Our Manchester is my great challenge
After an emotional six-month spell at the helm of Manchester City Council, Joanne Roney talks to Heather Jameson about the plans for the city going forward, the importance of community and the rebuilding work that continues to be done in many [..]
News
New research: Whitehall needs to focus on preventative policies
Whitehall is regularly drawn into costly, reactionary spending cycles to mitigate crises within the NHS and adult social care but is failing to tackle the underlying causes, a study has found.
Hull considering 'tourism tax'
Hull City Council has decided to look into introducing a tax to boost its marketing budget for tourism.
Ofsted: More to do to improve Birmingham's children's services
Birmingham City Council has ‘further work’ to do to improve its children’s services, an Ofsted monitoring visit has found.
Adult care talks snubbed as tensions grow in sector
A sector offer to help build cross-party consensus on the way forward for adult social care has been snubbed by the two main political parties, The MJ can reveal.
'Firebreak' in Universal Credit rollout but government stands firm
Work and pensions secretary David Gauke has said there will be a ‘firebreak’ in the rollout of Universal Credit in January, but insisted this was always part of the plan.
More councils needed for Dubs scheme
More local authorities need to participate in the Dubs scheme, the minister for immigration Brandon Lewis has urged.
Read More News...
Opinion
Even in difficult times, we need to encourage innovation in social care
Despite the current financial pressures, Ewan King argues innovation is needed now more than ever.
Aidan Rave: Local government is unbreakable
Aidan Rave battled through several turbulent years at Doncaster MBC as a senior politician more than a decade ago. Now, reinvented as a council chief executive, he urges the sector to stop carping at the Government and get on with the job. Sam [..]
A renaissance in council-built homes
Paul Hackett comments on the findings of a new Smith Institute report and argues local housing companies are leading the renaissance in council-built homes.
UC: This is what we're doing, now DWP must respond
Jo Miller outlines the sector's gripes with the rollout of universal credit, and outlines some of the things councils are doing locally to mitigate the impacts.
Much bolder thinking on English devolution is overdue
Drawing on his research into metropolitan governance across the globe, Robin Hambleton calls on ministers to refresh their approach to devolution.
Homelessness strategy needs urgent repair
Ahead of the London Councils Summit in November, Sir Steve Bullock outlines the capital’s homelessness crisis, while Cllr Peter John and Cllr Sean Anstee examine what unites the UK’s cities.
Read More Opinion...
Best Practice
Stockport’s Digital by Design
Stockport’s take on digital transformation, with its Digital by Design programme, is an in-house approach allowing the council to redesign its online services based on real user feedback and analytics, writes Pam Smith.
Analysis
Disrupting the housing market
Localis’ latest housing report calls for a bigger role for local authorities in housebuilding, but also demands they play their part. Sam Clayden reports.
Private sector
‘Consider social value as well as budgets’
Local authorities should award contracts based on the social value delivered to the community instead of only considering budgets and timeframes, a new report has suggested.
Marketing firm to aid council’s trading arm
Market research giant Ipsos MORI is one of several firms that could support Lambeth LBC’s communications firm in delivering services to other councils.
Keepmoat to finalise £250m Glasgow project
Keepmoat Homes has been appointed to finish Glasgow City Council’s ‘historic’ £250m regeneration project.