Halting a rise in hatred
December 1, 2021
What can be done to deter incidents of abuse and harassment of local politicians and to sanction those responsible? Ann McGauran reports.
Analysis
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A unique moment in time
December 1, 2021
At The MJ’s recent Future Forum, BT outlined the immense opportunities digital and online services are currently offering councils – and the chance for true innovation must be taken.
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The social state
December 1, 2021
COVID-19 restrictions may have been lifted but a new report by Demos and Capita, launched at The MJ Future Forum, revealed people are less likely to make and build new relationships now than they were in the first lockdown.
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Reasons to be cheerful
December 1, 2021
The MJ and Penna’s annual survey of council chief executives reveals resilience and the ability to adapt have become reasons for the sector to celebrate, yet respect and recognition outside the sector is still lacking. Heather Jameson reports.
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Selling Stoke’s narrative
November 24, 2021
Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Cllr Abi Brown, talks to Heather Jameson about her journey to the top and what she has learned about winning red wall seats.
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Some local lessons from the Far East
Heather Jameson finds that while local government officers in Japan are grappling with similar challenges to those in the UK, there is one stark difference – Japanese authorities have the power to make their own laws and raise their own taxes.
‘Just be kind’
While local government has been distracted by austerity, what has happened to diversity? The MJ, Penna and North West Employers asked HR professionals where they were on equality. Heather Jameson reports.
Retro-fitting councils around the 21st century
The MJ and BT recently conducted a survey of local authority directors to find out how they believe 5G will affect their organisations. The conclusions formed part of the discussion at a roundtable debate. Martin Ford reports.
Moving up to the next level
Earlier this year, Suffolk CC’s peer challenge report said the time was right to drive leadership further, and ‘be bolder’. So how are leader Matthew Hicks and chief executive Nicola Beach faring? Ann McGauran reports
Breaking down the barriers between councils and the NHS
How are HR heads overcoming the barriers to closer working between councils and the NHS? Michael Burton put questions to London borough HR leads at a recent monthly meeting.
York’s rural champions
North Yorkshire CC has launched an independent rural commission, believed to be the first of its kind, to give a fresh perspective on the challenges faced by its deeply rural communities. Heather Jameson takes a look.
From the archive
Peering into the crystal ball
Michael Burton looks at the latest financial forecasts likely to influence the Treasury's spending plans for local government.
A glimmer of hope: councils standing up for refugees
Amid the media clamour over immigration, local government has had to pick up the pieces of poor Whitehall decision-making to care for and protect asylum-seekers, writes Estelle Worthington.
Welcome to the new digital world
Local government is grappling with an increasingly technological landscape. In a recent The MJ/BT round table, a group of council chiefs looked at the issues of the brave new world ahead.
