Coronavirus
Making council tax fairer is a good place to start on levelling up
If the Government wants to level-up, fostering inclusive growth and recovery across the country, making council tax fairer would be a good place to begin, argue Zoe Billingham and John Dudding.
Watford is taking care of business
Marie Power outlines Watford BC’s approach to ensuring their business community survives, revives and thrives in the face of the COVID-19 challenge.
Filling in the gaps
The Government has launched an independent inquiry into children’s social care in England, amid calls for a cross-Government commission into the impact of COVID-19 on the young. What do sector experts hope could be achieved? Ann McGauran reports.
Conservative MPs refuse to vote down hike in council tax
Conservative MPs last night refused to vote against a rise in council tax that a poll says is opposed by nearly half (48%) of adults in England.
Uncertain future for migrant rough sleepers
MPs have raised concerns about the future of rough sleepers with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) due to their visa status during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pandemic procurement failings and how technology can help
Through leveraging digital marketplace technology, the Government would be able to ensure items are procured both quickly and at a low cost, says Garry Jones.
A ‘bottom up’ response to Brexit
Paul Frainer thinks we are at a crossroads economically, socially and environmentally, ‘and Brexit is just one part of that complex system’.
What can the vaccine roll-out learn from test and trace?
John Atkinson and David Nabarro say the vaccination programme should combine the scale and capacity of national approaches with a need for precision – and that local government is the critical layer in getting this right.
Business rates are past their sell-by date
Business rates are an unsustainable way to fund local government, argues chair of SIGOMA Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton, and he believes what cannot be delivered locally from council tax should be met from national taxation.
Hand in hand to collaboration
Sir Bob Neill says a local, bottom-up approach has already shown itself to be the way forward for test and trace, ‘and central Government must now place its trust in local leaders to expedite the vaccine rollout’.
Government accused of hypocrisy over election campaigning
The Government has been accused of hypocrisy for ruling the local elections can go ahead, but restricting councillors’ ability to campaign.
Government should invest wisely to harness ‘robot power’
Steve Carefull examines how we can create the conditions for initiatives such as cobots to be scaled into the mainstream to mitigate the UK’s social care workforce challenge.
Local authorities and coronavirus
Tiffany Cloynes and Clare Hardy of Geldards look at the implications of the pandemic for the way local authorities operate, and the adjustments they need to make.
Vaccine communication for citizens: What role can councils play?
The vaccine rollout is possibly the biggest challenge many council communications professionals will be part of in their lifetime, says Karen Steel. She offers advice on how to approach it.
Jenrick tells leaders to prepare for May elections
Council leaders have urged the Government to reconsider pressing ahead with local elections in May.
How COVID confirmed Greater Manchester’s focus on people not programmes
Daisy Carter outlines how the citizen experience across Greater Manchester changed during COVID and shows the impact of ‘doing things quite differently’.
May elections to go ahead as chiefs call for indemnity
Local elections will go ahead on 6 May despite the ongoing pandemic, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ruled.
Our third Integrated Care Systems model would be a real ‘partnership of equals’
The cross-party Health Devolution Commission is proposing a ‘democratic third way’ on integrated care. Steve Barwick and Phil Hope explain.
New management structure to lead Luton’s 2020-2040 vision
Luton BC has restructured its top management team to focus on its flagship Luton 2020-2040 vision for eradicating poverty in the town.
Unprecedented, but definitely not on Mute
Julie Towers of Penna looks back on 2020 and the legacy impact on the people agenda.
