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The latest news from the local government site. 

• Legislative Programme to strengthen local democracy

  Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Housing Minister Caroline Flint today welcomed measures set out in the Draft legislative programme that will support the Governments ambition of creating thriving communities ...

  • Added: 14 May 2008
  • Site: Local government

• New Chairman appointed to the Standards Board for England

  Dr Robert Chilton has been appointed as the new Chair of the Standards Board for England by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

  • Added: 13 May 2008
  • Site: Local government

• Dhanda - Government committed to tackling antisemitism

  Action is being taken across government to tackle antisemitism said Cohesion Minister Parmjit Dhanda today as he published the Government's one year on response to the All Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Antisemitism.

  • Added: 12 May 2008
  • Site: Local government

• Healey confirms TUPE protections for staff moving to new unitary councils

  Local Government Minister John Healey today published the framework - regulations and guidance - which the Government intends to put in place for the transfer and appointment of staff to the new unitary councils.

  • Added: 7 May 2008
  • Site: Local government

• Healey announces £31m restoration fund for flood-hit communities

  Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today said that all the extra money the UK is receiving from the European Union (EU) to help with flood recovery will be passed on to communities affected by last summer's floods.

  • Added: 6 May 2008
  • Site: Local government

• Healey announces further flood funding for three local councils

  Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today announced a further £365,000 in Bellwin funding to three of the councils affected by last summer's floods. Gloucestershire County Council, East Lindsey District Council and Cheltenham Borough Council will...

  • Added: 9 April 2008
  • Site: Local government

• 'Thunderbird' training for firefighters funded by Goverment

  Fire Minister Parmjit Dhanda has announced a further £3.2million grant to England's Fire and Rescue Authorities as part of the Government's on going commitment to support the roll-out of the specialist New Dimension equipment.

  • Added: 9 April 2008
  • Site: Local government

• Local government to have more power to enforce high standards of conduct

  Local Government Minister John Healey today announced that councils will have more powers to hold their members to account for their conduct.

  • Added: 3 April 2008
  • Site: Local government

• Further £300m for Local Business Growth

  Local Government Minister John Healey has announced the allocation of almost £300m of funding for councils today, rewarding their efforts to boost business growth.

  • Added: 2 April 2008
  • Site: Local government

• Healey launches fair and flexible pension scheme for local government workers

  A new-look Local Government Pension Scheme is introduced today, making it fairer and more flexible for both employers and the taxpayer.

  • Added: 1 April 2008
  • Site: Local government

• New reliefs in force to bring empty buildings back into use

  Changes to update empty property reliefs come into force today acting as an incentive to encourage owners to bring empty properties back into productive use, increasing access to existing premises for business, helping to reduce rents and...

  • Added: 1 April 2008
  • Site: Local government

• Helping to create more prosperous places

  Ministers have today laid the foundations for sweeping reforms to bring about a renaissance in England's most deprived areas.

  • Added: 31 March 2008
  • Site: Local government

• Full steam ahead for unitary councils in Bedfordshire

  Plans for two pioneering new unitary authorities in Bedfordshire received parliamentary approval today...

  • Added: 28 March 2008
  • Site: Local government

• Lowest increase in council tax for 14 years announced

  Eleven successive years of above inflation grant increases from Government - and a continued threat of action against excessive increases - have led to lowest increase in council tax for 14 years...

  • Added: 27 March 2008
  • Site: Local government

• Healey announces further flood funding for Gloucestershire and Lichfield

  Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today announced almost £1.5million funding for Gloucestershire County Council and Lichfield District Council to help them get back on their feet following last summer's floods.

  • Added: 26 March 2008
  • Site: Local government

• Zero tolerance approach to commercial vandalism

  Local Government Minister John Healey has announced a no nonsense approach to enforcing changes to empty property reliefs coming into force on 1 April.

  • Added: 25 March 2008
  • Site: Local government

• Local Democracy needs you

  Local people are being given the opportunity to have their say on improving local services and reviving communities today as Hazel Blears calls for contributions to the new Empowerment White Paper, launching an online public discussion forum.

  • Added: 19 March 2008
  • Site: Local government

• Faith and community leaders graduate from first ever government recognised course in community leadership

  Cohesion Minister Parmjit Dhanda and Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education Bill Rammell today attended a graduation event for the first group of community faith leaders and youth workers...

  • Added: 19 March 2008
  • Site: Local government

• New consultation to give people greater say over local spending

  Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has set out a new draft strategy for consultation today to give people in every local authority area a greater say on how public money is spent by 2012, including exploring for the first time using 'community kitties'...

  • Added: 19 March 2008
  • Site: Local government

• Ministerial Group on regeneration of East Manchester

  Communities Secretary Hazel Blears chaired the first meeting of the Regeneration of East Manchester Ministerial Group today to help Manchester City Council and its partners identify and develop a range of regeneration alternatives...

  • Added: 17 March 2008
  • Site: Local government