EXCLUSIVE: ‘I want to be the best partner for local government’
Heather Jameson talks to communities secretary Sajid Javid about the progress of devolution, future funding, partnership working with the sector and that speech at the LGA conference...
News
Javid’s renewed rally for devo
Communities secretary Sajid Javid has urged council leaders to ‘put the party politics aside’ for the sake of devolution.
Welfare policy undermining councils fight against homelessness
The Government’s welfare policy is preventing councils from effectively tackling homelessness, a new report has shown.
Air quality probe launched
An investigation into allegations Cheshire East Council manipulated air quality data has been launched by police.
Work and pensions secretary to give evidence on Universal Credit
The Work and Pensions Committee will take evidence on Universal Credit from the department's secretary of state next month.
Union suspends industrial action in Birmingham bin dispute
Trade union Unite has suspended industrial action involving refuse workers after the High Court ordered Birmingham City Council to withdraw redundancy notices it had served on 113 employees.
Council to spend £250,000 on leisure centre inquiry
Dumfries & Galloway Council’s £250,000 investigation into the failings of a sports and leisure centre is expected to start after a meeting next week.
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Opinion
Devolution is dead: Long live devolution
Rumours of the death of devolution have been greatly exaggerated, it would seem, if the secretary of state is to be believed.
What happened to county devolution?
Cllr Paul Carter says the Government needs to devolve to two-tier areas as well as just cities.
What districts want
Ian Miller on what district councils would like to see from the Budget and local government finance settlement.
From scrutiniser to being scrutinised
Tracie Evans on the differences now she is interim deputy chief executive at Haringey LBC.
Councils will have to pick up pieces when music stops
Paul Wheeler says councils must start planning to fix the dysfunctional housing market.
Meeting the modern leadership challenge
At Solace Scotland last week, with colleagues who are just now entering a world with a lot less money across public services, I said that now more than ever we needed bold and brave leaders, willing to take risks, to disrupt the status quo to [..]
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Best Practice
Not laid back about leisure
Slough BC is investing more than £58m in its new leisure strategy. Cllr Sohail Munawar explains the motivations behind the policy and the wider role sport and physical activity has to play in urban renewal.
Analysis
Missing the bigger picture?
It’s easy to ignore major issues and focus on smaller things to do and improve. But, argues Dan Corry, in public services there comes a time when you can no longer ignore that fact that the system is not working.
Private sector
A framework for change
As organisations start to change their shape and operating models to respond to future corporate ambitions, it’s really important to get a framework in place which identifies what you are looking for in your future leaders.
An opportunity to act
By Jim Saunders, Group Director of Business Development of the Pinnacle Group
Norse Group profits plunge by £1.8m
Norfolk CC’s wholly-owned company Norse Group’s underlying profits fell by nearly £1.8m in the last financial year despite an increase in turnover.