DEVOLUTION

Report calls for fundamental reform

The handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the ‘dysfunctional relationship’ between central and local government, a report has argued today.

The handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the ‘dysfunctional relationship' between central and local government, a report has argued today.

In the report, the Tony Blair Institute called for fundamental reform to the way local government is financed.

Report author Lizzie Insall said: ‘The response to COVID-19 exemplifies the failure of an overcentralised state - confusion over PPE [personal protective equipment], test and trace, local lockdowns.

'This approach, centralised by default, is the baked in reality for how local government operates.

'The financial plumbing needs fixing so that it is both properly funded as a service provider and so local leaders are truly empowered.'

Ms Insall told The MJ the inevitable result of the funding framework for councils was a disempowered local government, underserved citizens and wasted public money.

A government spokeswoman said: ‘We are committed to levelling up all areas of the country by empowering our regions through devolving money, resources and control away from Westminster.'

DEVOLUTION

Top Talent: Regeneration and Growth

02 July 2025

As part of our regular series on ‘rising stars’, we celebrate the regeneration and growth officers who have been nominated by their councils for having an im...

DEVOLUTION

Experts call for slice of AI cash

By Dan Peters | 02 July 2025

Councils should get a share of the £2bn announced for artificial intelligence (AI) in the Spending Review, experts have suggested.

DEVOLUTION

The power of the dream

By Jon Rouse | 27 June 2025

Jon Rouse says that rather than being a bureaucratic exercise, reorganisation is about complete reinvention of what the state exists to do – enabling communi...

DEVOLUTION

We're ready to lead

By Joanna Killian | 27 June 2025

Ahead of the LGA Conference, Joanna Killian says the sector should take confidence in how far it has come and the potential that lies ahead, and that its fut...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman