Communities
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.
NLGN report offers four ways for mobilising mutual aid
Four strategies for rapidly mobilising local mutual aid groups to ensure the most vulnerable have what they need to get through the pandemic are outlined in a new report from the NLGN.
The key to cutting demand? Mobilise communities
Luca Tiratelli says a new report from the NLGN shows how councils can stop the crisis of demand from spiralling further out of control by allowing communities to be more active.
Hackney’s Windrush legacy
Hackney will now have two pieces of public artwork that will act as a permanent reminder to everyone who walks past about how the Windrush generation has enriched Britain, says Cllr Carole Williams.
We need to talk about this emergency and others to come
As we move into the next phases of the COVID-19 response, the Red Cross's Norman McKinley looks at lessons learnt, and how to make sure access to food is central to emergency planning.
The very big and the very small
Chief executive of Shared Lives Plus Alex Fox outlines three ways we might move from thinking big to thinking small as the crisis moves into its ‘new normal’ phase.
Using collective intelligence to address climate change
In the last in an essay series, Peter Baeck and Sophie Reynolds of Nesta consider how to use the wisdom of citizens to mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change in cities.
Mutual aid, councils and finding compatibility
Thousands of mutual aid groups have emerged from the pandemic. The NLGN's latest report recommends councils act as a supportive platform, says Luca Tiratelli. He considers what better systems might look like, and extracts some lessons.
Making ‘green’ core to every policy and activity
Davy Jones and John Tizard present a plan for nurturing greener accessible places in ways that are equitable, tackle inequality, secure decent jobs and address sustainability.
Building on citizen power
The Local Area Co-ordination Network is dedicated to helping people find solutions to complex challenges through local resources rather than service interventions, as Professor Donna Hall and Nick Sinclair explain.
Think tank calls for sweeping reforms to local taxes
A group of former Treasury special advisers have called for revaluation of the council tax and reform of business rates to boost the economy post-COVID-19.
Supporting more democratic, responsive urban planning and design
In one of a series of essays on how the wisdom of citizens could support councils in managing cities after COVID-19, Peter Baeck and Sophie Reynolds look at the urban planning and design process - and share inspiring examples from across the world.
Luton forced into unavoidable cuts
Luton BC’s boss has said the council has done all it can but has no other choice than to cut 365 jobs and frontline services.
Councils call for clarity on local lockdowns
Councils this week called for clarity on the legal powers they will have if they are forced to implement local coronavirus lockdowns.
The 2020 Public Services Commission: 10 years after
Ben Lucas and Dr Henry Kippin assess the work of the 2020 Public Services Commission. They also address how society can recover from the coronavirus crisis, and argue the need for a different economic model if we want to build back better.
Government warned on cohesion threats
Whitehall has been warned that community tensions could erupt further as the concerns of Black Lives Matters protesters are fuelled by emerging coronavirus inequalities.
LGA asked to act on community cohesion
Council leaders have spoken of their concern about rising tensions within their communities.
Successful community initiatives should not depend on having friends in high places
Success in working with councils depends on knowing committed insiders, says Luca Tiratelli of the New Local Government Network.
What have we learned from London councils’ response to COVID-19?
Rebecca Eligon and transformation lead colleagues from councils across London write of their ‘deep pride’ in the way local government has ‘really stepped up’ in response to COVID-19.
The Future of Local Government – no way back
The findings of a survey on the future impact of COVID-19 on councils provide an opportunity to consider ways to level up how services are delivered, says John Knight.
