British Council’s £197m debt should mostly be written off, MPs say
Commons report calls on Foreign Office to bail out soft-power flagship reeling from job cuts and asset salesMinisters should explore writing off a cri...
Labour councils told to end agreements with Greens who do not condemn ‘Zionism is racism’ policy
Party chair calls on Labour groups to end local deals if Green councillors do not reject motion attacked as ‘antisemitic’UK politics live – latest upd...
English councils warn of ‘catastrophic’ Send debts forecast to hit £10bn by 2028
Surge in EHCP applications poses risk to public finances and may lead to deteriorating levels of supportCouncils are warning of potentially “catastrop...
Sixteen English councils spend more than 80% of core funding on social care
Councils collectively spent record 71.9% of core spending on adult and children’s care last year, analysis showsSixteen English councils spent more th...
One of Sydney’s largest councils joins ban on ‘pervert’ glasses at local swimming pools
Councillors say locals have been raising concerns about people secretly filming in change rooms, swimming pools and around schoolsGet our breaking new...
Thousands of ebikes seized by London councils as anger rises over blocked paths
Operators blame lack of parking and councils bemoan lack of central regulation, as more than 3,000 badly parked bikes seizedLondon boroughs have seize...
Councils pay more than £125m a year placing vulnerable children in illegal care homes in England
Exclusive: Booming industry of businesses profit from shortage of beds for most at-risk childrenPrincess’s story: the case that highlights scourge of ...
Councils in England and Wales accused of excessive fees to run outdoor classes
Report documents use of commercial licensing for free or donation-based exercise classes in parks and on beachesAt 6am on the beach at Westgate-on-Sea...
Burnham to give councils more powers to block vape and betting shops
Vape shops in England and Wales to be subject to planning permission while betting shop law change will also apply in ScotlandCouncils are to be given...
‘It is British life’: Downing Street vows to stop councils trying to restrict standing in pubs
Westminster council has recommended banning ‘vertical drinking’ or ordering at the bar in new draft licensing policyNo 10 has vowed to confiscate powe...
Families in London ‘fighting to keep cool’ amid air con dispute with local councils
Welfare concerns remain after Guardian revealed residents in glass-fronted block told not to use air-conditioning unitsAs the fourth heatwave of the y...
Ministers could ban London councils ‘dumping’ homeless families miles away
Measures being considered to crack down on practice that has grown as a result of Britain’s housing crisisLondon councils could be banned from “dumpin...
Zelenskyy hopes Reform UK councils will allow Ukraine flags to be flown again
Exclusive: Ukrainian president says ‘small mistake can break a big friendship’ in wide-ranging interview with GuardianVolodymyr Zelenskyy has said the...
Homeless face ‘inhumane’ ultimatums by London councils
Choice between living on the streets or moving hundreds of miles away faced by homeless people.Having fled sex trafficking gangs in Belgium and Manche...
Swearing banned by one in five councils in England and Wales, finds report on ‘busybody’ fines
Campaigners saying public spaces protection orders also being used to criminalise wide range of everyday activitiesOne in five local councils have ban...
