Communities
We will do everything we can to save lives
The national COVID-19 emergency is seeing the very best of our councils and our workforces and we have a ‘unique and vital role to play’, says Martin Swales.
The work of local government has become ‘even more urgent’
The coronavirus pandemic is highlighting ‘the very best of councils and our workforces’, according to president of Solace UK Martin Swales.
5 recommendations for managing a different type of crisis
Jon Ainger offers five recommendations for public sector leaders who are able to take a moment to look at what happens after this initial period of crisis.
Staying afloat while rocking the boat
Katy Oglethorpe says the context may have ‘shifted unimaginably’ in the fortnight since hundreds gathered in London’s Guildhall united by a commitment to community power – ‘but its value has been exposed as even more pressing today’.
Now is not the time for Westminster to tighten its centralising grip
Reducing the spread of the virus requires Westminster to loosen the reins of power and to trust decision-makers in local and combined authorities to know what is right for their communities, argues Sarah Longlands.
We won't let our citizens down
Lawrence Conway says South Lakeland DC is 'asking our teams to be flexible about how they work and respond positively to the changes we are making - we will do this with our partners, and support our communities in any way we can'.
How critical is the census?
With the next census due to take place next year, just how crucial is it to local authorities’ abilities to plan services? Chris Mahony examines the issues.
Pulling together to help those in need
Jacqui Gedman tells Dan Peters that Kirkless MBC is up to the challenge of COVID-19, but it is ‘much bigger than the council – it’s a real community effort’.
A powerful light at the end of the tunnel
These are the most challenging times most of us have lived through, says Donna Hall – and ‘we can choose to close down or swim towards the light of a new community power at the precious heart of our public services’.
EXCLUSIVE: Coronavirus hubs must be ready to step in if system fails - Jenrick
The network of hubs being created to support people at very high risk amid the coronavirus crisis must be ready to help with crucial deliveries, local government secretary Robert Jenrick has said.
Let's have no shortsightedness about the scale of the COVID-19 challenge
In rising to the challenge thrust upon us by COVID-19 some of what we are likely to be tasked with will be incredibly hard and our own capacity and resilience will be hit hard too, says John O'Brien of London Councils.
The wellbeing of individuals and their wider community is key
COVID-19 has put public health at the top of the nation's priorities, and it's vital to remember that the wellbeing of individuals and their wider community are key to creating a place-based agenda, writes Sheila Oxtoby.
Social infrastructure needs funding too
Stephen Evans argues that for devolution to have the biggest impact, it must be about all regions – but he says the importance of cities is not determined solely by economic impact.
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.
We need to invest in social infrastructure to tackle health inequality
Writing on Social Prescribing Day, Fay Holland says we need to invest in public health budgets and services if we are to strengthen the social infrastructure of communities.
Budget did not reflect the importance of communities, says NLGN chair
The Budget underplayed the role of individuals and communities, and local areas are ‘now at a point where we need to get community power done’, says the chair of the New Local Government Network (NLGN).
Building communities for change
In order to deliver sustainable and impactful change we need to take a whole place-based approach that involves deep understanding of what each group within a network contributes, says creative director at FutureGov Robbie Bates.
A tough balancing act for councils
Managing and mitigating the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on local communities poses a huge challenge for councils, but it’s one they’ve been planning for. Naomi Larsson reports.
Councils step up coronavirus response
Local authorities across the country have stepped up their response to coronavirus as the number of cases continues to rise.
Scottish ministers hit out at UK austerity
Scottish ministers have blamed UK austerity measures for the financial difficulties facing councils north of the border.