Unitary
How to build a healthy economy
Social care, often seen as a millstone for councils facing financial challenges, has been turned into an opportunity by Stockton-on-Tees BC to create inclusive growth and tackle health inequalities all at once, writes Heather Jameson.
Let's start the debate on what the nation wants councils to do
Local government cannot go on delivering more and more for less and less, says leader of Buckinghamshire Council, Martin Tett.
Audit Commission fears continue to haunt Oflog
A senior sector figure has expressed concerns about the Office for Local Government’s (Oflog) direction of travel.
The search for the Holy Grail of growth
In an exclusive interview, Lord Heseltine, the longstanding advocate of elected mayors, tells Michael Burton why powerful, devolved local government is essential for delivering the growth agenda.
Government ‘stands ready to speak’ to any council on funding
Local government minister Simon Hoare says the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement delivers ‘an above inflation increase’ and shows the Government’s commitment to supporting councils.
Five unitaries moot devolution deal
A ‘non-binding expression of interest’ is expected to be submitted to the Government in February.
Sector unites in plea to chancellor
The local government sector in England has put out a call to Jeremy Hunt to ‘address the significant financial challenges faced by councils’.
A Bill to drive innovation and local accountability
With the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill going through its final parliamentary stages, Tiffany Cloynes and Rebecca Gilbert look at some of the changes it would bring in.
Bigger may not be better
In their new book Steve Leach and Colin Copus conclude there is no consistent or conclusive evidence that increases in council size improve performance.
Somerset in section 114 warning
Somerset Council is the latest authority to raise the prospect of a possible section 114 notice.
Keep it communal
Former levelling up secretary Greg Clark is wrong to advocate shifting planning from district to county councils, argues Cllr Barry Wood.
Building a post-merger Bucks
Clive Jones describes how merging five councils into one unitary authority led to a streamlined revenues and benefits service with potential savings of around £725,000 and improved services
A week in the life of a section 151 officer
Tracie Langley has had a technically challenging and fulfilling week, 'but I am feeling the full weight of accountability that comes with the s151 role'.
Placemaking budgets should combine capital pots with revenue, says report
Ministers should combine revenue and capital pots into a single placemaking budget to fund neighbourhood services, according to a new report.
The size conspiracy
The journey towards implementing the recommendations in the Redcliffe-Maud report is based on the fundamentally flawed idea that bigger local government is always better than its smaller counter-parts, argues Colin Copus.
BCP is a different ball game
Chief executive of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council Graham Farrant likes a challenge and he is positive about the future of his politically complex organisation. Heather Jameson reports.
Space: the final frontier
Ian Miller wonders why there is such a rush with the Government's revised national Air Quality Strategy. It was poor planning by Defra, he believes.
Forging the future of local government
Joanna Killian, the chief executive of Surrey CC and the newly-elected chair of the Association of County Chief Executives, sets out her objectives for local government.
Transferring LEP functions to upper tier councils goes with the policy grain
The County Councils’ Network will be engaging Government to ensure the transfer of LEPs is compatible with the wider policy direction that believes local democratic institutions are best placed to lead on the growth agenda, says James Maker.
Giant county unitaries run counter to people power
The challenge to the new unitaries is to prove that, far from being a distant monolith, they can indeed be a force for localism, says Sam Chapman-Allen.
