Paul O'Brien
Paul O'Brien is chief executive of APSE
Putting parks at the heart of our places
When the going got tough during the pandemic, local parks and green spaces were seen as the jewel in the crown of local services. Now is the time to make a case for investment in parks and leisure services, says Paul O'Brien
Will the new PM trust councils to develop policy solutions and deliver them?
This winter many will turn to councils for support, says Paul O'Brien. 'The Government, now led by Liz Truss, and its view of local government, will be defined by its actions in the coming months.'
Time for a system reset
Paul O'Brien says the new Prime Minister should think about a system reset away from a failed centralised approach and put the ability and talent of local government to use to make action happen on the ground.
Planning for the Future
Paul O’Brien and Fiona Howie outline the key findings from a report that argues the UK will not meet its ambitious carbon reduction targets without tackling emissions from homes.
Let’s work together on the most important agenda of our time
Paul O'Brien says policy on permitted development rights 'continues to work against a co-ordinated approach at local level on reshaping place and making developers contribute to this process'.
Think big, act local, start now
Communities will look to their local authority for further support with the cost of living crisis, says Paul O'Brien. Councils will also need to provide leadership in decarbonisation, he adds.
'Roaring Twenties' could end up as a whimper
'As with the 1920s, today's economic and political landscape is strewn with messy public policy issues that could stifle any roar into a whimper', says chief executive of APSE Paul O'Brien.
Will funding land next month to help levelling up?
Councils will await with interest December’s annual financial settlement to see where funding lands at the local level, says Paul O'Brien. Will this signify the beginning of significant attempts at levelling up, he asks.
Good Cop or Bad Cop?
Financial predators may already be circling in answer to the question of where local government’s funding for climate action will come from, say Paul O’Brien and Mo Baines.
It is the right time to invest in all of our futures
As we head towards COP26, Paul O’Brien says we should not settle for anything less than a key role for councils in the delivery of the plan for net-zero or the consequences could be catastrophic.
The clock is tickling
Local government is awaiting the outcome of some important announcements in the next couple of months, says Paul O'Brien. Will the Government trust councils to crack on?
Let’s see some fair play
A new report makes the case for a radical new approach to secure their future of local sports and leisure services, including a call for longer-term investment, say Paul O’Brien, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson and Debbie Kaye.
'Growing our own' jobs will require investment in local councils
If Government wants to maximise the bang for its buck in levelling up the country, then it must start investing in local councils and allow them to skill up local people from all backgrounds, argues Paul O'Brien.
System reset required: go to settings
As the APSE Local Government Commission 2030 launches its findings, Paul O’Brien says we need a big bang reset to resolve the issues facing local authorities.
Reaping the benefits from urban green space need not cost the earth
Urban areas, even those that are densely populated, can still play host to biologically diverse plant and animal life, especially if they are supported to do this by sensitive and intelligent local land management, says Paul O'Brien.
How do we empower and support councillors?
With Super Thursday looming on May 6, Paul O'Brien argues that a radical system reset may be needed; one that supports the role of councillors, values their role and is able to attract people from all walks of life.
Small steps matter on climate change
Tackling climate change is becoming fundamental to everything we do. Knowing how your service can make a contribution to the overarching objective of net zero is a good starting point, says Paul O'Brien.
Councils are key to our climate goals
There is universal agreement that climate change targets can’t be achieved if councils are excluded from the approach, says Paul O’Brien. He looks at what they are calling for if they are to be at the heart of delivering climate goals.
The sector needs to reflect the trust placed in us by the public
The message from the public is loud and clear, says Paul O’Brien. ‘They like, value and trust local neighbourhood level services’. He asks: 'So, will this public trust in councils continue? To use a lawyer’s response "it all rather depends".'
Another false dawn?
Next month’s energy White Paper and a longer-term comprehensive spending review than currently proposed will really tell us whether the PM's 'Green Industrial Revolution' lives up to its billing or is another false dawn, says Paul O'Brien.