Transformation
Meeting citizens’ expectations after the pandemic
Hilary Jones highlights how COVID-19 has been the catalyst for shifting up a gear when it comes to communicating with local residents, providing the environment and the permission for digital to take centre stage.
Rethinking council buildings for the future
In the wake of COVID-19, the question needs to be asked whether councils require the amount of office space that their employees currently use, says Femi Oresanya.
Exclusive: Government will support councils with ‘modernising’ shift to digital
Local government minister Simon Clarke says £800,000 for eleven projects that use technology to help people through the pandemic will support councils with the ‘major modernising shift’ to digital.
Leaders and laggers in a post-COVID world
In a post-modern world of local government we may well be looking at the survival of the fittest and councils could be heading for a ‘slow motion car crash into decline’, warns John Knight.
Moving to warp speed on transformation in Walsall
Walsall MBC’s chief executive and leader talk to Heather Jameson about how the borough’s transformation programme is ‘moving on faster than ever’ due to the pandemic.
Seizing the opportunity to change perceptions
Rebecca Davis looks at how an ambitious initiative across the West Midlands has highlighted the important work of council workers, who are making as much of a difference in their own way as any emergency service
Delivering despite difficult odds
Karen Bradford’s first 100 days as chief executive of South Kesteven DC started just three weeks before lockdown. Here, she looks back on what’s been achieved.
People don’t need tethering to a place
The way forward for embracing remote working and liberation from the office is now clear following the response to coronavirus, says director of services at Basildon Council Mandie Skeat.
Northants two years on: Commissioners report underspend
Two years into it intervention, Northamptonshire CC is set to end the 2019-20 financial year with a £640,000 underspend, the commissioners have stated.
Ministers urged to create a 'green bank'
Ministers have been urged to create a Green Bank to fund climate change investment as part of the Government’s multi-billion pound infrastructure investment programme announced earlier this week.
The new local - taking a sector-led approach to restructuring
Ben Ward, partner at Ameo and Lesley Seary, non-executive director at FutureGov reflect on the future shape of government at a local and regional level
Blueprint for recovery
Norwich City Council has approved a framework to steer recovery. CEO Stephen Evans outlines how the authority will recast its transformation programme to learn lessons from COVID-19.
Digital engines – the ‘new normal’ in local government?
Digital engines will become a staple of every local authority’s digital provision moving forward into the ‘new normal’, says John McMahon.
Hand health powers to elected mayors, says report
Health powers should be handed to elected mayors as part of a ‘rejuvenated and fortified wave of devolution,’ a think-tank report has suggested.
COVID and Change: Beware the cowardly lion
As councils begin to navigate recovery and renewal, the characters in the Wizard of Oz appeal to Alex Khaldi as an analogy for finding ways to work together, and ‘get us all back to Kansas’.
Melting the boundaries after COVID
In our first virtual round table alongside recruiters Faerfield, chiefs from across the sector talk to Heather Jameson about the opportunities ahead to ‘build back better’ and reshape public services.
Successful community initiatives should not depend on having friends in high places
Success in working with councils depends on knowing committed insiders, says Luca Tiratelli of the New Local Government Network.
What have we learned from London councils’ response to COVID-19?
Rebecca Eligon and transformation lead colleagues from councils across London write of their ‘deep pride’ in the way local government has ‘really stepped up’ in response to COVID-19.
The Future of Local Government – no way back
The findings of a survey on the future impact of COVID-19 on councils provide an opportunity to consider ways to level up how services are delivered, says John Knight.
We have an opportunity to radically reinvent ourselves
Our new coronavirus-shaped world has changed beyond recognition, says Gill Kneller - and If we’re going to thrive, recovery will be key, 'but we simultaneously need to reinvent ourselves'.
