The head of a leading local government think-tank has warned there is not enough ‘real' debate in the sector about the crucial commissioning and outsourcing market.

Speaking to The MJ, following a joint report into commissioning by the New Local Government Network (NLGN) and the CBI business lobby, NLGN director, Simon Parker, said councils and private sector operators were ‘not talking' loudly enough about their respective needs and the development of new models.