Coronavirus
Post-pandemic planning for the core cities
Chief executives and directors from the UK’s biggest cities debated their challenges and opportunities in a round table discussion organised by Core Cities UK and The MJ, supported by BT. Paul Marinko reports.
Will new Levelling Up Fund round repeat ‘beauty contest’?
Dr Nicola Headlam says the Government may have renewed its commitment to empower local leaders but as yet the reality does not match the rhetoric on funding for local growth.
Future Forum: No end in sight for funding pots
Two local government finance experts have predicted Whitehall will continue doling out cash through competitive pots.
Future Forum: Government must do more to help those on lowest incomes
The Government has failed to do enough for those on the lowest incomes, a top economist has told The MJ’s Future Forum event.
Count on culture not cash
With inflation outstripping planned wage increases, it will be the culture, working for an innovative authority, in a community – ultimately the job satisfaction – that will attract and keep good people in local government, says Heather Jameson.
Actions speak louder than words
Ross Mudie and Annabel Smith argue that plunging yet more people into hardship will lead to a rise in deprivation within the places most in need of levelling up – and make achieving several of the Government’s levelling up missions unfeasible.
The voluntary sector is not a surrogate for the state
Councils can and must show leadership to tackle the deep challenges of the years ahead – but a healthy and dynamic relationship with the local VCS also has a critical role to play, explains John Tizard.
Providing the wealth for renewal
The Government will be considering Community Wealth Funds in its consultation on the future beneficiaries of dormant assets funding. Rayhan Haque explains why such a fund is part of the ‘secret sauce’ to make levelling up a success.
Leaning in to leadership in districts
The DCN staff development programme has been relaunched after a pause during COVID. Bill Cullen sets out why we must nurture the next generation of council rising stars, while current and former participants talk about what they’ve gained.
Hybrid working is here to stay
The end of the nine-to-five routine is driven by economic forces, not the indolent public sector workers of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s imagination, says Michael Burton.
Call for remote meetings after COVID controversy
Calls for new powers enabling councils to hold remote and hybrid meetings have been renewed after a meeting was aborted over COVID concerns.
Government urged to overhaul public health laws
Public health leaders have the Government to overhaul legislation as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) sheds temporary workers taken on during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discharging patients into care homes was 'unlawful,' High Court rules
The High Court today ruled the Government’s policy of discharging patients from hospitals to care homes at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic was unlawful.
Planning for the new workforce
Hybrid working and chronic shortages mean councils need to radically rethink their workforce strategies. Michael Burton talks to Gordon McFarlane, the new president of the association representing HR professionals, about what lies ahead.
Doing the right thing for children
With the direction of the Government’s policies for schools and SEND becoming clearer, the new president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services Steve Crocker speaks to Ann McGauran about his priorities for the next year.
Embedding service resilience in a post-pandemic world
What are the issues facing councils as they return to some form of post-pandemic normality and start to rebuild front line services? Michael Burton reports on a round table debate on the challenges to creating and maintaining service resilience.
Better Outcomes, Better Lives in Manchester
Bernadette Enright says Manchester is starting to see the impact of its programme of transformational change for adult social care, including improved outcomes and the ability to reinvest in services
Shared effort can create beautiful outcomes
In North Yorkshire, communities stand in solidarity with Ukrainians as a symbol of hope that even in darkness, light will prevail, says Paul Shevlin.
Why do we bother with elections?
Forces beyond the control of the government of your country or local area will have a major role in determining what happens in your life, says Dan Corry. So why do we fight so hard for our right to cast our vote?
Good financial management is the secret to successful integration
Adopting a whole-systems approach will be key to the success of Integrated Care Systems. However, to be effective this must be driven by all partners at all levels of leadership, says Rob Whiteman.
