The MJ - your free ebook
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News
Mind the gap between levelling up ‘rhetoric and reality,’ think-tank warns
Central Government policies have undermined the levelling up agenda and left the UK more regionally divided than ever, a new study has claimed.
Fifty councils fail to hit housing targets
A ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ is imposed upon any local authority that fails to deliver at least 75% of its target number of housing over the past three years.
Copeland to ask Government for £1.5m capitalisation
Copeland BC is to ask ministers for access to £1.5m in support after a Government-commissioned review laid bare the financial issues facing the authority.
LGA plea for funding certainty
A call for more certainty over future finances for the sector has been made by the Local Government Association (LGA).
Finance reforms to be unveiled in spring
Proposals to overhaul the local government finance system will be published in the spring, a minister has confirmed.
Councils in £1.7m ‘amicable separation’
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has asked neighbouring Dorset for £1.7m to leave a joint services partnership.
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Opinion
The stakes are high for the levelling up white paper
The Levelling Up White Paper must seek to broaden and deepen devolution, and provide a framework for it that offers local leaders the power and cash they need to tackle local and regional priorities, says Erica Roscoe.
We will spell out the benefits delivered by districts' wellbeing services
We need a long term strategy that revitalises leisure and wellbeing services to level up the health of the nation and place them firmly within Integrated Care Systems, says Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen.
There's a whiff of purpose once more on devolution
Devolution should rock the status quo and create a new culture of governance which pushes everyone who currently holds decision-making power out of their comfort zones, says deputy chief executive of New Local Jessica Studdert.
Protecting parks for all
A host of council agendas, including climate change mitigation, depend on future-proofing local green spaces and Fields in Trust’s ParkXtinction campaign is aimed at doing more to protect them, says Helen Griffiths.
A mismatch between motive and facts on voter ID
‘Partygate’ and rule breaking may be a major distraction from electoral proposals that may disenfranchise many voters, according to Stephen Weigel.
What happens when you have used all the tools in your tool box?
If you lose your chief executive in 2022 console yourself with the knowledge that truly great managers are not those who cling to office the longest.
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Best Practice
Achieving great things for Kingston
Kingston RLBC won the senior leadership team of the year category of The MJ Awards 2021. Great staff have come together to collectively own the budget and quickly transform lives, writes Ian Thomas.
Analysis
Ready for the resolution
At the opening of 2022, Ann McGauran and Heather Jameson look at what the coming year may bring – all the priorities and the unresolved policy problems that will make up our New Year's resolutions.
Private sector
How to attract the best talent
2021 was quite a year for local government recruitment, especially in social work, says Sonia Tanda. She explains some of the ways to attract the best candidates.
Buckinghamshire signs £15m waste contract
Buckinghamshire Council’s deal with FCC Recycling includes an option to extend worth almost £30m.
We need action to tackle the imminent public health workforce shortages
Nick Raper at Penna says there is a need to attract and retain diverse, talented and qualified individuals in better numbers in public health.
