John Stewart
A glimmer of hope?
Drawing from findings from their latest book, Steve Leach and John Stewart look at the steps needed to be taken in order to reverse the damage caused by centralisation.
Lessons from Layfield – 40 years on
It is 40 years since the Layfield Commission on local government finance report. George Jones and John Stewart – both on the committee – examine its aftermath
The need for caution
Greater Manchester combined authority’s devolution deal establishes a two-tier system of local government that exposes issues that must be faced before the sector drifts into a general structural reorganisation, warn George Jones and John Stewart.
When there’s a temptation to reorganise..
Make sure you are aware of all the issues before you attempt to reorganise, is the message from George Jones and John Stewart
Labour's plans for your future
George Jones and John Stewart examine Labour’s report for the Party’s General Election campaign and offer their views how it will impact on the workings of local government
The lost 40 years
George Jones and John Stewart scrutinise the changes since the first local government reorganisation and find that problems have become more acute in the age of austerity
Keep it local, keep it relevant
Local accountability is essential for effective local government, argue George Jones and John Stewart, as they delve into how this strategy can be driven forward
Cracking the code to central government relations
Change in the culture, institutions and processes of public adminstration at national level are essential. George Jones and John Stewart expand on how the codifying of relationships should proceed
Strengthening local choices
Collective choices will be better handled by local government, argue George Jones and John Stewart.
Harking back to a golden age
George Jones and John Stewart ask whether the Localism Act 2011 has changed things for better.
Did Heseltine get it right?
Lord Heseltine's recent report on economic growth gets the thumbs-up from George Jones and John Stewart.
Serving up a different delivery
George Jones and John Stewart on how the responsibilities of local authorities for services can be expressed in new ways of working.
How to, and how not to do overview and scrutiny
With councils required to establish overview and scrutiny committees, George Jones and John Stewart what more is required.
A real plan for civil service reform
The latest government paper on civil service reform is feeble and flawed, say George Jones and John Stewart.
Learning from the referendums
It is time for the Government to realise the case for elected mayors is not as clear-cut as ministers had believed, say George Jones and John Stewart.
Breaking down the barriers
The Localism Act reinforces the centralism, say George Jones and John Stewart.
What elected police commissioners mean for local government
George Jones John Stewart look at the impact of directly elected police commissioners from November this year.
Lessons from the past about governance
George Jones and John Stewart look at how councils in the past dealt with issues like referenda and voting.
The centre will always hold
Anyone expecting a new ‘golden age’ of local government should remember the Government knows of no other way of relating to local councils than through command and control, say George Jones and John Stewar
Some unanswered questions
George Jones and John Stewart suggest there will be major conflicts unless the Government clearly defines localism.