The latest articles written by Paul O'Brien

PLANNING

What an opportunity for a housing minister to be radical and bold

By Paul O’Brien | 06 August 2019

Paul O'Brien says there needs to be a wider recognition at a central and local level of the linka...

CLIMATE CHANGE

The time to act is now

By Paul O’Brien | 12 June 2019

The volume is going to continuously increase on the climate change public policy agenda, accordin...

MANAGEMENT

Mr Benn and the rise of the super directorate

By Paul O’Brien | 16 April 2019

It is clear the role of chief officer is rapidly being reframed - and they often find themselves...

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

It's time to talk about tax

By Paul O’Brien | 19 February 2019

Paul O'Brien argues It’s time for an honest conversation about tax in the UK - and the 'smoke and...

SCRUTINY

Risk and commercialisation: Why scrutiny matters

By Ed Hammond | 01 February 2019

Early engagement and streamlining of scrutiny into commercialisation decisions will provide scrut...

SOCIAL CARE

Sometimes the simplest questions are the hardest to answer

By Paul O’Brien | 05 December 2018

Asked what he thought the impact of Brexit would be on local government frontline services, Paul ...

PUBLIC HEALTH

pluggedin

By Paul O’Brien | 10 October 2018

Paul O'Brien ponders the new programme to tackle childhood obesity, and can't help wondering if ...

FINANCE

Beyond social care

By Paul O'Brien | 11 September 2018

When it comes to the question of what the public want their tax money spent on, social care is, o...

WHITEHALL

Another week, another warning

By Paul O’Brien | 20 June 2018

Will politicians, civil servants and policy-makers show the insight and bravery to think in gener...