LGA Conference
Not for turning on the four-day week
Leader of South Cambridgeshire DC Cllr Bridget Smith sets out why the council is not backtracking on its trial of a four-day week in the face of Government opposition.
Who would you rather was holding the mirror up to your council?
The LGA has responded to criticisms of corporate peer challenges by strengthening its offer to provide more stringent assessments, says Kathy O'Leary. 'We need to embrace this if we are not to be "done to" by Oflog'.
Government must set out its case on remote meetings
Even if the answer is a reasoned ‘no’, local government deserves the courtesy of being told the Government's position on remote council meetings, says Ian Miller.
Make it local
As political parties draft their manifestos, we have a compelling story and evidence of how public services can be delivered faster, better and more efficiently, says the new chair of the Local Government Association Cllr Shaun Davies.
Time for reflection on council failures
We should all recognise the need to improve standards in public life more broadly, not least as local government has its own failures to consider, says Graeme McDonald.
Getting a grip in Birmingham
The new leader of Birmingham City Council Cllr John Cotton explains the scale of the challenges he faces, but says the idea that breaking up the city resolves any of its problems is a myth. Heather Jameson reports.
Overton rejects breakaway Green group idea
The re-elected leader of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) independents has rejected the idea of a breakaway Green group.
Social care crisis threatens to ‘bury’ NHS
The ‘extreme pressure’ on social care is now ‘turning into an avalanche and it’s going to bury the NHS,' Lib Dem leader Ed Davey has told the Local Government Association's annual conference.
Call to back elections teams
Elections teams will require more backing from their councils to run future polls.
Fears more councils will issue section 114 notices
More councils could be heading for section 114 notices due to risky financial practices, experts believe.
Oflog should be the start of trust and devolution
Secretary of state Michael Gove launched Oflog to the Local Government Association conference. It should be the start of more trust and devolution, says Heather Jameson.
Minister: Oflog won't spot every council failure
In his speech to the Local Government Association conference this week, levelling up secretary Michael Gove officially launched the Office for Local Government (Oflog).
Sector urged to look to recruitment of graduates
Graduates offer a partial solution not only to the sector’s recruitment crisis, but also its lack of diversity, delegates at the Local Government Association (LGA) Conference have heard.
Make it local
Looking ahead to a General Election, Mark Lloyd says the Local Government Association, as the national voice of the sector, will set out how the next Government can and must do things differently.
Optimistic nihilism
It feels like local government is close to breaking point, but it doesn’t have to be this way, says Dr Jonathan Carr-West.
A town centre for the future
Contestants headed to Wigan for the final round of the 2023 LG Challenge, to present their proposals for urban green infrastructure. Four finalists now go to the LGA Conference to compete for the Bruce-Lockhart Scholarship, says Rachel Robinson.
Opportunity knocks for the sector
Ahead of next week’s Local Government Association (LGA) annual conference in Bournemouth, The MJ hears from the four political groups as they assess the state of the sector and outline their priorities for the next 12 months.
EXCLUSIVE: Chief executive training and development programme to launch
A new training and development programme for council chief executives will be launched as the sector moves to fill a gap in support for top officers.
Financial sustainability is vital for councils
Chairman of the LGA Cllr James Jamieson says he met with the new secretary of state Greg Clark, welcomed him back to his former role and outlined 'the challenges and opportunities we face at this pivotal time'.
Same issues, new interventions and little progress
Global pandemic and cost of living crisis aside, last week’s Local Government Association conference in Harrogate felt remarkably familiar, says Heather Jameson
