Letwin has disclosed the extent of resistance to the sale of surplus state land

Despite his best efforts progress has been derisory. It must be given priority if the housing crisis is to be eased.

Judy Terry: Labour’s plan to revive Regional Development Agencies is flawed

Little was achieved beyond inter-authority squabbling over priorities and endless consultants’ reports. The Local Enterprise Partnerships are much better.

New recruits give the Conservatives an overall majority on Tendring Council

The number of UKIP councillors there has fallen from 22 to just eight.

Tim Briggs: Let’s show solidarity with the Venezuelans who have fled to London

Many Labour councillors are still backing the Maduro dictatorship. This is something we need to challenge.

Liam Booth-Smith: Solving the housing crisis means homeowners accepting a fall in house prices

Developers and planners will also have to accept difficult changes if the aspirations of the young are to be fulfilled.

Council by-election results from yesterday

The Conservatives lost a seat to the Lib Dems in Three Rivers and a seat to an independent in Ashfield.

Stephen Greenhalgh: To win in the capital we must fight on local issues and select council candidates on merit

Ruth Davidson’s call for a London Manifesto misses the point that the boroughs have different needs.

John Bald: What about the children at the bottom of the system?

“Alternative Provision” for disruptive children is still not good enough – as Justine Greening has recognised.

Ryan Shorthouse: Localism is not illiberal

We need liberal – not closed – local communities where empowered, innovative and tolerant individuals can bring positive change.

Hague is right – we need to boost the number of micro homes

Space requirements prevent single young people getting on the housing ladder and make overcrowding worse.

Tony Devenish: A policy agenda for Conservatives to win in London

We need a Council Tax cut for the young, financed by forced sales of municipal land to boost the number of new homes.

Council by-election results from yesterday

The Conservatives lost a seat to Labour in Hertsmere and Labour gained a seat from UKIP in Adur.

Clive Fenton: Help Generation Stuck to help Generation Rent

The Government could make it much easier for older people to downsize by providing a Stamp Duty exemption.

Council spending on replacement lifts is out of control

The huge variation in costs does suggest that some councils, including mine, are likely to be paying over the odds.

Kevin Davis: The health service should be devolved to local government

A hopelessly centralised system is now holding back the delivery of care that is tailored to individual needs.