Sarah Calkin

London

Editor at Local Government Chronicle

Editor @lgcplus formerly @HSJnews Story tips and any other thoughts on all things local government related welcome at [email protected]

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Articles

Pipelines and parallel universes at UKReiif

2 weeks ago | lgcplus.com | Sarah Calkin

There was a some rare positivity for government policy at the major investment conference in Leeds this week. But you didn't have to look far for alternative views, writes LGC editor Sarah CalkinIf Keir Starmer needed a bit of cheering up this week he could have done worse than get himself along to UKReiif.
New mayoral spatial development powers sign of devo 'maturity'

2 weeks ago | lgcplus.com | Sarah Calkin

New spatial development strategies must be considered alongside plans for growth and infrastructure or risk becoming a “bunfight” over housing numbers, a leading combined authority chief executive has said. Under the Planning & Infrastructure Bill currently going through parliament, combined authorities, or county councils in areas without devolution, will be required to produce spatial development strategies for their areas.
New towns chair 'realistic' about public spending constraints

2 weeks ago | lgcplus.com | Sarah Calkin

Sites selected for the government’s new towns programme are likely to be those that are “ready to begin development” and with a "distinct" identity, the chair of the New Towns Taskforce has said. Speaking at the UKReiif conference on Tuesday, Sir Michael Lyons also championed the role of development corporations in delivering new towns and stressed the importance of infrastructure being provided early on in developments.
A bottom up approach to LGR has its limits

2 weeks ago | lgcplus.com | Sarah Calkin

What ministers decide to do about competing reorganisation bids in Surrey will give an indication of where their priorities lie, writes LGC editor Sarah CalkinAmong councils involved in the government’s overhaul of two-tier areas, all eyes are currently on Surrey. The county and its 11 districts are on the fast track of the reorganisation fast track to unlock devolution, having been invited to submit their proposals for local government reorganisation by 9 May.
Row over Greater Lincs mayor eligibility will go to court

3 weeks ago | lgcplus.com | Sarah Calkin

The newly elected mayor of Greater Lincolnshire CA faces a further challenge over whether she was eligible to stand for election. Dame Andrea Jenkyns (Ref), who is the first person to hold the new role, was elected on 1 May with a 40,000 majority.
A record breaking set of elections

3 weeks ago | lgcplus.com | Sarah Calkin

Local elections on 1 May broke a number of records, most of them bad news for the two main political parties. LGC editor Sarah Calkin draws on our exclusive elections analysis to sum up the new landscape. Vote shareThe average share of the vote needed to win a seat fell to 40.7%, four points lower than the previous record in 2013, the most successful local elections year for Nigel Farage’s previous party, UKIP.
Council control 2025: Explore LGC's interactive maps

3 weeks ago | lgcplus.com | Sarah Calkin

Districts and unitaries Two-tier counties London boroughsLGC's interactive council control maps, produced using data from psephologists Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher, detail the political make up of every council in the UK. They are produced with support from Cratus Group. While only 23 councils had elections on 1 May 2025, more councils have changed control over the past 12 months due to defections and by-elections. The colour of a council denotes its political control.
EXCLUSIVE: MHCLG revises LGR feedback letters

1 month ago | lgcplus.com | Kirsty Weakley |Sarah Calkin

Updated government feedback for some two-tier areas working on local government reorganisation has removed a suggestion they benchmark proposals against a 500,000 population option. LGC understands that three areas have this week received a revised feedback letter, just a week after an initial letter from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government in response to the councils' LGR proposals. The revised letter came after officials engaged with councils about their progress.
Local elections 2025: Councils that changed control

1 month ago | lgcplus.com | Sarah Calkin

The following councils changed control at last week's local elections. Read the full analysis of what the elections mean for all the main parties in local government from psephologists Colin Rallings & Michael Thrasher.
Five Tory leaders lose seats in election wipe out

1 month ago | lgcplus.com | Sarah Calkin

At least five Conservative county leaders lost their seats as the party was wiped out across the shires following Thursday’s elections. By Friday afternoon, with some results still to be declared, the party had lost more than half of the 996 seats it was defending as well as control of 12 of the 16 councils.

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Sarah Calkin @sjcalkin

2 May 25

RT @lgcplus: Liberal Democrats make strides https://t.co/Q8BtKPZsgK https://t.co/wOszP1yrEp

Sarah Calkin @sjcalkin

2 May 25

👀 Interesting

Claire Ward @ClaireWard4EM

My statement on the Election 👇 https://t.co/mU9Uudn0pd

Sarah Calkin @sjcalkin

2 May 25

I’m already exhausted by all the local election coverage which presumes politics is just one never ending popularity contest. Mayors and councils being elected today will have 3-4* years to make an impact, a bit more interest in what they’re going to do with power would be nice