Councils

Councils and police are acting like ‘uncontrolled SPIES’, warns watchdog

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Councils and police are acting like ‘uncontrolled SPIES’ with surveillance technology as sophisticated as MI5 but no regulation, warns Government watchdog Surveillance camera commissioner Tony Porter raised doubts about use of ANPR Said the system was so advance it was like what spies would use on their targets But warned regulator was ‘toothless’ to tackle … Read more

Government tells councils to ‘discourage’ public from attending Remembrance Sunday events

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The Government has ordered local councils to ‘discourage’ the public from attending Remembrance Sunday events this coming weekend due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Its order comes amid mounting criticism aimed at No.10 after it banned veterans from standing inside. Current Government guidance states that local authorities in England can hold events at a ‘public war … Read more

Councils urged to grant permission for build-your-own home to give more a foot on the housing ladder

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Get planning on your DIY home! Councils are urged to grant permission for build-your-own property to give more people a foot on the housing ladder A review to be announced on Friday will check if current measures meet demand Currently around 15,000 families design or build their own home each year  Ministers believe there is … Read more

Almost half of all councils in England saw their Covid-19 infection rate DROP last week

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Almost half of local authorities in England saw a drop in coronavirus infections last week, according to an analysis of official data. Sixty-nine out of 149 councils recorded a dip in their Covid-19 per population case rates in the seven-day spell that ended October 18. For comparison, only two saw a drop in infections in … Read more

Why won’t councils re-open our public loos? ‘Covid-says-no’ attitude leaving many stranded at home

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A few weeks back, a friend of mine was almost caught short on the way to work. OK, it wasn’t a friend, it was me. When I say almost, I mean I very nearly didn’t make it. Of course, this isn’t a subject I’m thrilled to write about. But over the past few months, we’ve … Read more

Almost a THIRD of England’s councils saw a drop in coronavirus infection rates

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Almost a third of England’s councils saw a drop in coronavirus infections last week amid calls for a second circuit-breaker lockdown and tightening restrictions across the country. As many as 41 out of 149 councils recorded a fall in their Covid-19 infection rates in the week ending October 11, according to Public Health England’s weekly … Read more

How councils have closed down 300 toilets since Covid-19 outbreak

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For the best part of four months during the height of the pandemic, 65-year-old Mandy Simons, who lives alone and has severe asthma, saw not a single other person. So, when the Government announced a pause to shielding in August, she instantly phoned her best friend Donna, who lives on the other side of London, … Read more

Councils pay care homes DOUBLE the local weekly fee to take Covid hospital patients

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Care home chiefs fear deadly mistakes made at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic risk being repeated as councils offer them extra cash to take Covid-positive hospital patients. More than 15,000 people died of the virus in care homes earlier this year, according to official figures, after it was reported that many elderly residential facilities … Read more

Councils are slammed for handing out record number of ‘petty’ Asbos

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Councils issued record numbers of ‘petty’ anti-social behaviour orders last year targeting messy gardens, sitting on the pavement and even feeding stray cats, according to a campaign group. ‘Overuse of the blank cheque powers’ under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 has led to legal restrictions on the public in England and Wales … Read more