Brexit
Third council in biometrics warning
A third council has warned it faces potential fallout from new entry checks at UK borders earmarked for October.
Keeping the faith
As local government battles with budgets and rising demand, Heather Jameson spoke to Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan about what he wants to see from the next government.
Local leadership: the trans-Atlantic lessons
Dominic Campbell offers insights ahead of the trans-Atlantic Transformations panel at the Solace Summit, looking at how the UK and the US have addressed the challenges of the last decade.
Red tape risk to levelling up
New rules around subsidies risk holding back levelling up efforts, according to analysis published today.
Investing in the future – the challenge and opportunity
Julie Towers shares her experience of future talent development and the impact of the Penna Aspirant Chief Executive Programme.
Can we refocus on public service reform now?
Part of the challenge for governments in tackling poverty is to enable everyone to work together to do their bit - and many of the levers needed to support a family or individual out of poverty sit at the local level, says Andrew Laird.
Is basic income the answer?
As chief executives gather for the annual Solace Wales conference, Amanda Hill-Dixon looks at the Welsh Government’s experiment with universal basic income and what it could do to alleviate the cost of living crisis.
Serving up a food strategy
Local authorities are increasingly playing a more prominent role in creating healthy, sustainable food systems, says Leticija Petrovic.
One size doesn’t fit all
Megan Streb shows how evidence can be used to better tailor local growth policy, while emphasising the importance of focusing on the right things and being realistic about impacts.
Local policy in uncertain times
Dr Tom Arnold says local policymakers are grappling with complex challenges in uncertain times, and universities have a role to play in developing useful tools in support.
Time for a new approach?
When it comes to attracting talent, Stephen Hoban asks if we are trying to plan for tomorrow with yesterday’s strategy?
Enough chaos and confusion, now we need solutions
No one got everything right during the pandemic, but the early days showed a failure of central Government to understand local circumstances, social care and getting support to people on the ground, says Heather Jameson.
Hancock: Whitehall oversight of care was terrible
Whitehall oversight of adult social care before Covid-19 was ‘terrible’ and officials had no understanding of whether councils could cope, former health secretary Matt Hancock admitted today.
When will we give social care the attention it deserves?
Could the Fabian Society's plans for a national care service be one of the first signs of a political policy as we take a long walk towards the next General Election, asks Heather Jameson - Or will the subject remain toxic to political parties?
The ABC election
In his elections round-up, Duncan Flynn says the Conservatives not only lost badly, their pre-election expectation management game was dismal too.
What councils need are genuine powers at local level
The spring Budget pledged to put local government back at the heart of economic growth, but the Government needs to scrap the pointless competitive bidding for cash and give local authorities fiscal autonomy and certainty, says Heather Jameson.
UK growth 'held back by Brexit and central control'
The UK is hindering economic growth by getting things wrong – including Brexit – an international urban policy expert has told The MJ.
Where next for public servants?
A decade ago, the 21st Century Public Servant project looked at the changing nature of work in local public services and how to adapt practice in the future. Professor Catherine Needham looks at how the research is being updated.
Pay 'putting off potential new finance recruits'
Lower levels of pay in the public sector are discouraging finance professionals from entering local government and could hinder its capacity, experts have warned.
LGPS consultants accused of 'group-think'
An independent expert has accused the big consultants of ‘group-think’ as he called for more Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) assets to be invested in Britain.