Meridian Council

Kent County Council says it considers it pays its managers the going rate for the job. It adds that it has managed to reduce its overall salary bill. And it says that it has held council tax payments down to 0% this year. It was responding to a Taxpayers' Alliance report.

Kent County Council is one of several councils in the south east accused of paying too many managers high salaries. The Taxpayers' Alliance says it employs 491 managers on wages of £50,000+. But Kent points out that it has reduced the overall bill for its employees, and has not raised council tax.

The Local Government Chronicle's council tax blog is keeping track of tax proposals.

According to its chief reporter Ruth Keeling: "With several weeks to go until budgets must be finalised, we count 26 councils that have confirmed their intentions to increase tax levels.

"We expect this number to increase in coming weeks".

Read: LGC's blog to see up-to-date council tax intentions

Southampton Council workers have accepted a deal to end the long running dispute over pay cuts imposed by the City Council.

The workers have held a series of strikes since the dispute started back in February 2011.

Under the new deal workers will see their pay restored in stages and those made redundant as a result of the 2011 / 12 Council budget will receive a one off compensation payment..

In return for the settlement, UNISON and Unite will withdraw all legal action against the Council and call off ongoing industrial action.

A council in the South is telling prospective adoptive parents they must be willing to take on three children. The local authority has closed its waiting list to those only willing to adopt one or two children who need a new home.

Officials say the only other circumstance in which they'll consider new applicants is if they can prove they can offer a home to a child with complex special needs. Our Social Affairs Correspondent Christine Alsford reports.

A senior official at Kent County Council has been sentenced to seven years in prison for defrauding two million pounds from various local authorities. Ross Knowles from Allington in Maidstone was a high ranking manager at the authority. He was responsible for buying bulk gas and electricity.