Heather Jameson

1 week ago | localgov.co.uk | Heather Jameson |Paul Marinko

Reform UK is expected to form a political group within the Local Government Association (LGA) after its landslide victory at the polls. Under LGA rules, political parties with 5% of its councillors after weighting by population and council type can form a group. Visit The MJ (£) to continue reading. As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Geoff Wild, Legal & Governance Consultant, looks at the duties of councils under the Armed Forces Covenant.

2 weeks ago | themj.co.uk | Jo Blackman |Rebecca Rampat |Paul Marinko |Heather Jameson

Councils across the UK will be at the heart of community celebrations and commemoration  events for the 80th anniversary of VE Day - a significant moment in our history. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed a full week's worth of events, from community events taking place on the bank holiday, Monday 5 May to national commemorations on Thursday 8 May.

2 weeks ago | themj.co.uk | Paul Marinko |Heather Jameson |Martin Ford |Joe Lepper

Any discussion around local government reorganisation (LGR) is likely to reveal a mild case of schizophrenia within the sector. Add in a mention of innovation and this psychological split is inevitable. The state councils find themselves in – financially destitute and swamped with demand – has forced local authorities to strain every sinew to find new ways of coping. And many feel there isn't the head space to consider the weighty challenge of reorganisation.

3 weeks ago | localgov.co.uk | Heather Jameson

Councils facing reorganisation face being ‘fleeced' by consultants keen to profit from the process, a former Northamptonshire CC commissioner has claimed. Theresa Grant, who oversaw the bankrupt authority and its districts' transition into two unitaries has warned councils to ‘beware of experts'. Visit The MJ (£) to continue reading.

4 weeks ago | themj.co.uk | Heather Jameson

REORGANISATION When it comes to LGR Surrey is the hardest system to redesign, says Heather Jameson. 'With £5.6bn worth of borrowing, the rush to restructure is an attempt to fix the finances asap.' Surrey is exceptional – for many reasons. Ever since the devolution White Paper was published in December, the county has been the front runner in local government reorganisation, hurtling towards a 9 May deadline ahead of the autumn target for all other two-tier areas.