Local democracy
The true voice of the councillor
Rachel Wall and Colin Copus summarise the findings of a large-scale study of the challenges and ever-evolving tasks facing councillors today.rachel
Regardless of leadership style, being human is essential
Following the leadership response to the Grenfell tragedy, Julie Towers says the human touch is an underestimated trait and yet is the most powerful.
Javid: Sector must rebuild public trust
Councils have been warned they are facing a ‘looming crisis in confidence’ in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire by communities secretary Sajid Javid.
Watering the seed of a stronger local democracy
The recommendations in the Kirklees Democracy Commission could help shape how both local and national democracy could develop over the next decade, writes Carl Whistlecraft.
Brokering constructive conversations
Co-production and engaging with residents can help implement new models of care, at a time when the issues are at their most ‘wicked’, writes Ewan King.
Community capacity and the role of the state
Most council transformation plans feature a section on ‘community capacity building,’ but what does that mean and how should it be done? Graham Duxbury explains
‘There is more that unites us than divides us’
Echoing the words of the late Jo Cox MP, Bob Neill argues a cross-party, cross-government approach in Whitehall and town halls can help solve some of the country’s most complex challenges.
Government rejects call for intervention in tower blaze council
The Government has rejected calls for commissioners to run Kensington & Chelsea RLBC after it was blamed for mishandling the response to the Grenfell Tower fire.
Lower-tier councils pull out of Sheffield devolution deal
Bassetlaw DC has become the second lower-tier council to back away from participation in the Sheffield city region’s devolution bid.
A manifesto for local government
Professor Colin Copus thrashes out his own ‘manifesto for local government’ after seeing the low key focus on the sector given by the big political parties in their election statements.
Building trust in a post-truth age
Local government must lead the way in a new world where truth is no longer the gold standard, writes Dr Jonathan Carr-West
The beating heart of politics now rests in the suburbs and shires
In spite of the urban centres growing in population, we will see a transfer of political representation from the towns to the shires on an unprecedented scale from 2018 onwards, claims Paul Wheeler.
We have to marry our numbers and our words correctly
Getting the narrative right on our annual finances, as well as the potential future impact, is more important than ever, writes Adele Taylor.
Chiefs back electoral registration changes
Council chief executives have backed calls for improvements to electoral registration amid reports that some areas were bombarded with duplicate applications.
Strengthening local democracy
In a final article written before he died last month, George Jones and fellow author John Stewart argued that local representative democracy is being eroded.
Tory ID check plan could 'put people off voting'
Plans in the Conservative manifesto to introduce voter identification across the UK are ‘overbearing and counterproductive,’ electoral campaigners have argued.
Resetting our relationship with residents
What is the role of the state? Alex Bailey explains how Adur and Worthing councils are creating platforms upon which communities can build happy, healthy, prosperous and connected places.
Respecting the will of the people
Misreading the newly-invigorated electorate has become far too common. The political debate has been reframed through the Brexit prism and the wishes of the people need to be respected, writes Claire Fox.
Labour is sick but it is not yet terminal
Labour is like a very ill patient that refuses to die, but Ben Page predicts the party's demise is some way off.
Burnham’s integration vow over GM health and care
Andy Burnham has vowed to drive ‘further and deeper’ integration in Greater Manchester as he pushes health and social care towards a single system.