John Atkinson and David Nabarro say the vaccination programme should combine the scale and capacity of national approaches with a need for precision – and that local government is the critical layer in getting this right.
If the Government wants to level-up, fostering inclusive growth and recovery across the country, making council tax fairer would be a good place to begin, argue Zoe Billingham and John Dudding.
Business rates are an unsustainable way to fund local government, argues chair of SIGOMA Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton, and he believes what cannot be delivered locally from council tax should be met from national taxation.
Sir Bob Neill says a local, bottom-up approach has already shown itself to be the way forward for test and trace, ‘and central Government must now place its trust in local leaders to expedite the vaccine rollout’.
Tiffany Cloynes and Clare Hardy of Geldards look at the implications of the pandemic for the way local authorities operate, and the adjustments they need to make.
Through leveraging digital marketplace technology, the Government would be able to ensure items are procured both quickly and at a low cost, says Garry Jones.
When it comes to brownfield sites to build new homes on, there is no shortage of them, says Dr Malcolm Hockaday. But the data on where to find them is, at best, patchy and needs to be updated
The early success of the Local Government Association hinged to a significant extent on the part played by Joan Jones CBE, who has died, says Sir Brian Briscoe.
Blair McPherson says his old boss was right to remind officers that they work for members - ‘but I’m sure most members would agree it’s not that simple’.
Jenny Coles is president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services Jenny Coles explains why early investment in children prevents harm and makes financial sense.
Social Finance is working with partners to design a sector-led data science apprenticeship programme, starting with children’s services. Celine Gross outlines the aims and the approach.
Decisions made in the Spending Review are partly the product of government game playing, writes Dan Corry.
Wellbeing has been a familiar term in local government for a number of years but what does this mean in practice, writes New Economics Foundation researcher Christine Berry.
The renewal of the Labour Party and the agenda of its next leader must include learning from our army of local councillors, argues Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson.
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