Localis
Innovation’s ingredient
Jonathan Werran says we should look ahead to what the Autumn Statement will offer to incentivise the private sector to invest more, to reskill and innovate.
UK comes under pressure to adopt rights charter
Local leaders will continue to be ‘heavily constrained’ until the UK follows through on its promise to guarantee the rights of local government in law, a sector expert has warned.
Zero progress on climate but devo can keep things on track
The Levelling Up White Paper’s relative silence on net zero represents a huge missed opportunity – unless the devolution genie is quickly let out of the bottle, writes Grace Newcombe.
Consistent craving
Ministerial decisions to upend long-term policy commitments are the enemy of local economic planning and public service reform, writes Jonathan Werran.
Southern comfort
Localis chief executive Jonathan Werran outlines a new report setting a possible future course for local government across South East England in adapting to challenges as diverse as Brexit, climate change, COVID and the Levelling Up White Paper.
South East needs 'unified' approach to create a devolution framework
Government must rethink the assumption that directing investment away from an ‘overheated’ South East will ‘cool’ the region and ‘heat’ the rest of the country, a report has warned today.
On the level?
Has the Levelling Up White Paper failed to create the shared ambition across tiers of local government that’s needed to advance places’ prosperity? Martin Ford reports.
The White Paper that goes wrong
Launching a new levelling up essay collection, head of research at Localis Joe Fyans says bypassing local leadership is the White Paper's fatal flaw.
Government is failing to set out councils' role in delivering net zero, say MPs
MPs have hit out at the Government’s ‘apparent lack of urgency’ in clarifying how it will work with local government to achieve net zero.
Net zero culture war
A localist and levelling up aligned approach to decarbonisation is all that stands between us and the threat of a net zero culture war, writes Jonathan Werran.
Councils are more than a crisis management tool
A more collaborative approach between central and local government on the distribution of the Additional Restrictions Grant may have resulted in a more effective process, says head of research at Localis Joe Fyans.
Still no fiscal fix
What is missing from the Levelling Up White Paper, can its targets can be met and how does the Government intend to increase its grip on how local services are doing? Heather Jameson reports.
New accountability body 'stops short' of Audit Commission reinvention
Plans for a body to oversee the accountability of local government stop just short of re-inventing the Audit Commission, according to experts.
Government commits to future of LEPs
Local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) are to be integrated into devolution deals as part of the Levelling Up White Paper.
Throwing off the manacles
Jonathan Werran asks what would an unmasked sense of truly local empowerment look and feel like – a rooted politics which gave true play to our human potential?
Levelling up transparency call amid funding row
Whitehall officials were this week facing renewed pressure over how the Levelling Up Fund was doled out amid allegations about the allocation of public funding.
EXCLUSIVE: NAO to consider early intervention report
The National Audit Office (NAO) is to consider a report on early intervention and prevention after lobbying from the sector, The MJ understands.
Creating true value
Local government must mark a decade of social value with purpose driven procurement, writes chief executive of Localis Jonathan Werran.
Gove warned of climate change floods risk
Local government secretary Michael Gove was today urged to align UK housing policy with climate change.
COP26 - Local approaches to net-zero offer 'vast potential'
Local approaches to taking action on net-zero could offer ‘vast potential to deliver a holistic green recovery from the pandemic,’ a new report has argued.