Emergency planning
In emergencies, we need to plug the gaps in the social safety net
Discretionary cash support must be included in the toolbox for any major emergency response, says British Red Cross hardship fund programme manager Alex Ballard.
The case for virtual meetings
Jackie Weaver – star of Handforth Parish Council’s viral meeting – argues the case for stepping out of the dark ages and allowing councils to hold their meetings online.
Shielding scheme took too long to identify up to 800,000, says PAC
MPs have hit out at the Government’s ‘quickly drawn up’ COVID-19 shielding programme for taking too long to identify up to 800,000 people who may have missed out on help.
From recovery to social repair – the role of community in post-disaster recovery
In each community there are mechanisms, innovation and forms of support that must be listened to and engaged with directly if urgent and sustained recovery from COVID-19 is to be a success, says Emily Morrison.
Running the relay marathon
Over this past year the ability to recognise which type of leadership is appropriate to which stage of the crisis has been crucial, says Jo Davidson. She highlights the need to think in three time horizons, through to the very long-term.
Leading through a most peculiar crisis
Strategic director of communities and reform at Oldham MBC Rebekah Sutcliffe looks at the impact of the pandemic on local leadership and integrated partnership working.
One year on, councils will be central to recovery
After an extraordinary year, council staff are exhausted, worn down and facing further cuts, says Heather Jameson. But she has no doubt they will continue to rise to the challenge 'whether it is in an office, at home or on a laptop anywhere'.
Flood recovery funding calls rejected
The Government has ruled out releasing national funds for flood recovery in the wake of Storm Christoph.
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.
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’.
Help pledged for councils fighting floods
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick has promised to back councils as they tackle flooding in the wake of Storm Christoph.
Planning for when the blight lifts
Westminster City Council’s leader Rachael Robathan says the central Government funding system to help businesses stand on their own two feet must be in place when lockdown eventually lifts.
Pandemic’s route to devolution
We must use what has been learned from COVID-19 to agree a new relationship with Government, based on a shared commitment to devolution, argues Anthony May.
Top insights on adversity
Leadership in local government was tested in 2020 like never before. Here, chief executives reflect on the lessons they will take with them into this year and beyond. Ann McGauran reports.
Our councils are our true heroes - now is the time to shine the spotlight on them
When councils had to step up during COVID-19, they ‘leapt up’ says Sean Anstee. Here he explains why Cratus has decided to sponsor a new Community Hero category in the The MJ Awards.
Councils should have key role in getting jabs to the vulnerable, says public health chief
Councils’ knowledge is crucial in order to ‘get the vaccine to people’ in homes and workplaces, rather than expecting the vulnerable to travel for jabs, says Liverpool’s public health chief.
Councils’ knowledge should be fully utilised in vaccine rollout
Empowering local areas to deliver the rollout of the COVID vaccine could make a major difference to uptake and effectiveness, argues Liverpool’s public health chief Matthew Ashton.
Give local councils freedoms on workforce vaccination
Councils need the freedoms and flexibilities to determine which parts of their workforce should be prioritised for vaccination, whether they fit the official ‘key worker’ definition or not, says Paul Najsarek.
Hats off to those who have worked tirelessly on the pandemic frontline
The efforts of local government at the pandemic frontline during the past year have been nothing short of heroic, says Heather Jameson. 'Never have local authorities been so ambitious, so innovative and so committed', she adds.
Key role for local government vital to vaccination rollout
The sector, through its talented staff, elected representatives and influencers should be fully utilised to guarantee the success of the COVID vaccine rollout, says Allen Graham.
