| They're nearly 200 miles apart and cover areas that couldn't be more different. But the one thing Northumberland and Liverpool councils have in common is that they're both in the sights of Michael Gove's Levelling Up Department. Tory-run Northumberland and Labour-run Liverpool appear in a leaked memo seen by Liam Thorp of the Liverpool Echo in a section on "councils facing difficulties" written by Catherine Frances, director general of local government at the department. Four Whitehall commissioners were installed at Liverpool council around a year ago in response to the damning findings of the Max Caller inspection report but the internal briefing note suggests 'more action' is now planned. But is the department also planning to intervene in Northumberland, following its own highly critical report published by the same Mr Caller last week? The memo describes the options for the department's response '[include] potential use of best value powers' - government-speak for interventions such as imposing commissioners to run some or all council services.  Three Northern councils have had commissioners imposed since 2010. Graphic: Lisa Walsh
Since 2010 only a small number of councils have had commissioners imposed by the Government, including Rotherham after the 2014 child grooming scandal was uncovered. But the leaked memo - in reference to Liverpool and Northumberland - says: "As predicted these cases are coming to crunch point soon." As Local Democracy Reporter James Robinson writes, Max Caller's Northumberland report uncovered a catalogue of issues stemming from the very top of the troubled authority, with calls for urgent change to protect the quality of services and ensure the best value for residents. It told of a dysfunctional council paralysed by infighting at the very top of the authority, along with questionable financial decisions and "harrowing" tales from officers of poor treatment and an environment of "fear and intimidation." The council's current CEO, Daljit Lally, was criticised in the report and is currently on "authorised absence." It follows the issue of a section 114 report which called the council's overseas health consultancy business "unlawful." The memo says ahead of an extraordinary council meeting on June 21 "there remain significant issues to address" and adds: "We will want the council to respond swiftly and positively to all the recommendations in the review." In Liverpool, commissioners have now sent their latest report back to the department and it is due to be made public in the coming weeks. The memo, issued on June 10, suggests the commissioners are not happy with the progress being made and believe further intervention is required. 
Could Redcar be England's answer to Nashville?  Dolly Parton performs in Nashville, the capital of country music, which Michael Gove described as 'booming'. Pic: Getty Images
Known as 'music city' because of its status as the capital of country music, Nashville, Tennessee is "booming" according to Mr Gove, who visited the US last week to study urban regeneration. And the Levelling Up Secretary told MPs that its "low tax approach which has seen talent flow into that state and that city" could set an example for English towns and cities, as Westminster Editor Dan O'Donoghue reports. He told the Levelling Up Select Committee that he was "very keen" to shift tax powers to local leaders, who currently have very little power to raise or lower taxes. "What I strongly believe is that, the experience of the United States and the experience of Germany shows that if you have a measure of fiscal devolution, sooner or later people recognise if you want to stimulate economic activity, that you reduce taxes." And he said if [Tees Valley mayor] Ben Houchen were able to do everything he wants in taxation terms, then it would be the case undoubtedly that Redcar would become the Nashville of England." As Chris Burn reports for The Yorkshire Post, in Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee is bringing in $418m (£343m) of tax cuts, including levies on food items, from next month. Mr Houchen argued earlier this year that allowing mayors to slash business rates would help levelling up by encouraging private sector investment. And the Tory mayor tweeted today: "I prefer Singapore on Tees… but whatever the name - fiscal devolution with the ability to cut taxes for my area would be a game changer boosting jobs, business growth and investment."
Wakefield hopefuls quizzed in Northern Agenda online hustings  The Wakefield by-election takes place on June 23. Pic by Ian Forsyth of Gettys
In just a few hours time five of the hopefuls bidding to be the next MP for Wakefield will be quizzed on their policies in a hustings organised by The Northern Agenda and Yorkshire Live. The online debate - the first hustings of the campaign ahead of the by-election on June 23 - starts at 7pm and will see candidates asked about topics including transport, jobs and skills and the cost-of-living crisis. You can watch live on our Twitter page or the YorkshireLive Facebook page and the whole thing will go out as a podcast later this week.
Seaside town votes against new houses becoming holiday homes  The number of second homes and holiday lets in Whitby has doubled over the last 20 years.
From the Lake District to Northumberland and the Yorkshire Dales, the rise in the number of second homes and holiday lets in the North's most scenic locations has long been a matter of local anger. And in Whitby, on the North Yorkshire coast, residents made their feelings known yesterday as they voted in favour of a ban on people buying new-build properties as second homes. A parish poll, held on Monday, saw more than 2,000 people vote in favour of restricting property sales. The vote is not legally binding, but it could help inform future planning decisions, as the BBC reports. According to Scarborough Borough Council, the number of second homes and holiday lets in the town has doubled over the last 20 years. Whitby Community Network said the result clearly demonstrated the "strength" of feeling among residents. "We trust that our elected councillors will take note and take action," the organisation added. Voters in the town were asked to answer yes or no to the proposition that all new-build homes in the area should be restricted to full-time local occupation as a primary residence. The council said 2,111 people said yes, while 157 opposed the idea. Turnout for the vote was 22.72%.
Sculpture in memory of police assault victim needs extra security  David Oluwale drowned in 1969 after being repeatedly beaten and racially abused by two officers
There was outrage in Leeds in April when a plaque in memory of David Oluwale, who drowned in 1969 after being repeatedly beaten and racially abused by local police, was stolen within hours of being put up. And now a raft of anti-terrorism and security measures are being planned for a new sculpture dedicated to Mr Oluwale, which will be unveiled next year in Leeds' new Aire Park, in Hunslet. The sculpture, which is being created by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare, is part of a drive to make the city's public art offering more diverse, writes Local Democracy Reporter David Spereall. But the artist has been asked to consider "anti-terrorism and anti-vandalism" measures within its design, include paint resistant to graffiti, by Leeds City Council. The authority, which will be responsible for the sculpture's maintenance, said "specialist advice is being sought around the artwork." Mr Oluwale, who was originally from Nigeria, drowned in the River Aire after running away from two officers, both of whom were cleared of manslaughter but jailed for assault after a subsequent trial. The case marked the first conviction for police involvement in the death of a black person in Britain.
Metro repair cash shortage could mean slower trains and more delays  Transport chiefs have warned that passengers could soon have to put up with slower and more unreliable Metro services
The Tyne and Wear Metro is more than £30m short of critical funding to keep trains running safely, it has emerged. Transport chiefs have warned that passengers could soon have to put up with slower and more unreliable Metro services, while some stations could even be closed down unless the government agrees to a major cash injection. Metro operator Nexus says it had planned £57m worth of renewal works across the system between 2023 and 2025, vital repairs that can include refurbishing stations, replacing track and overhead lines, and restoring bridges. But many of those projects are set to be put on hold, after the Department for Transport awarded just £23.8m for the modernisation efforts – a massive £33.2m short of what had been expected, writes Local Democracy Reporter Dan Holland. While passengers will not see an immediate impact on the Metro, Nexus warned that its asset renewal programme was "needed to maintain the Metro infrastructure such that services can safely operate and without it, the service will at some point be impaired".
But there was better news on buses, as a multi-million pound rescue package to save "vital" routes in Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside was unveiled. Bus operator Go North East announced last month that it was planning cuts to dozens more routes across the region in July, after already slashing services in Newcastle and North Tyneside earlier in the year. The company said it was "clear some services won't recover to the point of being viable" after passenger numbers took a huge hit because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nexus has now confirmed that it will put up £4.3m to rescue some of the routes under threat. But the cash will not be enough to save every service and that there may be more cuts yet to come, with Arriva and Stagecoach still to announce their plans.
'It's the verdict we deserve': Amazon protesters cleared of trespass  The protesters pictured outside court after they were acquitted
Climate protesters who imprisoned themselves in concrete locks to stop HGVs gaining access to Darlington's Amazon warehouse have walked free from court. The campaigners protested outside the fulfilment centre on Black Friday last year leading to hundreds of cancelled deliveries. During a trial at Teesside Magistrates' Court prosecutor Emma Dowling said HGVs were blocked by bamboo structures set up by the campaigners. However the accused were acquitted yesterday of aggravated trespassing after it could not be proven what land they were on, reports Georgia Banks of Teesside Live. The defendants, who had previously all pleaded not guilty, said it was the verdict 'they deserved'. Speaking outside of court, one of the protesters, Jessica Louise Maddison, 18, from Hartlepool said: "We did the protest because of worker rights at Amazon and the impact the company has on the environment. It was never in the public interest to prosecute or punish us. "I've campaigned for a number of years now and been part of a lot of different social and environmental campaigns so I think this is a huge win in itself. I think this will inspire unions to take more action." 
Sign up to The Northern Agenda Has a friend forwarded you this edition of The Northern Agenda? You can sign up to receive the latest email newsletter direct to your inbox every weekday by clicking on this link.
Northern Stories  The new Hooters will open from 9am to 11.30pm seven days a week
-
Controversial plans to open a Hooters restaurant and bar – where scantily-clad young women will serve customers – at Salford Quays have been given the go-ahead. The decision flies in the face of fierce local opposition, including from both the Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. There were a total of 91 objections to the application to Salford council, made in the name of Jullian Mills who has run the Nottingham Hooters for the last 21 years. -
A petition set up in opposition to proposals to turn a Lake District quarry into a tourist attraction has won support from thousands of people. The online document on change.org was created at the weekend and by yesterday afternoon had received more than 2,500 signatures. The webpage, started by a group called 'Zip Off Langdale', says Burlington Stone wants to turn Elterwater Quarry into a 'theme park' with high ropes courses and a rollercoaster. -
Community leaders have expressed delight after it emerged more than double the number of local people are being employed than was initially envisaged as part of the workforce of a controversial polyhalite mine. A report to a North York Moors National Park Authority meeting states some 75% of the 1,300 people working at the Woodsmith Mine's five sites on the moors near Whitby, Wilton on Teesside and in Scarborough live within an hour's commute. It had been previously estimated 35% of workers during construction would be local. -
Parents have hit out at an "offensive" work sheet at a Liverpool school that claims young people who skip school are more likely to have 'early sex.' A document, seen by Local Democracy Reporter David Humphreys and handed out to students in isolation at Dixons Academy, Fazakerley, states that "young people who truant are more likely to use alcohol or drugs." The sheet handed out to learners also said those who skip school are more likely to get involved in anti-social behaviour and as a result "more likely to become young parents." -
Hundreds of residents made their way to Warrington Town Hall yesterday to protest against proposals to make a raft of changes to the town's roads – including the introduction of a new bus gate. Warrington Borough Council revealed its controversial Central 6 Streets Plan earlier this month, affecting routes in the Orford and Westy areas. One of the most drastic changes will see the introduction of a bus gate on Hallfields Road – making it access-only and allowing only public transport, taxis and bicycles to move to and from O'Leary Street. -
A multi-million pound York regeneration scheme faces a "significant delay", the council said, amid claims the authority has "lost control" of the project. Progress on the Castle Mills site, which will feature a new riverside park and a pedestrian and cycle bridge, has stalled after City of York Council terminated its contract with construction company Wates. Covid, Brexit and rising inflation have been blamed, with the council also not happy with elements of the design, according to its own report.
Thank you for reading - If you have been forwarded this email and would like to sign up, you can do that right here. Contact us: You can get in touch via email - rob.parsons@reachplc.com - or via our Twitter page. 
| 
