Austerity
Our golden chance to improve the lives of children
The levelling up agenda provides us with the chance to tackle the rising number of children living in poverty, but this relies on Government committing to developing a cross-departmental strategy, says Charlotte Ramsden.
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.
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.
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.
Scottish ministers defend Budget impact on councils
Scottish Government ministers have defended the impact of country’s Budget on councils amid warnings town halls face soaring costs.
Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig need to cut Peppa Pig some slack
Did the secretary of state Michael Gove signal last week that some functions or powers are going to be stripped away from districts and gifted to elected mayors, asks Ian Miller.
Levelling up locally to bridge the divides
What kind of plan should the levelling up White Paper set out, and where will urban leaders and their cities fit in? Paul Swinney lists the new programmes required.
Ring-fenced funds are not well suited to the roaring demand challenges of the twenties
By doing away with ring-fences all together, local partners would be freed up to collaborate and share more power and resource directly with communities, argues Jessica Studdert.
To level up we need to invest in the place-based skills of councils
What is the best way to ensure that the Levelling Up Fund actually improves everyday life in the UK, asks Pooja Agrawal of Public Practice.
Council apologises for mould and damp
Hammersmith & Fulham LBC has vowed to improve its performance on mould and damp after it came top of a league table for maladministration.
The lost decade
Michael Burton outlines why his latest book aims to explain the socio-economic and political undercurrents that led to Brexit, the election of Boris Johnson and the levelling up agenda.
A mixed fiscal bag for councils
Isn't it ironic that a chancellor devoted to low taxes has funded a bonanza Budget through taxes that will soon reach their highest level since the 1950s, says Heather Jameson.
'Salford is the world’s best levelling up opportunity’
Tom Stannard talks to Heather Jameson about why connecting communities and levelling up can’t be done just by the council and must involve Government investment in public services.
Protecting tenants the Bristol way
Bristol City Council’s Rogue Landlord Unit has saved 345 tenancies in two years, says Shona Ali. She reports on a survey of councils and looks at long-term solutions to ensure protection for all renters.
Just when you thought it was safe
The first multi-year public finance settlement for many years might not answer every question, but could clear the decks for what lies beyond the deep blue sea of the next General Election, says Jonathan Werran.
Investing to deliver clean and green streets in Birmingham
Despite the city’s well-publicised challenges Birmingham City Council has taken the bold decision this year to invest a further £7.2 million into services as part of its Cleaner Greener Streets campaign. Cllr John O’Shea explains.
The local government workforce: equal by default
The APSE Commission message is clear: we need a well-trained, properly rewarded workforce to meet local public services’ future challenges, says Heather Wakefield.
Workforce churn will continue for some time, say sector experts
Recruitment experts have warned the COVID-19 pandemic could mean workforce churn in the sector persists for some time to come.
Mind the gap
An increasing number of senior managers in local government have announced their retirement and councils are finding it harder to recruit. Martin Ford examines the challenges and looks towards solutions.
Levelling up will not work without sustainable council funding
Rhetoric and big cash injections for large infrastructure projects are not the answer to the urgent issues councils and communities are facing, says Dr Arianna Giovannini.
