The MJ

PENSIONS Lord John Fuller has lauded the decision of fellow peers to scupper the Government’s ability to influence how local government pension funds are invested. Lord John Fuller has lauded the decision of fellow peers to scupper the Government's ability to influence how local government pension funds are invested.

DATA & DIGITAL The landscape of cyber defence for local government has been undergoing an evolution. Martin Ford looks at the latest developments Councils have found themselves in the firing line as a covert online war rages between the UK and hackers from criminal networks and hostile states.

Councils that traditionally report large numbers of rough sleepers recorded fewer people sleeping rough last autumn, Government figures have revealed. While the total number of rough sleepers in England rose to a record 4,793, there were reductions in parts of London, as well as cities such as Brighton and Bristol. The headline figure, based on a snapshot, was up 3% on the 4,667 rough sleepers reported in autumn 2024.

FINANCE Stephen Alambritis says local authorities need to think commercially to thrive – and he explains what one London council’s £186m deal proves. After working for two decades as the voice of the country's small business community at the Federation of Small Businesses, I decided to switch to the public sector. In 2003, I put my name on the ballot paper and was elected as a councillor. Fast forward to 2010 and I was voted in as leader of the council.

HOUSING Council relations have strained over housing placements, with some authorities accused of ‘cleansing themselves’ of challenges and ‘exporting’ ‘more complex’ cases outside their area. Council relations have strained over housing placements, with some authorities accused of ‘cleansing themselves' of challenges and ‘exporting' ‘more complex' cases outside their areas.

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SOCIAL HOUSING Cuts to social housing are inevitable without adequate rent convergence levels, ministers have been warned. Cuts to social housing are inevitable without adequate rent convergence levels, ministers have been warned. London Councils has urged for social rent convergence rates to be set at £3 per week from April ahead of the official announcement due later this month.

HOMELESSNESS A cross-government plan to ‘end homelessness for good’ by preventing it before it occurs has been launched, backed by £3.5bn investment over the next three years. A cross-government plan to ‘end homelessness for good' by preventing it before it occurs has been launched, backed by £3.5bn investment over the next three years.

Councils across the UK are under mounting pressure to respond quickly and accurately to Freedom of Information (FoI) and Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs). With the Information Commissioner's Office signalling an increased focus on local government compliance, many authorities anticipate a surge in regulatory notices – and the reputational impact of non-compliance within the community is significant.

DEVOLUTION Calls have been made to reimburse councils for money spent preparing for postponed mayoral elections. Calls have been made to reimburse councils for money spent preparing for postponed mayoral elections. The Government has announced that it is ‘minded to' postpone the election of mayors due to take place in 2026 in four areas.