Harry Fone: £255 million a year is spent on councillor allowances. That is where the economy drive should begin.

Plus: White elephants in Brighton – and Nottingham’s inept venture into the energy market.

Harry Fone: How to avoid Croydon’s fate

Councils should only enter into the investment world if they know what they’re doing. They must remember that public money is at serious risk.

David Leaf: In Bexley, we will keep on delivering top rated services – while Labour resorts to scaremongering

The test of any Council is how they find a way through sudden and unexpected events. A calm approach is needed.

Kieran Neild-Ali: We need tougher auditing of council spending. But a new quango is not the answer.

We must continue to devolve power to council taxpayers themselves – building on the legacy of the abolition of the Audit Commission.

Robert Ward: Robust data is needed to defeat knife crime

We are left with a scattergun of projects, selected on old information, the best sales pitch, and political favouritism.

Robert Ward and Alan Burns: Councils that declare a “climate emergency” engage in scaremongering, not practical action

The current media narrative links every wrinkle in the weather with dire predictions of imminent Armageddon. The young especially are being convinced that the end is nigh.

Mario Creatura: In defence of the professional politician

You wouldn’t go under anaesthetic if the surgeon were doing it as a hobby. There is a reason why a substantial number of MPs start life as councillors.

Scandal of the council-owned empty garages continues

Our survey identified 15,875 of them. Many of these could be redeveloped to provide new homes.

Barwell quits Croydon Conservatives WhatsApp group, saying “I have had enough” of attacks on the Prime Minister

May’s Chief of Staff objected strongly to seeing Tory activists subject his boss to criticism “of the kind I would expect from our worst opponents”.

The selection of Conservative candidates for the London Assembly gets under way

Shortlists have been chosen for London South West and for Croydon and Sutton. The elections take place next year.

Joseph Lee and Jeet Bains: Why Croydon is growing angry with Khan

Local Conservatives have challenged the Mayor over the closure of Blackhorse Lane Bridge. Our campaign is resonating with residents.

John Bald: It’s time to boost the Further Education sector

It is funded at a lower level than schools, and yet is expected to put right much that has gone wrong. Technical courses need higher esteem.

Judy Terry: How the “nation of shopkeepers” can survive

To revive our high streets councils have a role in making sure empty space is put back into use.

Francis Davis: Why Hinds’ faith schools cap decision was right

Voluntary-aided status works both for Catholic schools and everyone else. Furthermore, lifting the cap from new institutions could have had unexpected consequences.

Exclusive: Labour Party BAME officer shares graphic equating Israel and Nazi Germany

Dorian Bartley, whose day job involves working alongside police to “reduce crime”, also shared conspiracy theories about terrorist attacks in the UK and US.