A major scheme to transform Nuneaton into a vibrant and prosperous town has been given the green light thanks to £7.5 million of funding.

David Hodge, the leader of Surrey County Council, has announced that he is stepping down from the role on 11 December.
Hodge used his resignation speech to the council cabinet to hit out at a lack of government funding having been plagued by financial issues during his tenure. Citing ‘circumstances beyond its control’, Hodge said councils had lost £16 billion in funding since 2009 and Surrey had lost £230 million. Accountants warned in September that Surrey would not have sufficient reserves to meet a funding gap unless it acted.

Council leaders have urged the government to make the case for national tax rises to secure the long-term future of adult social care services.

The government has proposed the appointment of a commissioner to oversee improvements at Northamptonshire County Council.

The Welsh Government will invest £15 million next year to help safely reduce the need for children to enter care.

Barnardo’s is set to work with Leicestershire County Council in a trailblazing project to help improve the lives of children and families.

A number of options to deliver future developments across Bath and North East Somerset are going out to public consultation.

Councils need to think and act differently to address the challenges of reductions in public spending and poor infrastructure in rural Wales.

Westminster City Council has set out its ambition to build 1,495 new homes every year, insisting six in every ten are for middle-income families.

A proposal to speed up the creation of new homes could provide a ‘get-out clause’ for developers to avoid providing affordable homes.