RESPONSE TO GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO COUNCILS WHO INCREASE HOUSING DELIVERY
26 October 2007
LGA RESPONSE TO EDUCATION AND SKILLS SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT ON SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS
25 October 2007
EIGHTEEN MONTHS SINCE LAST OVERPACKAGING PROSECUTION MEANS LAWS ARE TOO WEAK - LGA
24th October 2007
ONS MIGRATION DATA IS WOEFULLY INADEQUATE FOR LOCAL LEVEL NEEDS WARN COUNCIL LEADERS
23rd October 2007
NEW POLL REVEALS ‘STARTLING GULF’ ON WHO WILL PAY FOR CARE IN THE FUTURE
17 October 2007
UNDER-AGE ALCOHOL SALES FALL THANKS TO COUNCIL TRADING STANDARDS
11 October 2007
RED TAPE AND TARGET BONFIRE WILL HELP FREE COUNCILS TO DELIVER FOR LOCAL PEOPLE - LGA
11 October 2007
WORST SETTLEMENT FOR COUNCILS IN A DECADE - LGA
9 October 2007
POST OFFICES FACING THE AXE COULD BE SAVED BY LOCAL COUNCILS
2 October 2007
September 2007
CAPITALISATION ANNOUNCEMENT MAJOR STEP ON WAY TO EQUAL PAY
28 September 2007
COUNCILS URGE PERIOD OF GRACE NEEDED FOR EQUAL PAY REVIEWS
21 September 2007
UNISON MEMBERS SHOULD TAKE PAUSE FOR THOUGHT BEFORE STRIKING
5 September 2007
July 2007
MINISTERS NEED TO DEVOLVE POWERS OVER TAX, TRANSPORT, PLANNING AND SKILLS IN NEW REVIEW - LGA
11 July 2007
COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT SERVICE FACES CUTS WHICH COULD AFFECT POOREST
10th July 2007
EQUAL PAY HINDERED BY NO-WIN NO FEE LAYERS – WARN COUNCIL LEADERS
9 July 2007
FIRE SERVICE LAUNCHES PIONEERING ‘EYE-IN-THE-SKY’ TECHNOLOGY
9 July 2007
SCALE OF FLOODS MEANS GOVERNMENT FUNDS MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH - LGA
6 July 2007
June 2007
COUNCILS ON HIGH ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FURTHER FLOODING
29 June 2007
LGA STATEMENT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF HAZEL BLEARS TO DCLG
28 June 2007
RESPONSE TO TREASURY SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT ON COMPREHENSIVE SPENDING REVIEW
25 June 2007
COUNCIL TAX ‘RESEARCH’ IS “REHASH, REHASHING A REHASH” – COUNCIL LEADERS
23 June 2007
DEAL ON FIREFIGHTER PAY REACHED
15 June 2007
LGA RESPONSE TO COMMISSION ON INTEGRATION REPORT
14 June 2007
LEARNING ENGLISH IS KEY TO COMMUNITY COHESION – COUNCIL LEADERS
14 June 2007
December 2006
April 2006
Lollipop Rage Faces Clamp Down By Councils
12 April 2006
March 2006
Reform Council Tax benefit to help lift kids out of poverty - LGA
9 March 2006
Local authorities are doing everything in their power to keep Council Tax down - LGA
2 March 2006
February 2006
LGA Response to Power Enquiry
27 February 2006
Take Part Take Power
Local Democracy Week is to be expanded into a year round campaign to increase young peoples' awareness that they have the power to shape their community.
24 February 2006
January 2006
Benefits of city regions proposals must be extended to all, council leaders warn
Proposals to devolve powers to big cities in a bid to spur economic growth must be extended to all areas, council leaders will say today.
13 February 2006
All green babies should get cash from councils
Council leaders will later today call for new, groundbreaking ways of tackling waste by paying families to use reusable nappies instead disposable ones to be rolled out across the country.
13 February 2006
Valentine's Day Rip-Offs
Valentine's Day need not be a rip-off. Council trading standards officers have offered five tips to make sure Cupid's arrow hits its mark, and not your bank account.
10 February 2006
Survey reveals councils braced for 'tough decisions' on Council Tax
The first indications of the pressures on local authorities and possible increases in Council Tax have today been revealed in a snapshot survey by the Local Government Association (LGA).
30 January 2005
'Difficulties remain' after final financial settlement council leaders warn
26 January 2006
Five point plan calls for change in prostitution laws
Ahead of the government’s strategy on prostitution, council leaders today launched their own ‘five point plan’ for tackling the problem.
17 January 2006
Sir Brian Briscoe to step down from 'the biggest job in local government'
Sir Brian Briscoe, the Chief Executive of the Local Government Association (LGA) for the last ten years, will today announce that he is to stand down in the spring.
6 January 2006
December 2005
Statement on Lyons review from local council leaders
15 December 2005
£2billion of red tape 'strangling' local government - council leaders warn
Almost £2billion could be saved by scrapping unnecessary red tape, regulations and inspections giving local people better value for money and improving the delivery of frontline council services, the Chairman of the Local Government Association, Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, will say later today at the bi-annual General Assembly of Council leaders.
12 December 2005
Local government needs greater influence over the bus network
9 December 2005
Local government leaders warn councils face 'tough choices'
5 December 2005
Local government makes civil partnerships a reality
The Local Government Association (LGA) and LACORS have been working hard with councils to prepare for the introduction of civil partnerships on 21 December 2005.
2 December 2005
All residents must benefit from house building
The suspicion and hostility of residents towards house building would be reduced if councils could retain more of the money generated by development to invest in major projects such as roads, schools and flood defences.
2 December 2005
Council social services continue to improve
Children and adults are continuing to receive improved social care services from councils in England, independent statistics have confirmed.
1 December 2005
November 2005
Partial smoking ban will be 'confusing, contradictory and costly'
Fundamental changes are needed to the proposed partial ban on smoking in public places, local government leaders warned today.
30 November 2005
No Pensioners Should Ever Be Forced Into Poverty Because Of Council Tax - Council Leaders Say
26 November 2005
Three point plan launched to help locals hold locals to account
Today's introduction of new licensing laws gives residents and town halls more powers than ever before to hold pubs and clubs to account for rowdy behaviour.
24 November 2005
LGA statement on tripartite local government pension scheme meeting
21 November 2005
Big Brother champ joins nationwide anti-bullying events
A big brother winner, a talkshow queen and a boxing champion are taking on the school bullies as councils across the country join in the fight against bullying.
16 November 2005
A new approach for the delivery of local health and adult social care is to be launched today (Wednesday)
The LGA paper - The future of health and adult social care: a partnership approach for well-being - is supported by nine organisations. It outlines an approach where councils and primary care trusts work in partnership to deliver a strategic vision for the communities they serve.
16 November 2005
Pressure on council taxpayers to fund £2.2bn black hole
Town halls face a £2.2 billion black hole in their finances - equivalent to a rise of 10 percent or around £100 a year in council tax bills - unless the Government injects substantial extra cash, local government leaders have revealed.
2 November 2005
October 2005
Sir Trevor says councils should embrace the beautiful game
Sir Trevor Brooking today called on councils to use the power of football to engage their communities and tackle social problems.
31 October 2005
Schools White Paper Response - Reforms fail to ensure admissions fairness
Education reforms fail to give local authorities enough clout to ensure parents and pupils get a fair choice, council leaders warned.
25 October 2005
LGA comment on council tax benefit
The Government's decision to phone an estimated 1.8 million pensioners telling them they should claim council tax benefit.
19 October 2005
Over 400 local events planned for Local Democracy Week
This year's Local Democracy Week will see more than 400 local and regional events being organised by councils and other organisations in a week-long festival of Local Democracy.
13 October 2005
Local government solidarity in earthquake response
Town halls up and down the UK will be offering their support to members of their local communities affected by the shock and loss from the earthquake.
11 October 2005
Your Power!
More than 200 English and Welsh councils are working together with youth groups in organising and running a number of exciting activities both locally and regionally as part of this year's Local Democracy Week (17-23 October).
6 October 2005
LGA Labour Group Leader Elected Chair of Labour's National Executive Committee
LGA Labour Group Leader and Vice-Chair of the LGA, Sir Jeremy Beecham, has been elected Chair of the Labour party's ruling National Executive Committee.
4 October 2005
September 2005
LGA reaction to Ruth Kelly speech
28 September 2005
Local licensing decision-making means tougher protections for local people Jowell and Purnell
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and Licensing Minister James Purnell today spelt out that under new licensing laws there is no presumption that requests for longer hours should take precedence over legitimate residents concerns.
23 September 2005
Council tax delay is 'bad news' for councils and residents
Local government leaders said today that the decision to postpone the implementation of the review of council tax was 'very bad news', both for councils and local people.
20 September 2005
LGA leads the call for a fair and open property search market
House buyers are getting a raw deal because the market for property searches isn't working properly. Local government leaders have today called on the Government to deliver a fair and open market ahead of next week's report by the Office of Fair Trading into the £200 million sector.
16 September 2005
Starting a revolution - Councils take the helm
A call for Ministers and councils to agree a timetable for rolling back the tide of Whitehall micro-management to deliver an ambitious programme of improvements in public services will be made next Wednesday by local government leaders.
12 September 2005
Councils call for smoke-free future
The government should change the law to make all workplaces and enclosed public places in England smoke-free, according to local government leaders.
5 September 2005
August 2005
"I'm A Councillor Get Me Out Of Here" goes Welsh
With this year's Local Government Association's 'Local Democracy Week' (17 - 23 October), showing all the signs of being the biggest yet, Gallomanor Communications Ltd has taken it's multi-media event "I'm A Councillor Get Me Out Of Here" (IAC), to new heights and across new language barriers.
11 August 2005
Regional Youth Debate 2005: Guns, gangs, and groups of young people
Young people will have the opportunity to debate issues on the topic of crime surrounding young people, at this year's Regional Youth Debate.
4 August 2005
July 2005
European values of co-operation would ensure successful regeneration, report shows
We need to look to Europe, not America, and secure an overhaul of current funding systems to ensure that the benefits of urban renewal are widely spread and properly felt by all.
25 July 2005
Search for local community heroes from London s ethnic communities
In a design competition organised by the LGA's Local Democracy Campaign 'Ideas into Action' and Operation Black Vote (OBV), young people from across London are being asked to identify 'Local Community Heroes' from Black and Asian communities.
14 July 2005
LGA Conference convenes in solidarity with London
Speaking at an emergency session at the Local Government Association conference today in Harrogate Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart paid respect to the bereaved and praised the work of the emergency services and local authorities in London in the wake of today's explosions.
7 July 2005
Dismay at capping stupidity leaves local people short changed
Tiny reductions in council tax bills of four pence a week, seven pence a week, 11 pence per week, ranging up to £1.25, reductions which will be swallowed up by the costs of having to send out revised bills, are pure centralised stupidity, the Local Government Association said today.
7 July 2005
Global action brings local benefits, says local government
The Local Government Association and Local Government International Bureau have today urged local authorities to increase their international activity and consider appointing an elected member and officer responsible for international development.
7 July 2005
LGA conference delight at Olympic success
Local government's annual conference erupted into unanimous applause today, as Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart welcomed today's Olympic news, fittingly as he was introducing former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani who was addressing the 1,000 delegates in Harrogate.
6 July 2005
Olympic torch will shine bright far beyond the capital
Local government leaders today congratulated London's Olympic team on its successful bid and hailed it as an opportunity not just for the capital but for the whole country.
6 July 2005
Localism debate is over and won - now is the time for action
"As we look to the future, we see for the first time in many generations a real chance of an era of localism" Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart said today.
5 July 2005
Councils do the business, now they pledge to prove it
In a unique pledge, councils across the country have signed-up to a concerted plan of national action to boost the reputation of local government.
5 July 2005
June 2005
New York's Giuliani pitches in to debate local democracy renaissance
Rudy Giuliani, Mayor of New York from 1994 to 2002, will be making a timely keynote address to the annual local government conference in Harrogate next week.
28 June 2005
Success in smoking legislation hinges on Ministers heeding Town Hall advice
With smoking at the forefront of the public health debate, the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS) have made clear their commitment to smoke-free public places and are helping the Department of Health identify barriers and solutions to make any proposed legislation work.
20 June 2005
Proof that council efficiency is keeping tax down and services up
Over a billion pounds of efficiency savings being delivered this year by councils are protecting and improving services and helping to keep council tax bills down.
16 June 2005
Councils will rise to the challenge of tougher CPA test
Councils are ready to meet a harder test of their performance, local govt leaders said today and in return will expect a significant speeding up in the relaxation of centralised controls to help them further boost standards.
15 June 2005
I'm A Councillor Get Me Out Of Here!
Councillors will be put to the test in a reality TV-style contest during Local Democracy Week 2005 (17-23rd October). Councils are being invited to show they are listening to young people by taking part in a new educational project; I'm A Councillor Get Me Out Of Here!
10 June 2005
Only fair that 'polluters' pay for effects of binge drinking
It is only fair that the 'polluter', not the taxpayer, should pick up the bill for pressure that alcohol-related disorder places on public services, local government leaders said today in response to the publication of the Violent Crime Reduction bill.
8 June 2005
Government must look at the full picture before taking capping decision
With a final decision imminent on the nine local authorities singled out for capping, local government leaders are calling for an urgent meeting with the Minister Phil Woolas to highlight the financial pressures on councils.
6 June 2005
May 2005
Virtual waste ideas shared
Groups of councils are working together to create virtual waste authorities and have just launched new web pages with advice and good practice on the IDeA s Knowledge website.
24 May 2005
Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment act boosts local enforcement
The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, which received Royal Assent last month, has already inspired local authorities to take stronger action against environmental crime.
23 May 2005
Ensure parents' choice of school not school's choice of pupil - LGA warns
Plans to allow new educational providers to set up state schools outlined in the Queens Speech today could destabilise existing schools and give a false impression of parental choice the LGA warned today.
17 May 2005
Focus on crime is welcome but safer communities will be hard won
In response to the Queens speech, local government leaders have today welcomed the renewed commitment to building safer communities, but have warned that quick fixes will not be sufficient in the long-run.
17 May 2005
Respect for local choice needed for better schools and safer communities
With such a lengthy, complex and mixed programme of reform, the government needs to entrust more power to the people to deliver real change, the Local Government Association said today.
17 May 2005
Calling time on landlords
Significant numbers of local watering holes could be out of action in time for Christmas and New Year, with new figures showing that many pubs are leaving it to the bitter end to apply for new alcohol licenses.
16 May 2005
The future is local - a programme for government
In advance of tomorrows Queens Speech, local government leaders today offered a refreshed partnership with government to deliver a common programme to improve public services while addressing the public mood for a less centralised form of government.
16 May 2005
Time to rethink re-offending
Calls are being made for a brand new and innovative approach to re-offending, that would see town halls tackle the problem that ruins lives, blights communities and costs the taxpayer £11bn every year.
16 May 2005
Cabinet rise signals historic chance to bring power back down
A new second Cabinet minister for local government symbolises a historic opportunity to deliver a lasting return of power and choice to the people, the Local Government Association said today.
10 May 2005
|
