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The latest press notices from the local government site.

• Eric Pickles' reforms offer potential £10 billion boost to economy

  Government plans to allow councils to retain more of the money they raise from business rates could boost the economy by an estimated ten billion pounds, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has announced.

  • Added: 17 May 2012
  • Site: Local government

• Queen's speech sets out parliamentary plans for Local Audit overhaul

  A new Bill setting out measures to close the Audit Commission and establish new arrangements for the audit of local bodies was part of Her Majesty The Queen's State Opening of Parliament today.

  • Added: 9 May 2012
  • Site: Local government

• Changes to the Audit Commission Board

  The search for a new Commissioner to sit on the Audit Commission's Board has been launched.

  • Added: 24 April 2012
  • Site: Local government

• Local government ombudsman to champion residents' cause

  A Chairman and Vice Chairman Ombudsman who will lead a more customer-focused Commission that champions the rights of redress for local residents have been appointed.

  • Added: 16 April 2012
  • Site: Local government

• Red tape holding back councils cut by more than a quarter

  The Government has reduced the amount of 'red tape' data collections it expects councils to send by over a quarter - giving them more time to focus on residents and local priorities, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has announced.

  • Added: 11 April 2012
  • Site: Local government

• New reforms will stop town hall corruption and culture of malicious complaints

  Local Government Minister Bob Neill has called on councils to use their new found freedom from the recently axed Standards Board to prevent corruption and ensure high standards in local public life.

  • Added: 11 April 2012
  • Site: Local government

• England's array of Enterprise Zones go operational

  The next generation of Enterprise Zones are now 'operational sites' with 'live deals' immediately available for aspiring new businesses, Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has announced.

  • Added: 11 April 2012
  • Site: Local government

• Localism Act: Power shift to communities charges on

  The Government's revolution to hand power back to local communities reaches a major milestone as measures in the Localism Act come into force.

  • Added: 6 April 2012
  • Site: Local government

• Parish power to pray reinstated in time for Easter

  As Easter weekend approaches Parish Councils across England, including Bideford Town Council, have been handed a new power to continue to hold prayers as part of their formal business, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has announced.

  • Added: 6 April 2012
  • Site: Local government

• Giving local businesses an Easter tax break

  Local Government Minister Bob Neill is writing to every local council urging them to make sure every local firm in their areas knows about all the Government measures available to give businesses a tax break and the breathing room to grow and prosper.

  • Added: 4 April 2012
  • Site: Local government

• Rob Sykes appointed Doncaster Lead Commissioner

  The Government has appointed Rob Sykes as lead intervention commissioner at Doncaster Council.

  • Added: 2 April 2012
  • Site: Local government

• Over 180 bids to improve or reinstate weekly rubbish collections

  A groundswell of councils want to take up the Government's £250 million offer to support better, more frequent, more environmentally friendly bin collections for residents, Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has revealed.

  • Added: 2 April 2012
  • Site: Local government

• Troubled Families: Top 10 areas are on board as Government is ready to go

  The 10 local authorities with the largest number of troubled families have agreed to sign up to the Government's ambitious scheme to turn around the lives of 120,000 problem households by 2015.

  • Added: 28 March 2012
  • Site: Local government

• New Mayors Cabinet to provide cities with a voice in Government

  A new Mayors Cabinet that will ensure elected city mayors have a voice at the heart of Government has been announced by Prime Minister David Cameron and Cities Minister Greg Clark.

  • Added: 27 March 2012
  • Site: Local government

• Grant Shapps: Cash to wounded warriors - Government commitment to support our troops beyond the battlefield

  Cash payments for councils who have adapted the homes of wounded soldiers injured in the line of duty have been announced by Housing Minister Grant Shapps.

  • Added: 23 March 2012
  • Site: Local government

• Government gives residents a real-terms council tax cut

  Residents and hard pressed families will get more help with their cost of living from the real terms council tax cut delivered by our freeze grant deal, Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has announced.

  • Added: 21 March 2012
  • Site: Local government

• Grant Shapps: 'Invest to save' and offer support to vulnerable people

  Councils must 'invest to save' and protect their most disadvantaged residents, Housing Minister Grant Shapps has said.

  • Added: 20 March 2012
  • Site: Local government

• Bob Neill: Backdated port tax burden finally lifted

  Port-based businesses facing unfair and unexpected backdated business rates bills can breathe a sigh of relief, Local Government Minister Bob Neill said today, as Government action to waive and repay their bills has finally lifted their heavy debt burden.

  • Added: 5 March 2012
  • Site: Local government

• £250 million savings for local public bodies expected from Audit Commission outsourcing

  Grant Shapps has welcomed today's announcement by the Audit Commission that hard-pressed councils and other local bodies should see big fee reductions following the successful outsourcing of the Commission's centralised audit practice.

  • Added: 5 March 2012
  • Site: Local government

• The majority looking to freeze or reduce council tax

  Residents and hard pressed families will be relieved that the majority of councils are intending to make their cost of living a little easier by taking up the Government's council tax freeze offer, Eric Pickles has said.

  • Added: 27 February 2012
  • Site: Local government