Communities
Help to Buy and the future of demand
John Keyes says the housing industry has a collective responsibility to prepare for Help to Buy’s discontinuation and councils are a key part of this as policy makers and increasingly as a direct provider of homes.
Co-designing the West Midlands’ future democracy with young people
Cllr Brigid Jones says this week - which includes International Youth Day - is a fitting time to reflect on why the West Midlands Combined Authority has launched the Young Combined Authority.
Council chief says protest 'was not in any way aimed at people of Indian heritage'
The chief executive of Luton BC Robin Porter has said he is reassured a march in the town following heightened tensions in Kashmir ‘was organised out of genuine concern for the people living in the area’.
Social enterprise can play a part in reshaping our high streets
Nicola Steuer explains how the School for Social Entrepreneurs and its partners are using a new form of grant funding called Match Trading aimed at focusing social enterprises and community businesses on growth
Good lives for good people
Working at a neighbourhood level, Wakefield Council is forging a better future for its residents and their communities, says Anna Hartley
Reforming social care is a ‘whole society problem’
Dr Jonathan Carr-West asks if strengths-based approaches to caring for older people could actually obscure the sort of systemic change we need.
Rewards of cross-party collaboration
Kathy O'Leary says that with trust in national politicians at an all-time low, local government is thinking more about its relevance to the communities it serves through collaboration that begins with putting people and place first.
Trust in planners 'almost non-existent'
Public trust in councils to make planning decisions in the best interests of communities is ‘almost non-existent,’ research has found.
Ten years of shining a light on the exceptional work of councillors
The Local Government Information Unit’s (LGiU) Cllr Achievement Awards – now in their 10th year – are the only national awards to honour the hard work and dedication of councillors. Dr Jonathan Carr-West, chief executive of the LGiU, tells us more.
Being creative local leaders is more important than ever
In the context of the current funding risks and uncertainty, councils need to be thinking even more creatively about how they can take a leadership role in terms of solving some of the issues facing our communities, argues Adele Taylor.
Use Brexit to rewrite public sector procurement rules
A new paper from the New Local Government Network (NLGN) says Brexit should be used as an opportunity to rewrite procurement rules to put communities at the heart of commissioning.
Turning Communities into Catalysts for Change
The New Local Government Network's new report provides answers on how an innovative model of commissioning public services that places communities at the heart of delivery can be achieved, says Trinley Walker.
Call for councils to strengthen their involvement with the Armed Forces Covenant
Leader of Warwickshire CC Izzie Seccombe has outlined a number of ways to boost the role local government can play in strengthening the Armed Forces Covenant .
Put communities in charge of public service inspection
Adam Lent considers the merits of ‘replacing inspectors swooping in and out every few years’ with a community-led approach that focuses on ongoing improvement, not just one-off inspection.
Making cities emotionally intelligent places
Europe’s first ‘urban psychology’ summit looked at how we might make cities that better help people develop from pre-birth onwards. Chris Murray outlines the key points from the agenda-setting event.
Communities know best
The New Local Government Network has been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to its call for a social movement of public servants and communities, writes Donna Hall
Community support key to Co-operative Council of the Year accolade
South Tyneside Council has become Co-operative Council of the Year. Its leader Cllr Iain Malcolm, explains just what the accolade means – and says it is a testament to those in communities who’ve stepped forward to support people and place.
Regeneration schemes need to be about more than bricks and mortar
Damian White outlines how Havering Council's joint venture housing regeneration scheme for 3,000 new homes will deliver social value through increased investment in local SMEs, education, training and skills.
It’s our time to step up
Donna Hall asks what local government and other public services can do to ‘glue society back together in our localities’ in the ‘complete absence of national social policy’.
Searching locally for the antidote to populism
How can local government leaders help cohesive communities to flourish in a time of growing populism and in the middle of a central political and policy vacuum? Ann McGauran reports