Laura Sharman 16 December 2015

Top 100: Our most popular local government stories of 2015

See our countdown of the 100 most popular stories on LocalGov during 2015, with jobs cuts, Pickles squeezing cash from councils and that infamous bake sale dominating the headlines.

1. Budget 2015: Osborne clamps down on high earners in social housing

2. Revealed: Top 10 daftest queries to council call centres

3. Sex toy forces closure of council bake sale

4. Exclusive: UKIP reveals ‘unnecessary’ jobs councils should eliminate

5. County to cut 2,500 jobs amid £685m savings drive

6. Pickles: Still ‘awful lot’ of money to be saved in councils

7. Budget 2015: Osborne cuts benefits cap amid sweeping tax credit reform

8. Northamptonshire to outsource all services and save £68m

9. Councils announce ‘heartbreaking’ job cuts

10. Local government staff named in New Year’s Honours list

11. Council workers sacked after being accused of sneaking off for shower sex

12. Union paves the way for illegal strike action

13. Council leader slams TV documentary following local backlash

14. Government crowns 16 councils as ‘open data champions’

15. Teenage school drop-outs costing over £800m, say councils

16. UKIP council candidate unmasked as adult movie star

17. Osborne reveals £230m spending cut for DCLG

18. Council staff offered two-year pay increase

19. Sexual job advert gaffe leaves council red-faced

20. 1,200 staff to transfer to private company at Yorkshire council

21. UKIP pledges to abolish all ‘non-essential’ council jobs

22. Councils agree staff merger, sparking job loss fears

23. Councils warned they could face 40% extra spending cuts

24. Squeeze councils for more cash, says Pickles

25. Man ejected from Penzance Town Council Meeting in 'horrendous' scene

26. Bedroom tax policy ruled ‘unlawful’ in landmark case

27. Council leaders recognised in Queen’s birthday honours

28. Councils spend £5bn ‘re-hiring staff’

29. Watch: Mayor feels flushed after leaving microphone on during toilet trip

30. Housing associations vote in favour of voluntary Right to Buy deal

31. David Cameron involved in row with local council over cuts

32. Spending Review: Osborne to phase out council-run schools

33. Row erupts over council's £86,000 new image

34. Abolish every English council and replace them with 'mini-parliaments'

35. Council worker sacked after defrauding authority

36. Woman charged £6,500 for one hour of parking

37. Watch: Game of Thrones spoof shames ‘unfair’ council funding

38. South Oxfordshire council fires: Car hits offices and man arrested

39. Public sector faces staff exodus over Osborne’s pay cap, warn unions

40. Council requests parking payment in cheese

41. UKIP councillor expelled for 'jaw-dropping' remarks

42. Councils say ‘sorry’ after voting blunders

43. UK’s worst areas for air pollution revealed

44. Mass resignation at Rotherham after damning report into child sexual exploitation

45. Council takes £1.88m loss after planning error

46. Council manager stole £23k from family budgets

47. Clark urged to tackle £47bn local government pension deficit

48. Pickles issues notice over council newspaper

49. Pay freeze causing ‘staffing crisis’ in local government

50. Four departments agree 30% spending cuts

51. Failed pirate world record attempt cost council £56k, letter reveals

52. Council leader demands Capita meeting after jobs U-turn

53. Budget 2015: Councils spared further cuts

54. Pickles to be given knighthood

55. Three councils warned over FOI delays

56. Council forced to apologise for ‘scandalous’ waste of taxpayers' money

57. Former councillor pretended to be a barrister

58. Theft of thousands of election ballots forces council re-think

59. LGA names winners of digital fund

60. Borough banned from printing weekly newspaper

61. Peerages for local government figures

62. Spending Review: Warning that councils at financial tipping point

63. Councils allowed to charge for property searches following landmark ruling

64. Council staff could face prison for abusing surveillance powers

65. Three UK cities named among world's most sustainable locations

66. County could have lost £1m after bus lane camera not turned on

67. Council defends 'ludicrous' yellow lines less than a metre long

68. Council set to demand demolished pub is rebuilt ‘brick by brick’

69. Councils ‘wasting’ two million hours every year re-keying data

70. Tower Hamlets mayor found guilty of corrupt practices

71. Council commits ‘worst-ever bungle’ by submitting court papers a day late

72. Councillor refuses to resign despite moving to USA

73. Spending review could floor local services, warns LGA

74. Council workers must speak fluent English

75. Council loses court case against man who accidentally dropped orange peel

76. All staff at Argyll and Bute Council to be offered voluntary redundancy

77. Our study reveals extent of income generation in local government

78. Betts calls for inquiry into ‘outrageous’ LOBO loans

79. Councils call for tighter controls on freedom of information requests

80. Council worker jailed for stealing half a million from care funds

81. Pickles names leaders to take over Rotherham Council

82. Local government on a ‘cliff-edge’ warns Commission

83. Spending Review: Osborne accused of 'dodgy arithmetic'

84. Cost of academy conversion leaves councils in millions of debt

85. Bromley staff balloted for strike action over ‘privatisation’ plans

86. Budget 2015: Osborne launches 20 housing zones

87. Machine-to-Machine technologies could save councils £400m a year says research

88. Councils cutting 11,766 jobs warns union

89. Osborne pledges review of senior council staff pay

90. Clark stresses spending review was 'good result' for local government

91. Council targets self-sufficiency by 2016

92. Petition calls to reduce 'deeply offensive' chief's pay

93. Tories launch own trade union movement

94. Fire service shouldn’t be ‘messed around with’, LGA warns

95. City leader resigns after High Court defeat

96. Council launches Ebay store to sell unwanted items

97. York mayor refuses to wear 'disgusting' chains of office

98. Sacked council employee goes on hunger strike

99. Redundancy payments to council staff to be capped at £95,000

100. ICT report describes urgent need to improve ‘poor service’ at council

#Budgets #Housing #Outsourcing #Council staff #Performance

What really caused the council funding crisis?

Max Mosley, NIESR, explores the origins of the local government funding crisis and warns the next government will have to act quickly to address it.

Will local government pick up the tab for increased defence spending?

Cllr Graham Chapman, SIGOMA, looks at what the PM’s announcement of an increase in defence spending means for local authorities.

Most Popular News

Gender-critical social worker awarded over £50k

Council debt up by £52bn since 2010

Government urged to fund council pay claim

Local Elections: Labour racks up dramatic gains

Think-tank: Growth in tall buildings failing to tackle housing need

New Products

Connected Urban: CU Phosco Lighting set to revolutionise Smart City Infrastructure with Innovative Smart Pole launch

New partnership helps local authorities plan active travel and low carbon projects

Glasdon Jubilee™ Duo 220: Combining the Best of Both Worlds

Handy to launch partnership with AVA pressure washer specialist at Glee

New front door opening litter bin

New safeguarding software to transform collaboration between councils and schools

Cadcorp SIS 9.1 released

Vent-Axia launches Net Zero Retrofit Solution for social housing

Vent-Axia’s new Lo-Carbon Calido combats mould and recovers heat

Collecting Food Waste with XL Bin

Innovative and versatile people counting

Tough Patch® repairs dangerous pothole on M180

Vent-Axia’s Tempra Tackles Condensation and Mould and Energy Bills this Winter

Transforming the helpdesk experience in local government

Stand-alone cycle and e-scooter counting from Traffic Technology Ltd

Hydro International unveils the next-generation modular Downstream Defender® Select

Leading air quality monitor now with gas sensors

HAVSPRO heralds a unique game changer in effective workforce protection

The Costs of Dealing with Housing Disrepair Claims can Dramatically be Reduced

New Early Pay Product to Help Local Authorities Support Small Businesses

Bradshaw releases third-generation T800

WPS launches new open and adaptive parking solution at Intertraffic 2022

APT SKIDATA launches Charge, an integrated park and EV charging solution

XL Litter Bin to collect more waste

Over Unwanted Sound? Siderise Launches Mullion Overclad System

New and improved Toro mower for greater productivity

Supporting net zero ambitions: New solar PV enhancement from Marley

Nordic Copper Defines a New Generation of Finnish Libraries

Siderise launches masonry passive fire protection package

UltraCrete launches innovative installation aid

Panasonic’s new Smart Multi-site Control Solution provides advanced HVAC control and management

Innovative technology for face-to-face meetings

Leafield’s New 310-litre Envirobank Recycling Bin

Electric performance from the Ariens Zenith E

Case Studies

Historic Seawall Lights Enhanced with Modern Efficiency Delivering Over 50% Energy Savings

Vent-Axia's Heat Save Helps Hillingdon Council with Carbon-friendly Makeover

Beyond Ventilation: Why Air Purifiers Are Essential for Healthier Schools

Vent-Axia's Heat Recovery Retrofit Solution is the perfect fit for Almond HA

StoSilent Direct system brings Oxford College acoustics up to date

UltraCrete improving road safety near Shrewsbury

Sto rainscreen cladding system streamlines construction at Blar Mor

Mid Devon Housing: Improving fire safety in communal areas

Advanced’s EvacGo Evacuation Alert System Helps Keep Residents Safe

South Ayrshire increase recycling rates in parks

Acrospire Helps Vale of Glamorgan Council Reduce Carbon Footprint with Energy-Efficient Heritage Lighting

Dover District Council, LEDs Ltd and CU Phosco Lighting Partner to Create Safer, Greener Streets

London Borough of Redbridge adopts user-centred online housing repairs service

Jersey selects BridgeHead’s HealthStore® to manage medical images

Energy Efficient High Mast Lighting for UK City of Culture

Active Light

Milton Keynes City Council offsets rising energy prices with Telensa smart street lighting

Building vibrant local economies

MICHELIN’s Connected Fleet leads to nearly 50% drop in engine idling

Evacuation alert system from Advanced helps protect residents in Merseyside social housing

UltraCrete prevents dangerous accident in Carmarthen

Decarbonising the UK's housing stock – a practical example

Tough Patch® saves Ringway Jacobs time and money

UltraCrete repairs troublesome chamber on busy London road

City of York tackles congestion and pollution with Alchera Technologies

Panasonic Heats Renovated Chapel in Devon with Unique Air Source Heat Pump & Fan Coil Solution

A DLUHC-funded PropTech win uses 3D images and voice technology to bring local planning into the modern age

Protecting Cumbria’s dark skies – a collaborative effort between Thorn Lighting and Cumbria County Council

Adur & Worthing Councils verify property discounts and exemptions using Aspire

Warwickshire Pub Installs Panasonic nanoe™ X to improve indoor environment

Milton Keynes Council automate completion notice issuing process

Wandsworth Council leads the charge on EV infrastructure

Mortar Buoy® increases speed and saves money

Greater Manchester bus network drives into the digital age

Boosting local retail - three more local authorities sign up to Local Rewards scheme

Norwich City Council Awarded for Innovative Approach to Tackling Rising Debt Concerns

21st Century upgrades passenger information across the East Midlands

APT SKIDATA Wins Contract to Upgrade Seafront Car Park in North Ayrshire

Places for People rolls out new technology in the management of damp in homes

Document automation saves TfL payroll team 160 days' admin time per year

Leading by example: The City of London Corporation specifies FORS in supply chain contracts

Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon PoziDry Compact Pro Combats Mould in Housing Association Property

Innovative Highways Alliance brings benefits to roads & residents

Thorn Lighting Isaro Pro luminaires provide the perfect solution for the Safer Streets Fund Initiative

Essex County Council completes first stage of digital transformation journey

St Helens MBC: Dream team looks to a bright future

New Harold Wood Station plaza opens

Essex County Council selects Telensa for the next stage of its smart streetlight project

New open data portal presents a bigger picture of Stockport residents

Wales delivers a first for technology-enabled care through Covid response

New Otterbine restores fountain to former glory at Newquay Boating Lake

How £1.3bn Metro tuned into digital radio comms

Hunter Douglas Architectural supplies 17,000m2 of new ceiling for Rotterdam Ahoy

SWARCO Traffic installs new speed warning signs for Angus Council

Thorn ensures the perfect setting at Queens Quay and Titan Crane Basin

Traffic Management Contract secured in Thurrock

SWARCO and APT Skidata provide the technology solution for Wembley car parks

Company Anouncements

UltraCrete wins Employment and Skills Award at RSTA Annual Conference

UltraCrete partners with Salford City College

Acrospire Unveils 'Solar HonestyTM' Initiative

East Herts DC selects Cadcorp for advancing digital planning services

Vent-Axia Sentinel Apex Scoops CIBSE Air Quality Award

Cardo Group provides insight into how valuable Frameworx is as a procurement solution

360 Vision Technology’s Invictus TX wireless camera selected for Heritage site

Bringing Energy Efficiency to Suffolk's Historic Streets

CU Phosco Lighting achieves outstanding 2.9 TM66 score

Acrospire donate solar-powered luminaires to Bishops Castle Council

Matrix launches refreshed Milestone offering to Pave the Way for Public Procurement Reform in the UK

CU Phosco Lighting announce cost-savings on new and improved traditional lighting range

Airtech Supports Radon Awareness Week

Vent-Axia Welcomes Updated PAS 2035

Triple Award Shortlisting Shows Vent-Axia’s Commitment to a Lo-Carbon Future

Four local authorities appoint Propeller Powered for compliance management overhaul

CU Phosco Lighting Offer Dream Trip to Australia in 100th Anniversary Celebration

Vent-Axia supports Clean Air Day

Revolutionising ground source heat pump deployment at scale

BridgeHead’s HealthStore® Wins 2023 MedTech Breakthrough Award

Ascendant Solutions gets royal seal of approval

Vent-Axia’s Heat Recovery Retrofit Solution shortlisted at the Unlock Net Zero Awards

Seven senior public sector figures given seats at framework provider’s top table

Aico host webinar on A Spotlight on Damp and Mould with The Housing Ombudsman

Going Green with Ground Source Heat Pumps

Vent-Axia celebrates global recycling day and improves indoor air sustainably

Metric appoints new head to drive launch of unique software solutions

Matrix appoints Roger Clements as first CMO to lead transformational growth

The SWARCO team wins big at the 2023 E-Mobility Awards

Liberty Charge invests in senior management team

Be Part of a Net-Zero Future – BEIS-funded training available through the Retrofit Academy

Voicescape appointed by Hartlepool Borough Council after raft of revenue and benefits wins

Airtech Offers Social Housing Landlords Expert Advice and Help to Tackle Mould

Automation of Property Assessments to drive more RV for UK Councils

Domus Ventilation’s Solis Air Brick wins London Construction Awards

Airtech Gives 5 Important Radon Facts to Support Radon Awareness Week

Saltare Secures Listing for Early Pay on Crown Commercial Service’s G-Cloud 13 Procurement Framework

How Middlesbrough Council increased engagement rates by 59% of residents in Council Tax arrears

Airtech Offers Condensation and Mould Advice to Landlords as Energy Crisis Looms

New cost of living crisis research calls for change to public sector financial support

Hugh James appointed to new Public Sector Legal Services framework

VWV Wins Place on Crown Commercial Service's Public Sector Legal Services Framework

Virtru data protection solutions approved for G-Cloud 13 Framework

The future of EV charging in Wales: Making experience count

Truvelo positions for market growth with new sales appointment

DESKO scanners dominate market with regard to image resolution

Faster, Safer, Building Evacuations with Advanced Dynamic Safety Signage

‘Debt-tech’ experts Trustfolio to offer Local Authority creditor teams free trial of first-of-its-kind debt management platform

Crowdguard expands into semi-permanent terror protection with Unafor partnership

Ricardo develops new dataset to help tackle the climate emergency

New top team for public sector framework provider

Panasonic and Schneider Electric partner to expediate the future of heating

TrustID certified as an Identity Service Providers (IDSP) for digital identity checks

Flexible salary sacrifice will help local authorities reach net zero

ESPO and AO team up to provide compliant route to top tech range

Fellowes champions IAQ in education with the clean air for classrooms initiative

Customers to benefit as Amberol and Leafield Environmental join forces

Zutec Digital Cladding Remediation Solution Now Available for Housebuilders, Developers and Owners

UltraCrete and Telent join forces to tackle failed ironwork

Vent-Axia Shares Tips to Love your Lungs and Stay Healthy this Clean Air Day

SWARCO companies from across the UK & Ireland come together at Traffex 2022

APT SKIDATA to demonstrate digital transformation in parking at Parkex 2022

Local Resilience adds Debfibrillator Management Process to pre-built Procedures

Panasonic Exhibiting at Housing 2022

Cadcorp launches new hosted Data Service

Bringing logical cloud-based collaboration to the Public Sector

Triple Point announces new £8m revolving credit facility for MLL Telecom

Social Housing Building Regulations Webinar to Set Out Changes to Ventilation in Existing Homes

Tavistock Relationships offers local authorities Reducing Parental Conflict Training

PayByPhone announces new global and UK leadership structure as the business continues to grow

Alliance Leisure Retains Position As Lead Development Partner On Third Generation UK Leisure Framework

Vemotion showcase latest live video streaming products at Security & Policing

York-based fulfilment business works with Sainsbury’s to bring new grocery voucher to market

Bring your course to life at night with Otterbine's lighting systems

New brand gives boost to long-established bridge parapet manufacturer

Designed to Meet the Demand for Safe and Sustainable Interim Housing

Tempest Resourcing Wins Place on Local Government Resourcing Partnership Framework

Local Authorities Now have Access to Premium Parking Solutions on a Subscription Basis

ENVIROVENT’s ventilation solution CHOSEN for ‘homes OF the future’ PILOT

SWARCO Smart Charging Named as GreenFleet’s Charging & Re-fuelling Infrastructure Provider of the Year

UltraCrete launch industry-leading accreditation scheme

Irwin Mitchell boosts planning and environment department with two new appointments

Electric Vehicle Goupil Range Helping Local Authorities Support Their Green Agenda

Vent-Axia Welcomes Housing Ombudsman’s Report on Damp and Mould

Red Stag driving towards carbon-neutral pothole repairs across UK

Sir Robert McAlpine – building a quality supply chain with FORS

Fimatix appoints head of User-Centred Design in expansion of its practice

Caution Your Blast Announces Rich Cassidy as New Head of People and Delivery

Airtech Urges Everyone to Take Action this Radon Awareness Week

Treat the family more for less this Christmas with £245* worth of savings for public servants from Boundless

Liberty Charge seeks to address on-street charging deficit with fully-funded solution

Telensa first to demonstrate that the open standard protocol, TALQ2, enables interoperability at scale

SWARCO Smart Charging enhances its public sector offering with senior appointment

Airtech Helps Landlords Meet Their Duty of Care and Tackle Condensation and Mould

Call for entries: Panasonic celebrates excellence in HVAC+R projects with 4th European PRO Awards 2021

Four more local authorities sign up to Local Rewards scheme to boost local retail

Toro fleet expansion for CGM Group

Power Roll’s rooftop solar offers councils a viable alternative to greenfield sites

Vemotion Viewer App now with automated Real-time Incident Alert & Review

Airtech Supports Landlords to Help Protect their Residents from Radon this Summer

Celebrating a decade of gold standards and stronger supply chains

Premier Modular wins place on £330m public sector building framework

New leasing company helps councils tackle the climate crisis

PayByPhone continues rapid growth across UK

Open Booking API for the sport & leisure sector to undergo further testing

Panasonic Aquarea units receive Passive House Component Certification

Care home building firm choose FORS to ensure quality supply chain

Accelar helps to pinpoint opportunities to drive down carbon in construction

Blackhawk Network becomes a supplier for The Crown Commercial Service on the Voucher Scheme Framework

Domestic Abuse (Perpetrator) Prevention Worker

£30931 - £35362 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Defined Benefit Pension

Domestic Abuse (Perpetrator) Prevention Worker - Multi Disciplinary TeamFixed Term, Full Time£30,931 to £35,362 per annumLocation

Recuriter: Essex County Council

Data Analyst - 6 month FTC

£25081 - £29508 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Defined Benefit Pension

Data AnalystFixed Term, Full TimeUp to £29,508 per annumLocation

Recuriter: Essex County Council

Transport Strategy Manager

£55848 - £59442

We are looking for an experienced and talented professional to join North Northamptonshire Council Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering, United Kingdom

Recuriter: North Northamptonshire Council

Specialist Children and Family Worker - 12 month FTC

£30931 - £35362 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Defined Benefit Pension

Specialist Children and Family WorkerFixed Term, Full Time£30,931 to £35,362 per annumLocation

Recuriter: Essex County Council

Director of Children’s Services

Up to £136,757 per annum (pay award pending)

Bedford Borough Council is looking for a dynamic and visionary Director of Children's Services Bedford, Bedfordshire

Recuriter: Bedford Borough Council

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.

Need To Know

What is voter ID?

What is a metro mayor?