Research Briefing
Control of Horses Bill 2014-15
There are proposals to update fly-grazing legislation. This note covers the private Members' bill put forward by Julian Sturdy MP.
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Research Briefing
Local Government Finance Settlement 2015/16 – initial analysis
Settlement funding assessments for local authorities will decrease by 13.9% and the overall reduction in Spending power, a measure of The total funding available to local authorities (excluding the GLA), was confirmed as 1.8%. The Government will again be offering Council Tax Freeze Grant to those authorities that freeze their council tax in 2015/16. Local authorities raising their council tax by 2% or more will have to hold a local referendum on the proposal.
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Research Briefing
Local government devolution: fiscal proposals
This note analyses proposals in the mid-2010s for new taxes, charges and fiscal powers for local government in England, plus proposed changes to the system of local government finance and for additional powers to borrow.
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Research Briefing
Local government: polls and referendums
This note provides information on the various types of referendum which may be (and in some circumstances must be) conducted by local authorities.
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Research Briefing
English local government finance: issues and options
Local government finance in England has experienced substantial changes since 2010. This paper examines the challenges that local authorities have faced from reductions in central government funding, and how they have responded to these. Local authorities have been using a number of strategies to cope with reduced funding, including community budgets, city deals, efficiency savings, combined authorities and shared services. They have also reduced or redesigned services, and collected more local taxes where possible.
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Research Briefing
Whither the UKIP vote? The 2014 local elections and implications for 2015
Eight weeks on from the 2014 European and local elections, the election results may be out of the headlines but parties are left with much to ponder as to what it means for their chances at the general election next May. UKIP’s extraordinary performance saw them secure 24 of the 73 European Parliament seats (up
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Research Briefing
Why can’t I film meetings at my council?
This blog post was updated on the 15 July due to new legislation being passed. There have been a number of media reports, from 2011 onwards, regarding individuals who have attempted to film council meetings on their cameras or mobile phones and have been prevented from doing so by the council (for example, see here*).
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Research Briefing
Local elections 2014
Local and mayoral elections were held in England and Northern Ireland on 22 May 2014. In England, elections were held in all 32 London boroughs, 36 metropolitan boroughs, 19 unitary authorities, and 74 shire districts. Labour had a net gain of four councils, the Conservatives a net loss of 13 and the Liberal Democrats a net loss of two. The first local elections were also held to 11 new councils in Northern Ireland in accordance with timetabled reform to local government administration.
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Research Briefing
Local plans: controlling development?
A local plan is the key document which allows local authorities to guide development in their areas. In the absence of a local plan the Government’s “presumption in favour of sustainable development” comes into play. The presumption has caused some concern that local authorities without a local plan are vulnerable to applications for development, particularly
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Research Briefing
Community Right to Challenge
The Community Right to Challenge allows local communities the right to challenge how local authorities provide and run services. The Localism Act 2011 allows voluntary or community bodies, parish councils, or two or more employees of a local authority, to challenge the provision of a local authority service.
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Research Briefing
Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme for councillors in England
Looks at the provisions to allow councillors access to the Local Government Pension Scheme from 2003 and the removal of this for councillors in England from April 2014
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Research Briefing
Health and Wellbeing Boards (England)
This note provides information on Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs), which were introduced as statutory committees of all upper-tier local authorities under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. HWBs, which came fully into effect on 1 April 2013, are intended to; improve the health and wellbeing of the people in their area; reduce health inequalities; and, promote the integration of services.
Total results (page 19 of 27)