1 hour ago Councillor claims van driver tried to run him over at Fallin roadworks site as workers 'verbally abused'

Bannockburn councillor Brian Hambly reported a driver to police after visiting the site amid reports that workers have been met with verbal abuse from furious motorists.

Transport

2 h. ago West Lothian Council's Trading Standards team reissue warning over Labubu dolls

Trading Standards have seized further counterfeit Popmart Labubu dolls from stores in West Lothian with all of them failing to comply with the Toys Safety Regulations 2011 and presenting a serious risk of harm.

Events

6 h. ago Voting age to be lowered to 16 in UK by next general election

16- and 17-year-olds will be able to vote in all elections as part of changes including easier voter registration and a crackdown on foreign interferenceThe voting age will be lowered to 16 in the UK by the next general election in a major change of the democratic system.The government said it was a reform to bring in more fairness for 16- and 17-year-olds, many of whom already work and are able to serve in the military. It brings the whole of the UK voting age to 16. Scotland and Wales have already made the change for Holyrood and Senedd elections, as well as local council elections. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Voting age to be lowered to 16 across UK by next general election

16- and 17-year-olds will be able to vote in all elections as part of changes including easier voter registration and crackdown on foreign interferenceUK politics live – latest updatesThe voting age will be lowered to 16 across the UK by the next general election in a major change of the democratic system.The government said it was a reform to bring in more fairness for 16- and 17-year-olds, many of whom already work and are able to serve in the military. It brings the whole of the UK voting age to 16. Scotland and Wales have already made the change for Holyrood and Senedd elections, as well as local council elections. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Why has it taken a decade to exhume the bodies of the 800 dead babies of Tuam? | Caelainn Hogan

The mass exhumation in Ireland is vindication for campaigners – but their battle for justice is far from overA young girl played on a swing near a mass grave as the names of hundreds of children who died in a mother-and-baby institution in Ireland were read out during a memorial service late last year. The bright day turned to dark in the time it took.Now, the playground near the site in Tuam has been dismantled and the long-awaited exhumation has begun. But why has it taken more than a decade since it emerged that those dead children were likely buried in sewage chambers on the grounds of a publicly funded institution run by nuns and the local council? Continue reading...

Events

12 h. ago Why has it taken Ireland a decade to exhume the bodies of the 800 dead babies of Tuam? | Caelainn Hogan

The mass exhumation is vindication for campaigners – but their battle for justice is far from overA young girl played on a swing near a mass grave as the names of hundreds of children who died in a mother-and-baby institution in Ireland were read out during a memorial service late last year. The bright day turned to dark in the time it took.Now, the playground near the site in Tuam has been dismantled and the long-awaited exhumation has begun. But why has it taken more than a decade since it emerged that those dead children were likely buried in sewage chambers on the grounds of a publicly funded institution run by nuns and the local council? Continue reading...

Events

29 h. ago The county with 'the most killjoy councils' where local authorities are trying to ban swearing, washing lines and shut public basketball courts

Residents across Kent are facing a number of bizarre restrictions as local 'killjoy' councils try to ban swearing swearing, washing lines and have succeeded in shutting basketball courts.

Events

41 h. ago Analysis finds devolved tax powers could add £4 billion for local services

A report commissioned by county councils suggests fiscal devolution would boost growth and local government finances.

Economics

50 h. ago West Lothian councillors hear of resident's frustration with council’s contact centre

Councillors reported fielding repeated complaints from constituents left hanging on the phone when they tried to report issues or make appointments or payments.

Politics

50 h. ago The five people in the running to be next councillor for Pontypridd Town

The by election will take place on Thursday, July 17 after Dawn Wood previously announced her decision to step down

Politics

55 h. ago Councillors given assurance they will learn full costs of West Lothian cyberattacks

Senior officers told councillors before the recess that online systems should be fully operational by August, and the eventual costs would be delivered to committee.

Events

3 d. ago Woman who withheld council tax in climate protest faces losing home

Jane McCarthy, who has terminal cancer, withheld payments for three years in protest at Buckinghamshire council’s fossil fuel investmentsA woman who withheld council tax payments for three years in protest at her local authority’s continued investment in fossil fuels fears losing her home.Jane McCarthy, 74, said she decided on the protest after becoming increasingly fearful about the impact of climate breakdown on future generations, particularly when she learned about climate tipping points at a local meeting. Continue reading...

Society

6 d. ago New 10 year plan to help shape future of Stirlingshire village

Balfron Local Place Plan has just been submitted to Stirling Council to be ‘validated’.

Politics

6 d. ago Council's AI  call assistant has 'room to improve' after struggling to understand local Derbyshire dialect

People living in Derby have been left bewildered after the council's new digital AI assistant struggled to understand their local dialect.

Politics

6 d. ago Stirling Council chiefs quizzed over "one day" council tenancy acceptance fears

The council session raised the question of whether prospective council tenants were only given a single day to make up their mind and accept a property.

Politics

7 d. ago Kirkcudbright businesses want council support to make up for trade lost during bridge closure

Some firms claim footfall was down 40 per cent following the decision to close the crossing in March for safety reasons.

Politics

7 d. ago West Lothian Council issue update to parents following May’s cyberattack

On May 6, the council experienced a “sophisticated” ransomware attack from a group of unknown cyber-assailants.

Events

7 d. ago Wembley could be latest hotspot to introduce tourist tax after visitor levy proposed

The council hopes to reinvest the money into improving the local area

Politics

8 d. ago Council confirm talks to tackle trees growing in city gutters in sprucing up bid

The issue of trees hanging from gutters and rotten wood on shopfronts were among the topics raised with council chiefs as a local business group work on a solution.

Politics

8 d. ago UK government’s deal with Google ‘dangerously naive’, say campaigners

Company to provide free technology and ‘upskill’ civil servants but concerns raised over UK data being held on US serversGoogle has agreed a sweeping deal with the UK government to provide free technology to the public sector from the NHS to local councils– a move campaigners have called “dangerously naive”.The US company will be asked to “upskill” tens of thousands of civil servants in technology, including in using artificial intelligence, as part of an agreement which will not require the government to pay. It is considered in Whitehall to be giving Google “a foot in the door” as the digitisation of public services accelerates. Continue reading...

Politics