News
Fresh call for Right to Buy restrictions
Housing experts today called for fresh restrictions on the controversial Right to Buy policy – including a ban on applying it to new builds.
Whiteman criticises lack of prevention focus in productivity demands
Some ministerial productivity demands are ‘populist nonsense’ more likely to appear in election campaigns than ‘plug material gaps’ in council finances, an expert has warned.
Unison warns of looming strike as it awaits pay offer
Scotland’s largest local government union has warned strike preparations could begin next week amid growing tensions over pay.
Gove open to giving mayors Whitehall voice
Local government secretary Michael Gove has not ruled out a ‘formal structure’ for mayors to work more closely with central government.
West of England Combined Authority announces chief
The West of England Combined Authority has appointed Stephen Peacock as its chief executive.
Minister rules out Oflog role on audit
A minister has quashed suggestions oversight of audit should be handed to the Office for Local Government (Oflog).
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Opinion
Devolution needs to be more ‘Kevin Keegan’
If the UK wants to emerge from its ‘odd decade’ into a better place, it must use devolution to boost the economic potential of its regions, says Henry Kippin.
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.'
41st time lucky?
After four decades of different initiatives which have failed to boost growth, Professor Martin Jones considers what needs to change to bring success.
On the road to improvement
Northumberland Council’s peer review, following a hard-hitting review of governance, shows the local authority has come a very long way in a short time, says Helen Paterson.
Steering a way through the AI challenge
AI offers so much for adult social care practice, but for all the potential, there are plenty of pitfalls. Caroline Green provides some advice on navigating the challenge,
There’s real value in our arts
Council support for arts and culture is at serious risk amid the latest funding crisis. But we must find a way to sustain the arts as a remedy to our deepest challenges, says Alison Mckenzie-Folan.
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Best Practice
Doing things differently
In the face of never-ending pressures councils are continuing to seek out ways to do things differently. But beneath the inevitable positivity is there a negative side to differentiation which could weaken prospects for councils? Paul Marinko [..]
Analysis
Call for action on the adult care workforce
Ensuring care staff gain parity of esteem with the NHS and are valued by the public top the wish list for Association of Directors of Adult Social Services’ workforce lead Carolyn Nice. Ann McGauran reports.
Private sector
A call for transparency and accountability
Local government must confront pressing 'elephant in the room' issues head-on if it is to foster transparency, accountability and effective governance, says chief executive of Local Partnerships Adele Gritten.
Co-producing adult social care – the art of the possible
Alex Fox invites those attending the Spring Seminar to share with IMPOWER - at its workshop or on its stand - the stories of how their areas are approaching this period’s unique challenges.
The importance of brand in the search for talent
Steve Wilson of Commercial Services Group says councils can start to build a true talent pipeline if they can develop their own employer value proposition.