Author Profile

John O’Brien

John O’Brien

John O’Brien is chief executive of London Councils

Articles by John O’Brien

John O'Brien: Tough times can loosen the bonds of partnership

By John O’Brien | 15 November 2017

John O'Brien writes ahead of the Autumn Budget and tomorrow's official signing of the next stage ...

Government has to recognise the extraordinary challenges councils face

By John O’Brien | 27 September 2017

John O'Brien looks ahead to the Autumn Budget, warning the pressures feel extraordinary.

Securing the robust and diverse leaders of tomorrow

By John O’Brien | 09 August 2017

While the London boroughs are making some small strides on gender equality, progress on ethnic di...

To cut the arts or not to cut the arts? There is no question

By John O’Brien | 21 June 2017

Arts, culture and heritage are often among the first services to be scrapped, but John O'Brien hi...

Partnerships are pivotal in the aftermath of a terror attack

By John O’Brien | 02 May 2017

John O'Brien says the investment councils put in to building partnerships to make communities saf...

A new season for London's devolution

By John O’Brien | 14 March 2017

John O'Brien says it is too early to tell whether London's latest devolution development has any ...

Chanelling local expertise into the school system

By John O’Brien | 24 January 2017

Ahead of the consultation on a new National Funding Formula for schools, John O'Brien says the se...

A new social care challenge

By John O’Brien | 23 November 2016

Local government has made a strong case for adult social care funding but greater attention is ne...

Public health comes home

By John O’Brien | 05 October 2016

Councils have shown they can deliver successful work on public health and London's efforts to co...

Locking out council expertise from schools?

By John O’Brien | 21 June 2016

John O'Brien says local government must ensure improvement in education, no matter who is respons...