News
Brum improvement team issues final damning judgement and walks away
Birmingham City Council’s intervention team has issued a final, damning report on the crisis-hit council and walked away – despite admitting its job is not complete.
Council vows to challenge Government's data sharing rules
A Scottish council has vowed to challenge the Government’s restrictive rules on information sharing with local authorities.
EXCLUSIVE: Community cropping up in more top roles
The growing importance of community-focused roles has grown among senior management positions, according to research by The MJ.
Whitehall prepares for EU elections
The Government has written to the Electoral Commission confirming it will help local authorities prepare for possible European elections in May.
Islington chief Lesley Seary announces retirement
Lesley Seary has today announced she will be retiring after eight years as chief executive at Islington LBC.
Government misses fifth deadline for social care Green Paper
The publication of the Government’s long-awaited adult social care Green Paper has been delayed for a fifth time.
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Opinion
Start the democratic therapy process
Local elections will be taking place against a Brexit backdrop - but Dr Jonathan Carr-West argues the problems created by democracy can only be solved by more democracy.
A four-point plan for social housing
Tens of thousands of families are desperately worried about their continuing ability to pay high rents, says Paul Wheeler. Here, he outlines a four-point plan for creating homes for social rent.
Counting the cost of Defra's waste plans
A plethora of issues affecting districts keeps emerging from Whitehall, says Ian Miller - but making it easier for those with two homes to know which bin to use is not a sensible basis for policy development.
Let’s not replace Brussels with Whitehall
As local government stays stuck in the inertia of Brexit, wouldn't it be better to imagine a devolved world, asks Heather Jameson. If the Government wants councils to rebuild places after Brexit, it will need to be swift, she adds.
Avoiding fiscal risks - and 'daddy dragon' moments
Tracie Evans says her 'daddy dragon' of the week is not Brexit but the question of what is the optimum number of contractors needed to deliver a very complex organisational transformation.
Speak up! Making the case for devolved infrastructure funding
This week's launch of the National Infrastructure Commission's Next Steps for Cities programme rolls out knowledge-sharing to councils in the 45 biggest cities. Sir John Armitt urges them to clearly make the case for investment in infrastructure.
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Best Practice
Standing out from the crowdfunding
CrowdFund London was developed by the GLA and Spacehive. James Parkinson says the public sector has an important role in enabling civic projects to come to fruition in this way – and the approach features in Nesta’s innovation compendium
Analysis
‘We want something totally transformational’
A new book from Nesta brings together knowledge on innovatation. One process is the 100 Day Challenge. Ann McGauran outlines how this has been useful in bringing about system change in Essex.
Private sector
Allerdale agrees private model for stadium construction
Allerdale BC is turning to the private sector to build its new stadium in Workington.
Resolving digital dilemmas together
Penna hosted its first digital round table earlier this year. Penna’s digital recruitment specialist Jo Cumper describes how leaders from technology joined forces to examine how the digital economy can be driven forward.
Hampshire invests £67m in care tech project
Hampshire CC is to invest up to £67m in technology in a bid to improve care and bring down costs.