local government
It's not just about money
While the LGA is calling for additional funding and multi-year financial settlements, councils also need to see existing funding devolved locally alongside new powers to join up different pots and projects, says Cllr Shaun Davies.
Flying the flag for local government work
Local government is an amazing place to work, says Tracie Langley. 'We do some brilliant things with complicated financial modelling, which will stretch the grey cells of any budding accountant to infinity and beyond.'
Brum's fiscal firestorm
Birmingham City Council's dilemma highlights local governance struggles, but dire financial circumstances can catalyse positive changes, says Claire Agutter.
A call for Caller: but where is the next gen?
Heather Jameson asks is there no one on the new commissioners’ list considered good enough to rescue Birmingham?
Learning from powerful and compelling leadership stories
The Rest is Politics podcast provides fascinating insights into leadership, and two recent editions have brought a strong set of maxims to the fore, says managing director of Faerfield Martin Tucker.
Missions budgeting in a challenging funding context
Public sector recovery and renewal, with limited fiscal headroom to fund more than stabilisation, will need consistency of purpose over time, and a funding and budgeting approach that supports this, says Jon Rowney.
Leaping to a four-day week
CLES is permanently adopting a four-day working week, and Sarah Longlands says there is no reason why councils should not be at the forefront of challenging preconceptions about the way the public sector works.
Centralisation is not a cosy cocoon
When Detroit went bust it seemed to prove the riskiness of local self-government, says Jessica Studdert. But Birmingham going into effective bankruptcy 'should end any naive assumptions the Whitehall model provides anything like a safety net'.
Resources are needed to keep councils away from the precipice
It is becoming more clear a further injection of resources will be needed to stop more councils going over the edge – even those that are well managed, says Simon Edwards.
Bumpy ride for Brum
Mark Conrad looks at what form intervention at Birmingham City Council is likely to take.
Clarity is my one wish
Clarity from the Government on the three fundamental topics of finance, waste collection changes and housing numbers is would make critical differences to how councils are able to strategically plan services, says Gill Kneller.
The future starts with data education
Natalie Cramp discusses why local government needs to make basic data literacy a standard if it is to make the most of innovations like AI.
Winning plan to leverage AI’s power
Lewis Sheldrake’s AI Labs project offering a framework to bring the power of artificial intelligence into all aspects of council service delivery won him the Local Government Challenge 2023. Heather Jameson reports.
Rethinking our approach to the public health grant
Nottingham City Council believes its new approach to using the public health grant has been a catalyst for positive change, says Lucy Hubber.
Councils need support to save local lives
The Government’s new suicide prevention strategy, while welcome, underplays the vital work being done at a local level, and more resources and sustainable funding are required, says Professor Jim McManus.
Housing delivery vehicles – to be or not to be?
It is critical local councils actively manage the risks posed by housing delivery vehicles by ensuring regular, strategic reviews of the progress, whether they be fully council owned or in partnership with the private sector, says Martin Walker.
There is still time to act on climate change
The Prime Minister may have rowed back on key net zero policies. But Ian Fytche says that with leadership, ambition and a ‘green thread’ approach to delivery, local places can make a difference and achieve a net zero future.
A community route to net zero transition
Councils can tackle social inequality and the climate emergency and promote a just transition to net zero by harnessing the power of community business, says Tim Davies-Pugh.
Why short cut the process for short-term talent?
When faced with hiring an executive level interims you may be short on time but there are ways to make the process run smoothly – and give them a better chance of success – says Sally Wilson.
Towards a more viable localism
Making English localism succeed needs a reform agenda for the whole of Government, says Dr Patrick Diamond. The centre and the local must work together to solve complex policy problems, not least by using city region mayors.
