Brexit
New Inclusive Growth Network to drive local economic recovery
Launched today, the Inclusive Growth Network will showcase the successes of local leaders in delivering a better, bolder vision for people and places across the UK, says Charlotte Alldritt.
Frustration bubbles over wait for Brexit bonanza
The Government runs the risk of ‘levelling up everywhere at rock bottom’ as uncertainty continues to reign over funding for the regions months after Brexit.
Is there the political will to push through reorganisation?
Simon Clarke's unexpected resignation as local government minister begs the question of what happens now on devolution and reorganisation, says Heather Jameson. There are many reasons why restructuring is a problem, she adds.
A Programme of change for Scotland
Scotland’s new Programme for Government offered Indyref 2 as the showstopper, but for local government across the UK the focus will be on the findings of a review to consider the move to a National Care Service. Heather Jameson reports.
Taxing questions on a flawed system
The Treasury announced a call for evidence on business rates. Martin Ford speaks to experts about the system’s flaws, and whether the Government can enact radical change in a time of coronavirus and Brexit.
The complexity conundrum
John O'Brien says there must be some clear line of sight from the Government on the role of the sector in renewal 'and contributing to tackling the big national challenges we all face'.
Moving from the sprint to the heptathlon
Jon Ainger offers five recommendations for depleted management teams looking to make better recovery decisions in the short term.
Preparing for the storms ahead
As communities face a triple threat this winter of COVID-19, councils’ precarious finances and potential flooding, Sharon Kemp urges the Government to empower councils to be responsive to the problems ahead.
EXCLUSIVE: Lib Dem leadership candidates in reorganisation warning
The Lib Dem leadership candidates have both warned against the Government’s plans to force through reorganisation without proper consideration.
COVID-19 has driven home the huge importance of locality
Cllr John Fuller says the pace of innovation in solving final mile problems has shown that 'local governance is much more than the analysis of numbers and spreadsheets - locality is key.
EXCLUSIVE: Stretched LRFs in cash plea
Stretched local resilience forums (LRF) have pleaded for cash amid warnings a lack of funding is hindering their planning for the next crisis.
Government told to recommit to local industrial strategies
Local industrial strategies (LIS) should be the ‘starting point for economic recovery plans,’ the Government has been told.
IFS issues warning over EU funding
Funding from Brussels for the UK’s poorest regions may have to roll over another year if the Government continues to prevaricate over its replacement post-Brexit, warns a report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Language locked down
As George Orwell famously highlighted in his classic book 1984, language has the power in politics to mask the truth and mislead the public.
Start devolution plans with a vision and purpose to unite
On plans for devolution, care should be taken not to start with structures and short- term initiatives, as important as they are, says Lawrence Conway. A future filled with hope, confidence and prosperity for the whole nation must surely be the entry point, he adds.
Councils in fresh Brexit warning
Scotland’s council leaders today warned that the lack of progress on Brexit talks posed a ‘significant risk’ to local government services.
EXCLUSIVE: No-deal Brexit planning would 'overwhelm' emergency response
Planning for a no-deal Brexit at the end of this year would ‘overwhelm’ the country’s emergency response capacity, the Government has been warned in a leaked report.
EXCLUSIVE: Local areas left in the dark by government
Central government excluded local partners from key intelligence and failed to share enough information, hampering the response to coronavirus, an interim operational review leaked to The MJ has found.
Risky business (rates)
The chaps and chapesses at the Foreign Office recently completed their annual naming and shaming of foreign delegations in serious arrears with business rates.
EXCLUSIVE: Table-top exercise to ensure resilience forums are ready
All local resilience forums (LRF) will have to carry out a table-top exercise to ensure they are ready for the reasonable worst-case scenario coronavirus could bring.
