Tag: News Story

STORY

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised a German proposal to give Ukraine an associate form of European Union membership, saying the arrangement would leave the country without a proper voice inside the bloc. The proposal from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz would allow Ukraine to take part in some EU meetings and institutions without voting rights as an interim step towards full membership.

Zelensky said Ukraine wanted full and meaningful accession rather than a limited status. He argued that Ukraine was defending Europe against Russian aggression and said it would be unfair for the country to be present in the European Union while remaining voiceless. His comments were made in a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the Cypriot presidency of the Council of the EU.

EU diplomats have responded cautiously to the German idea, with some noting that associate membership does not currently exist in EU treaties and could require legal changes. Ukraine hopes to open negotiations on several accession clusters within the next two months, but full membership would still require the approval of all 27 member states.

STORY

Peterborough City Council has confirmed that contracts have been exchanged on a half-built hotel project which has stood unfinished since the COVID-19 pandemic. The development was abandoned after the companies behind it went into administration, leaving the council facing the possibility of a multimillion-pound loss.

Council leader Shabina Qayyum said a sale had been agreed on the site. LocalGov reported that some accounts suggest the authority could make a loss of around £13m on money lent to the developers before the project stalled.

The case has drawn attention to the financial risks faced by councils involved in commercial investment and regeneration schemes. It comes at a time when many local authorities are under pressure over borrowing, capital projects and the long-term sustainability of their finances.

STORY

Essex County Council has begun legal proceedings against the Government over local government reorganisation proposals. LocalGov reported that council leader-elect Peter Harris confirmed the move after writing to Local Government Secretary Steve Reed to outline the authority’s intention to mount a legal challenge.

The dispute relates to plans for the future structure of local government in Essex, where ministers have been considering options for creating new unitary authorities. Essex County Council has previously argued for a model based on three unitaries, while alternative proposals would divide the area differently.

The legal action follows a wider period of debate over local government reorganisation and the timetable for elections and new authorities. The case is likely to be closely watched by other areas considering structural reform, particularly where councils disagree over the size and number of future authorities.

STORY

A cross-party committee of MPs has said physical activity should be treated as seriously as medication in NHS care for older people. The Health and Social Care Committee warned that deteriorating leisure facilities and the lack of a coherent national strategy were limiting opportunities to embed physical activity in community-based care.

The committee said partnerships between health services, leisure providers and community groups can support long-term condition management, improve wellbeing and reduce pressure on hospitals. It welcomed the Government’s £400m announcement for grassroots sports facilities but said the money must be used strategically.

Committee chair Layla Moran said promoting active lifestyles among older people would support two policy objectives at once: shifting the NHS towards prevention and bringing services closer to home. The findings are likely to be relevant to councils because local authorities are central to leisure provision, public health and community services.

STORY

Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council have completed a major air quality monitoring project intended to protect internationally important heathland habitats from traffic pollution. The project examined pollution levels at heathland sites close to busy roads across the county.

Between August 2025 and January 2026, 15 trained volunteers collected monthly air samples at 14 heathland sites. Laboratory analysis measured nitrogen dioxide and ammonia, with ammonia levels exceeding thresholds known to harm lichens and mosses at every site monitored.

The councils said the data has been used to categorise heathland sites by risk level, with mitigation work under way at Avon Heath, Upton Heath and Matchams View. The findings will also be used to assess the air quality impact of new developments in the area.

STORY

The Government has announced plans to curb profiteering by private companies providing children’s social care services to councils. Ministers have legislated to introduce and enforce a statutory profit cap if market monitoring shows it is needed, as part of reforms aimed at changing what they describe as a broken placements system.

The changes include expanding fostering provision, supporting families earlier and reducing reliance on residential care. The Local Government Association said councils share the Government’s ambition to ensure vulnerable children receive the care and support they need while tackling excessive profits in parts of the children’s placement market.

The wider announcement forms part of the Government’s Neighbourhood Guarantee, which includes new powers for councils over high streets, empty properties and local service design. Communities Secretary Steve Reed said the measures were intended to show respect for the places people call home and give local people clearer standards to expect.

STORY

Local Government Secretary Steve Reed (in photo) has warned that councils could face sanctions if they fail to meet new service standards under the Government’s Neighbourhood Guarantee. The package is intended to set clearer expectations for local services including clean streets, filled potholes and reliable public services.

The Local Government Association said councils had long called for action on the cost pressures in children’s social care and for greater powers to shape thriving local communities. It said meaningful devolution must be supported by sufficient and sustainable funding for councils if local leaders are to deliver improvements residents expect.

The Government said the Neighbourhood Guarantee is designed to improve villages, towns and cities by giving communities clearer standards and stronger powers. The LGA said it would work with ministers to secure the additional funding needed, arguing that councils know their areas best and need the resources to act.

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An employment tribunal has found that refusing home working arrangements to an employee with agoraphobia can amount to disability discrimination, in a ruling with implications for councils. The case involved Marina Dudding, a former Gravesham Borough Council employee who asked to work two days a week from home because of agoraphobia, anxiety and depression.

Dudding brought legal action against the council after she was dismissed following sickness absence and disciplinary action. The London South Employment Tribunal upheld claims of disability discrimination and unfair dismissal, finding that her conditions substantially affected daily activities and that the council had failed in its obligations.

A Gravesham Borough Council spokesman said the authority accepted the tribunal’s findings, while saying there were nuances to the case which were not reflected in the ruling. The council said isolated cases could occur in an organisation of its size where working relationships broke down or performance concerns needed to be addressed.

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Devon County Council is calling for more volunteers to join its community road warden scheme as the initiative marks ten years since it was rolled out across the county. The scheme supports volunteers to carry out minor local highways work including weed clearance, grass cutting, sign cleaning and small drainage work.

Volunteer road wardens can also request training to carry out small pothole repairs, with materials paid for by Devon County Council. Around 140 towns and parishes across Devon are already involved in the scheme, which the council says helps local communities deal with priority maintenance issues.

Cabinet member for highways Dan Thomas said Devon’s 8,000-mile road network was the largest of any authority in the country. He said road wardens do not replace the council’s highways teams, which continue to repair potholes classed as safety defects.

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Reform-controlled Kent County Council has voted to introduce the Lord’s Prayer and the national anthem into its council meetings. LocalGov reported that 48 councillors voted to open meetings with a prayer, while 46 voted in favour of closing them with the anthem.

Council leader Linden Kemkaran said the prayer would help unite the country in a common identity. Green councillor Rob Yates criticised the change, reportedly describing it as a “ridiculous farce” and saying he was not paid by taxpayers to sing songs and pray.

In a separate decision, the council approved changes reducing the total time allocated for opposition leaders to respond to speeches at full council meetings from 22 minutes to 17 minutes. Opposition parties criticised the decision, citing the absence of public consultation.