Coronavirus
Santa or the Grinch? No quick fix for fail finances
Heather Jameson says: 'It all comes back to the same issues over and again for local government. The funding system is fundamentally broken.'
Autumn Statement: what lies behind the promises?
Despite a few helpful announcements from the chancellor in relation to cost of living and hospitality the reality is the overall outlook for Westminster residents remains difficult, says Cllr Adam Hug.
Partnerships will unlock potential of Oxfordshire’s children
Children and young people are at the heart of Oxfordshire’s partnership approach – a shared vision to give them the very best start in life, says Cllr John Howson.
Rotheram threatened over Covid restrictions
Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram was assigned 24-hour police security after he received threats during the Covid pandemic, he revealed today.
Why prioritising EDI is business-critical
If we want the benefits of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) it has to be worked on as a priority and be baked into the DNA of our culture, says Gordon McFarlane.
Creative solution are emerging to enable the leisure sector to thrive
The financial difficulties of the last few years have led many leisure centres to the edge of closure. William Benson sets out the challenges but says there is still plenty of room for optimism.
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.
Prevention is still better than cure
Solving the public health crisis means preventing the next one, and looking beyond the NHS, according to Ruth Luscombe.
Councils moved through crisis with warmth and grace
Local government’s regulatory decision-making framework may often be perceived by those outside of its service as cumbersome, but look at the alternative, says Mo Baines.
Beware the rise of conspiracy theories in our local politics
Conspiracy theories thrive in the absence of transparency and effective communication, says Jessica Studdert. 'Part of the answer must lie in more, not fewer opportunities for public participation in decisions and building buy-in over trade-offs.'
White van man on... the Covid Inquiry
Everyone knows the Government made a right pig’s ear of Covid, but that’s no surprise since Westminster politicians and Whitehall pen-pushers couldn’t run a bath.
Shaping the post-pandemic workforce
The Society of Personnel and Development Scotland (SPDS), which represents HR professionals across most of Scotland’s 32 councils, meets this week for its annual conference in St Andrews. Outgoing president Jane Fowler and incoming president Elaine Barrie outline the workforce challenges.
The sector faces a perfect storm
An overhaul of the improvement and intervention system is long overdue and must urgently take place, says Claire Kober.
Keeping a closer eye on the data
Are councils making use of data to streamline services? Certainly the Government, in launching Oflog, believes there is more potential. At a recent round table debate data experts from local authorities discussed the challenges. Martin Ford reports on the highlights.
Putting prevention first
Abigail Langley puts the high level of strategic priority placed on prevention in South Norfolk and Broadland under the spotlight, but she says investment does not match collective ambitions and localities’ needs.
The only path out of our recruitment and retention crisis is investment in people
Graeme McDonald says the sector's investment in people has a way to travel to get back to the levels those now in leadership roles considered the norm when they began their careers.
LGA claims ‘so much more could have been done’ in pandemic
Councils were held back from effectively tackling the challenges of the pandemic by central Government, it has been claimed.
A springboard to better wellbeing
Social prescribing is about more than health and represents a chance to transform relationships towards real co-production of community wellbeing, says Dr Koen Bartels.
Growth: the big issue
As we enter election season a national growth plan is needed now, delivered with and by places, says Ben Lucas. He sets out four key opportunities that could be catalysed through a new focus on local growth.
Party conferences are a golden opportunity for districts
In party conference season the hope is that collectively councillors can influence their party’s leadership, relevant think-tanks, MPs and prospective MPs, says chairman of the District Councils' Network Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen.
