Leaders of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton Councils met on Monday to discuss the creation of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
The government has reached an agreement with the BBC that the corporation will take on the cost of providing free television licences for over-75s. This will be phased in from 2018/19 with the BBC taking on the full costs from 2020/21.
Clark calls on councils to seize the opportunity for devolution
Secretary for Communities and Local Government Greg Clark has called upon councils to seize the opportunity for devolution and take power away from Westminster.
Councils and schools obliged to prevent radicalisation under Counter-Terrorism and Security Act
Key public bodies across the country will be legally required to take steps to prevent people from being radicalised under new counter-terror measures.
Major counter-terrorism exercise taking place in London
The military, emergency services and Government are testing their ability to handle a terror attack in London’s largest counter-terrorism exercise to date.
Councils could face £3.3 billion funding cuts, LGA warns
The Local Government Association (LGA) have warned that councils in England could face a £3.3 billion reduction in central government funding for local services in 2016/17.
