A council’s plans for helping Santa if he crash lands is among the bizarre Freedom of Information requests to local authorities this year.

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Santa plan among council requests

While Chinese leaders speak in favor of political reform, local authorities routinely deny voters the chance to choose their own political representative.

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China Clamps Down on Even a By-the-Book Campaign

Private rents are now unaffordable in 55% of local authorities in England, the housing charity Shelter says.

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Most private rents ‘unaffordable’

Private rents are now unaffordable in 55% of local authorities in England, the housing charity Shelter says.

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Most private rents ‘unaffordable’

Eight people have been killed and another wounded in a shooting at a hair salon near Los Angeles, California, local authorities say.

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Eight dead in California shooting

More than 6,000 council homes are unoccupied in London, some for more than a year, figures from the 33 local authorities show.

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Thousands of council homes empty

At least 16 people are killed in an attack on a predominantly Christian village in northern Nigeria, local authorities say.

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Deadly attack on Nigerian village

Cash-strapped local authorities in Britain failed to collect £530m in council tax in 2009-10, a BBC investigation finds.

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Councils ‘missed’ £530m in taxes

More than 80 prominent Lib Dem councillors, including the leaders of 17 local authorities, criticise the scale and pace of the spending squeeze.

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Lib Dem councillors attack cuts

Scottish local authorities are to be given new powers to increase council tax on empty homes, under plans announced by the SNP.

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Plan to end empty home tax cuts

The mysterious disappearance of a western Michigan woman prompts local authorities to solicit help as they desperately search for answers.

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‘Time of essence’ in search for woman

Pressure on local authorities to meet targets for keeping waste out of landfill is at risk of backfiring, a report says.

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Recycling approach ‘may backfire’

Eric Pickles urges councils in England to make use of the £10bn in reserve funds at their disposal in the tough climate but local authorities say the money is set aside for “very good” reasons.

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Councils urged to use reserves

Ofsted says there is “real cause for concern” as 10 local authorities in England are found to be inadequate in safeguarding children this year.

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Ofsted warns on child protection

Human rights activists say confinements in mental hospitals appear to be on the rise because the local authorities are under intense pressure to nip social unrest in the bud.

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Outspoken Chinese Risk Confinement in Mental Wards