Council reserves rise despite budget cuts, WAO finds

19 August 2016
Council reserves rise despite budget cuts, WAO finds
According to a report by the Wales Audit Office (WAO) Welsh councils have increased their financial reserves by £244 million between 2009-2014, despite cuts to their main source of income.

Wigan Council tackles child obesity

19 August 2016
Wigan Council tackles child obesity
Wigan council has launched a new fully-funded eighteen month fitness programme in a bid to tackle childhood obesity.

Broadband challenges remain in rural Scotland

18 August 2016
Broadband challenges remain in rural Scotland
Despite hitting initial coverage rollout goals, fibre rollout in rural Scotland will be challenging, according to a new report by Audit Scotland.
The Digital Scotland project has completed its initial coverage rollout goal, but hitting the ultimate target of 95 per cent of homes and businesses in the country will be much more difficult, the group has warned.

Aberdeen to set up energy services company

18 August 2016
Aberdeen to set up energy services company
Aberdeen City Council has agreed plans to set up arms-length energy company, which will manage all the local authority’s energy-related activity.

Childhood obesity strategy ‘weak’

18 August 2016
Childhood obesity strategy ‘weak’
Leading doctors and councils have labelled the government’s strategy to tackle childhood obesity in England as ‘weak’.
The government’s plan to reduce England’s rate of childhood obesity within the next 10 years includes plans for industry to cut the amount of sugar in food and drinks and calls for primary school children to eat more healthily and stay active.
This includes a voluntary target for manufacturers to cut sugar in children's food and drink by 20 per cent, and a drive for every primary school child to exercise for an hour a day.

Scottish council to build 1,000 new homes

18 August 2016
Scottish council to build 1,000 new homes
North Lanarkshire Council has pledged to build 1,000 new homes, as part of the ‘biggest single investment in council houses for a generation’.
The council intends to build a total of 1,800 new homes over the next 10 years, with £159 million to be spent bringing the total number of council houses to be built in the programme to 2,150.
There are currently more than 12,000 people on the council's waiting list, second only to Edinburgh and South Lanarkshire.