Author Profile

Paul O'Brien

Paul O'Brien

Paul O'Brien is chief executive of APSE

Articles by Paul O'Brien

Stimulating the green economy

By Paul O'Brien | 27 April 2012

Paul O'Brien looks at how various councils in the country are taking steps to stimulate the green...

A business case for renewable energy

By Paul O'Brien | 21 March 2012

Council led renewable energy schemes deliver economic and social benefits says Paul O'Brien.

The private sector is in trouble

By Paul O'Brien | 07 March 2012

The idea that private sector suppliers are the solution to providing more efficient services is a...

The local green economy is a spur to growth

By Paul O'Brien | 02 February 2012

Paul O'Brien predicts a rebalancing of green priorities towards energy efficiency which will crea...

How to maintain accountability

By Paul O'Brien | 30 November 2011

Paul O'Brien looks at how many local authorities are considering the alternative models of servic...

The power to charge for services

By Paul O'Brien | 18 October 2011

Paul O'Brien says that in these cash-strapped times councils should not forget their ability to b...

The return of the housing crisis

By Paul O'Brien | 06 September 2011

For many in local government the housing crisis has never really gone away according to Paul O'Br...

Let's see the evidence?

By Paul O'Brien | 06 September 2011

Paul O'Brien asks where is the evidence,that co-operatives and mutuals models actually work.

Managing demand for local government services

By Paul O'Brien | 21 July 2011

Paul O' Brien finds value in the ideas from the book 'Nudge' by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein.

The virtuous green circle

By Paul O'Brien | 09 June 2011

Paul O'Brien looks at APSE researched on how local authorities can make progress in renewable ene...