The MJ Virtual Future Forum 2020
Catch up on the latest from The MJ Future Forum - The MJ's popular event which has now gone virtual.
News
Call for multi-year funding
Ministers have been urged to commit to multi-year settlements for local government by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
10pm curfew 'probably doing more harm than good,' says mayor
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, says his ‘gut feeling’ is that the 10pm curfew for pubs and hospitality venues is 'probably doing more harm than good’.
Planning proposals will 'disempower' councils
The Lib Dems have used their autumn conference to warn that the Government’s planning proposals will ‘disempower’ councils.
Government urged to increase children's services funding
The Spending Review marks a crucial moment for a system of children’s social care that is reaching ‘breaking point,' an event heard this week.
Whiteman: Audit appointment system not independent enough
The system of appointing auditors needs to be independent and not driven by a politically-led organisation, finance expert Rob Whiteman has argued.
Forbes hits out at Hancock over COVID rules
Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes has hit out at the Government for announcing the latest COVID restrictions in the North East without telling the councils involved.
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Opinion
‘Devolve to Resolve’ the jobs and skills challenge
Powers and budgets for post-16 employment and skills development policy should be unconditionally devolved to combined and local authorities to allow for targeted interventions, says Charlotte Morgan.
The LGA ‘can and should do better’ on standards
The Local Government Association’s draft member code of conduct does not include an independent mechanism for holding councillors to account, says Donald Graham.
Supporting young workers with SEND through the crisis
Claire Cookson discusses how young people with learning disabilities have stepped into key worker roles for councils during the pandemic, and how the period can act as a springboard for more fairness and equality.
Any further loosening of planning laws would be a disaster for towns and cities
Cllr Faisal Rana of Rochdale MBC argues that the government's planning White Paper will have a devastating impact on all Greater Manchester’s local communities.
Prepare for the worst and hope for the best
In the current climate all that local government can do is prepare a range of scenarios and reactions, says Gary Fielding. 'It feels like the best approach is to prepare for the worst, hope for the best and be unsurprised with anything in-between.'
Counting the hidden costs of COVID-19
There are a host of hidden costs from COVID-19 that will creep out of the woodwork over time to impact local government, says Chris Buss, leading to a fundamental shift in the way services will be delivered in the future.
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Best Practice
Personal resilience in tough times
Drawing on her experience of dealing with the aftermath of terror attacks, Louise Neilan emphasises the need for senior managers to support their communities and teams, and themselves – especially during the pandemic crisis.
Analysis
Staring into the jobs abyss
With the furlough scheme due to finish at the end of next month, can local government support COVID-hit local economies and residents left without work? Ann McGauran talks to sector experts.
Private sector
private sector view
People are being displaced from jobs in the private sector, says practice director executive recruitment at Penna Enterprise Charles Wilson, 'but there are also opportunities in the public sector in interesting and varied roles'.
What makes senior leadership teams great?
Although the winner won't be known until 2 October, Julie Towers of Penna presents a round-up of the uniting leadership factors of the five councils shortlisted in the Senior Leadership Team category at The MJ Awards.
Planning for reset and recovery
Having emerged from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, local authorities are now busy dealing with reset and recovery before the feared resurgence of a second wave. In a virtual round table, The MJ and Serco looked at some of the key challenges [..]
