18 h. ago Clyde Tunnel toll for non Glasgow residents branded 'tax' on hospital visitors

Councillors on Scotland's largest local authority are exploring ways to pay for vital maintenance on the road tunnel linking the north and south of Glasgow.

Economics

23 h. ago English and Welsh councils to have greater powers to seize land for affordable housing

Exclusive: Compulsory purchase orders will no longer need Whitehall permission under shake-up of planning rulesCouncils and mayors will be granted greater powers to seize land to build affordable housing under the Labour government’s shake-up of planning rules this week.Local authorities in England and Wales will no longer need permission from central government to make compulsory purchase orders (CPOs), in a change that ministers hope will unlock vacant and derelict land. Continue reading...

Politics

30 h. ago London council chiefs spend £140million to send homeless people out of the capital by snapping up hundreds of properties in deprived areas elsewhere in England

Local authorities in the capital have acquired more than 850 properties across England since 2017 - with plans to ship individuals as far afield as Liverpool and the northeast.

Economics

49 h. ago Long Island fire: Apocalyptic scenes at Westhampton as enormous blaze breaks out

State Governor Kathy Hochul said authorities are in ;'lose communication with local partners on Long Island to coordinate assistance and make sure they have the resources they need to protect their communities'

Events

3 d. ago Thousands of illegal goods seized in raid on barbers, hair salons and vape shops

The local authority are cracking down on illegal activity in Tameside shops

Events

3 d. ago When the horror stops, the key to peace in Gaza and Ukraine will be how power is shared | Simon Jenkins

Constitution-building offers no headlines – but what it can do, history tells us, is stop hundreds of thousands of people dyingSyria is reportedly sliding back towards civil war, as its various factions demand devolved authority. It is at root the same issue, that of local autonomy, that led to regional unrest in Ukraine and splintered leadership in Palestine. It underlies the devastating conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. All these places are flush with guns, allies and bombast. What they lack are national constitutions that allow their citizens sufficient local control to live at peace with others in one nation. They lack the skills of political federation.The present Ukraine war followed the failure of peace accords reached in Minsk in 2014 and 2015; critically, they depended on the technical details of how self-determination was to be allowed in eastern Ukraine. A later failure was that of the Istanbul deal after the Russian invasion in 2022. It appeare...

Events

4 d. ago Falkirk to get biggest council tax rise in Scotland as 15.6% increase backed

The council back a motion by an independent councillor, who admitted they would take 'abuse' for the decision but insisted it was the right thing to do.

Politics

4 d. ago Largest council tax rise in Scotland confirmed as local authority imposes 15.6% hike

Ratepayers in the Falkirk Council area face a huge increase in their bills from next month as the struggling local authority attempts to balance its budget.

Economics

4 d. ago Council tax rise for people in Merthyr Tydfil county is confirmed

The budget was approved at a full council meeting held on Wednesday, March 5, meaning residents now know how much extra council tax they will have to pay in 2025/26

Economics

4 d. ago Pay rise for Renfrewshire councillors weeks after council tax hike voted through

Change will see salary of leader jump from £42,698 to £50,063 and provost from £32,024 to £37,548.

Politics

5 d. ago UK plans joint bid to host 2035 Women’s World Cup in ‘monumental moment’

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland involvedKeir Starmer promises ‘government’s full support’The home nations are to join together in a bid to host the Women’s World Cup in 2035, a move which, if successful, would mark a “monumental moment in our nation’s sporting history”, according to Keir Starmer, the prime minister.A formal expression of interest in staging the tournament, which could be comprised of as many as 48 teams, is to be submitted to Fifa this month on behalf of the football associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the governing bodies have confirmed. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Falkirk council tax could rise by up to 15.6 per cent as councillors set budget

The four proposals range from 10 per cent to 15.6 per cent, with the administration proposing a 13.69 per cent rise

Economics

5 d. ago How much council tax will go up for each household in Tameside

The 4.99 per cent tax rise was approved at the latest town hall meeting

Politics

5 d. ago Met Office confirms Northern Lights to return to Scotland tonight

Amateur stargazers are in for a treat as the Northern Lights are set to light up our skies this evening

Politics

6 d. ago Councils urged to declare ‘nature emergency’ and draw up plans to help wildlife

Woodland Trust research shows just 12% of UK local authorities have an action plan for reversing declines in nature.

Politics

6 d. ago New calls to cut Council Tax bills in half for every person living on their own

Council Tax bills are set to rise by up to 13 per cent across Scotland from April.

Economics

6 d. ago Renfrewshire Labour leader has 'no regrets' after SNP budget victory but says 'unserious' comment was 'over the top'

The administration's overall £583 million spending plan and 9.5 per cent council tax rise passed after a vote on Thursday.

Politics

6 d. ago Ryan Reynolds gets green light for stunning Wrexham stadium transformation

Wrexham's Hollywood owners are splashing out on a new 5,500-seat Kop Stand at the Racecourse Ground after plans were approved by the local authority's planning committee

Politics

6 d. ago Linlithgow MP hits out at proposed changes to Scottish Parliament constituency boundaries

In a letter to Boundaries Scotland, Kirsteen Sullivan raised concerns over the proposal to divide the West Lothian local authority area into three separate constituencies — Livingston, Bathgate, and Falkirk East and Linlithgow.

Politics

6 d. ago SNP accused of 'raiding' £8bn from councils' core funding as tax poised to rise

New analysis has suggested SNP ministers have cut Scottish councils’ core funding by almost £8 billion.

Economics