William Eichler

Norwich, United Kingdom

Freelance Journalist at Freelance

Editor at LAPV - Local Authority Plant & Vehicle

Editorial Assistant at Local Government News

Writer focusing mostly on the history and politics of Israel/Palestine and Turkey. Words: @HistoryToday, @NewHumanist, @newlinesmag, @The_Tablet, @openDemocracy

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Articles

Political balance of LGA confirmed

1 week ago | localgov.co.uk | William Eichler

The political proportionality of the Local Government Association (LGA) following the local elections has been confirmed. Labour remains the largest group with 35.9% although they are down from 38.8% and the Conservatives are second with 24.1% – a 7.3% drop. The Liberal Democrats secured 17% (up from 15.5%) followed by Independent (10.2%) and Reform (7.8%). The Green Party and Plaid Cymru secured 4.6% and 0.4% respectively.
‘Watchdogs with bite’ needed to hold mayors to account

1 week ago | localgov.co.uk | William Eichler

More scrutiny is needed to ensure that increasingly powerful mayors are held to account, think tank says. IPPR North warned that systems of accountability haven’t ‘kept pace’ with the growing power and autonomy of mayors. It proposed the establishment of independent, well-resourced Mayoral Authority Accountability Committees (MAACs) to improve scrutiny. The think tank characterised the proposed committees as ‘watchdogs with bite’.
Cost of asylum accommodation jumps to £15bn

1 week ago | localgov.co.uk | William Eichler

The cost of providing asylum accommodation between 2019 and 2029 is expected to triple to £15.3bn. Starting in 2019, the Home Office began to provide accommodation to those seeking asylum through seven contracts known as the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts (AASC). The AASC was initially estimated to cost £4.5bn over a 10-year term.
GMB urges members to reject pay offer

1 week ago | localgov.co.uk | William Eichler

The trade union GMB has recommended that its members reject the latest local government pay offer. The union will hold a consultative ballot on the offer of a 3.2% pay increase for 2025-26, which opens on 12 May and closes on 20 June. GMB National Officer Kevin Brandstatter said: ‘While this offer is just above inflation, GMB members need something more to make up the hole in their living standards carved out during 14 years of Conservative misrule.
US trade deal needed in ‘weeks, not months’, Mayor says

1 week ago | localgov.co.uk | William Eichler

The Government must secure a trade deal with President Trump in ‘weeks, not months’ to avoid damage to the West Midlands economy, Mayor says. A new report commissioned by Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, found that US tariffs will impact the West Midlands more than any other region in the UK.
Councils raise £360m from parking permits

1 week ago | localgov.co.uk | William Eichler

Local authorities across the UK raised £360m from residential parking permits over the last five years, new research reveals. Freedom of information requests sent to more than 200 councils by online used car retailer cinch found that Wandsworth Borough Council generated the most revenue (£38,243,000) out of the nearly 130 councils who responded.
AI tools could save councils £8bn

1 week ago | localgov.co.uk | William Eichler

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) tools could save local authorities in England and Wales £8bn a year, think tank says. The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) partnered with Hammersmith and Fulham Council to assess where savings might be made by using AI. The research, published in the report Governing in the Age of AI: Reimagining Local Government, found AI could ‘automate or improve’ at least 26% of the council’s tasks, saving one million hours of work – or £30m – per year.
Union hits back after Farage’s ‘alternative careers’ comment | LocalGov

1 week ago | localgov.co.uk | William Eichler

A public sector union has criticised Reform UK leader Nigel Farage after he said council workers should seek ‘alternative careers’. Speaking in County Durham after Reform won control of the county council, Farage said employees of the local authority working on climate change, diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives or wishing to work from home ‘better all be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly’.
NHS backlog not driven by surge in benefit claims

1 week ago | localgov.co.uk | William Eichler

The increase in NHS waiting lists is unlikely to be connected to the recent surge in health-related benefits claims, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). Between 2019 and 2024, the number of adults receiving health-related benefits in England increased by 40%, while the waiting time for hospital care increased by 86% from 10 weeks to 19 weeks.
Casey Commission: 2036 deadline for social care reform ‘too late’

1 week ago | localgov.co.uk | William Eichler

The Government has published the terms of reference for the Casey Commission’s review of adult social care, but critics remain concerned care is being ‘put to the back of the queue’. The first phase of the review will focus on the delivery of the ‘national care service’, while the second phase will look at the longer-term transformation of adult social care.