leadership
The key to a sustainable workforce
At a time when candidates are in high demand and often can call the shots, a well-defined employer value proposition that contains a robust learning and development programme is the key to boosting retention – as Mark Bearn explains.
TPA analysis of senior local government pay is relentlessly unsophisticated
Graeme McDonald says: 'Perhaps the diminishing number of national news outlets covering the TPA’s so called "Town Hall Rich List" means the message is finally getting across – their analysis is so simplistic it verges on the dangerous.'
Ready or not?
As a new regulatory regime gets underway for social housing, Peter Hubbard and Claire Ward offer five tips to support public and private sector registered providers.
The war for leadership talent
Are we winning the war or losing the battle? Toni Hall and Julie Towers share their experience as the pattern of leadership recruitment within the sector ebbs and flows
Healing the sector’s crisis with respect
As veteran leader Ruth Dombey steps down at the Lib Dem’s longest-held council she makes a plea for a ‘grown-up’ relationship between Whitehall and town halls. Paul Marinko reports.
Transparency calls over monitoring officer departure
Salford City Council’s opposition leader has called for transparency over a settlement agreement The MJ understands was paid to its departing monitoring officer.
Embracing innovation in leadership recruitment
Ben Parsonage offers some practical strategies for identifying leaders who can help promote innovation and creativity across your organisation.
Ministers urged to 'change course' on high streets law
Councils have urged ministers to ‘change course’ as they push ahead with plans to make them produce improvement plans for some of their high streets.
'Business as usual' for Lancashire councillors despite resignations
Councillors in Lancashire have insisted it will be ‘business as usual’ despite 20 resignations in protest at the leadership of the national Labour party.
Bear traps
To escape from a 'bear trap' question in an open question-and-answer session don’t try and come up with the perfect answer or solution, advises Blair Mcpherson.
Future Forum: Councils hit by absence of employee value propositions
The ability of councils to attract, keep and develop future talent is being hit by the absence of a defined employee value proposition (EVP), The MJ’s Future Forum has heard.
Officer-councillor tensions affecting outcomes, review finds
‘Clear and obvious tensions’ between Teignbridge DC’s executive and senior leadership team are ‘inhibiting progress and damaging the council’s reputation,’ a review has warned.
Six observations from my time as PPMA president
Against a challenging backdrop for public services, PPMA president Gordon McFarlane sets out six key reflections from his two years at the helm.
A new era of cross party working and grown-up politics in Broadland
One year into a new political leadership era at Broadland DC the story is one of no egos, no gatekeeping and no partisan point scoring, says Natasha Harpley.
BCP breaks the glass ceiling
Writing for International Women’s Day, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council’s leader Cllr Vikki Slade says it’s time to celebrate progress on female representation within the local authority.
When prevention is the real cure
Greg Fell draws from examples across the British Isles to highlight some of the work done by directors of public health to support residents to lead longer and healthier lives.
Moving forward after failure
Ed Hammond considers the governance challenges facing members under section 114 and other models of oversight and the implications for member-officer relationships.
Slough intervention could continue after November - Government
Whitehall intervention in Conservative-led Slough BC could continue beyond November, the Government has suggested.
How can we plan for the future of urban regeneration?
With public funding for development down and expectations up, Nick Walkley says the future of regeneration will need new forms of collaboration across sectors.
Time to break the barriers
Nicola Chiverton argues there is more to be done in key areas such as social inclusion if the sector is to make a success of tackling its workforce crisis.
