David Hodge: Conservative councillors are working for a fair funding deal from central Government
We have lobbied the Chancellor hard and it’s achieved results.
Council by-election results from yesterday
The Conservatives gained a seat from the Lib Dems in Chiltern – but lost one to them in Cambridgeshire.
John Bald: Choosing a new head for Ofsted is not the only challenge
This education watchdog needs to judge schools on their teaching not their paperwork.
Dishonest lobbying from London Councils over school funding
Councils should take practical action with automatic registration for free school meals.
Peter Golds: Lutfur Rahman and two more disastrous days in court
More scandal from Tower Hamlets emerges – yet the Electoral Commission remains silent.
Andrew Wood: In demanding ever taller buildings Boris is forgetting about quality of life
We can achieve higher density without ruining the skyline of London.
Judy Terry: Health and Wellbeing Boards are failing to champion patients
The Norfolk and Suffolk Mental Health Trust has the highest number of suicides among patients in England. Why are councillors failing to investigate?
Lincolnshire County Council to debate EU membership
This follows the example of Havering.
Council by-election results from yesterday
No seats change hands – but UKIP sees a dip in its vote share.
Chris Whitehouse: Crowd-sourcing manifestos, like open Primaries, can reinvigorate local politics
We invite residents to challenge us if they have better ideas.
Counting the cost of Khan
The £1.9bn black hole could be filled by western expansion of the Congestion Charge or an extra £175 on the Council Tax precept.
John Bald: The Blob is really an octopus
Educational standards are undermined by a network that is still powerful within Ofsted and teacher training colleges.
Tory rebels are bought off – as Clark announces more money for local councils
Osborne finds £416 million to ease the pain. ConHome coverage quoted in the Commons.
Tory MPs threaten to rebel over local government funding settlement for rural areas
While the media’s attention is focused on the coming referendum, the scale of the spending squeeze is impacting on some Tory Parliamentarians and councillors.
Council by-election results from yesterday
The Conservatives lost a seat to the Green Party in Shropshire and another seat to an independent in Northumberland.