Communications
Local leaders pile on vaccine pressure
Frustrated local government leaders have piled pressure on ministers and officials over the speed and secrecy surrounding the coronavirus vaccine rollout.
Learning the lessons from past pandemics
Bob Gordon asks what we can learn from local responses to past pandemics. He says preparation, communication, coordination and accurate, timely, granular data are key.
Starting a journey of improvement
Jenny Turnross talks to Ann McGauran about Birmingham Children’s Trust’s progress with improving services for children and young people – and how it has risen to the challenge of the pandemic.
Councils demand post-lockdown role
The local government sector has said its involvement is key to the emergence from lockdown.
Prioritising citizens’ needs amidst the chaos
Sarah Richards reflects on the progress councils have made in how they communicate with citizens digitally and asks how they can prioritise residents’ needs in the second wave.
Use the enForcement!
Torridge DC may just have struck gold in its approach to getting its message out on social media.
Report exposes local-national divide over pandemic
Fractures between local and national decision-makers have been highlighted in a new report examining responses to the coronavirus crisis.
Personal resilience in tough times
Drawing on her experience of dealing with the aftermath of terror attacks, Louise Neilan emphasises the need for senior managers to support their communities and teams, and themselves – especially during the pandemic crisis.
Leader of 'North Korea' council deposed
The leader of a scandal-hit council compared to North Korea has been deposed after a vote of no confidence at a fiery meeting.
Councils advised to avoid term ‘lockdown’
Experts have advised councils to avoid using the term ‘lockdown’ when discussing the reinstatement of coronavirus restrictions.
Meeting citizens’ expectations after the pandemic
Hilary Jones highlights how COVID-19 has been the catalyst for shifting up a gear when it comes to communicating with local residents, providing the environment and the permission for digital to take centre stage.
Improving engagement and communication across the NHS in a time of crisis
Effective communication and digital innovation is the key to keeping employees engaged and well-informed, says Steve Brain. Communication apps, like Civica's Connect, provide Trust leaders and HR teams with a platform to share resources, he adds.
Combined authority 'spending reserves like it's going out of fashion'
Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s chief executive has expressed doubts about whether his region would be able to cope with a second wave of coronavirus infections.
PR strategist's hall of shame
Diary is inundated with press releases, speeches and blog posts on a regular basis.
Care home plans deadline unrealistic, say councils
Councils have warned that tomorrow’s deadline for producing care home support plans is ‘unrealistic’.
‘No heroes and generals; no Government saviour’
Jo Miller feels New Zealand’s citizen-focused approach to the coronavirus response highlights that we are all in this together, 'working as a collective to adapt and protect one another'.
Why localism is needed for behaviour change
Councils can be key – as can local community groups and charities – in setting social norms that people will want to follow, says Dan Corry.
Councils resist government's changed 'stay alert' message
Areas with higher coronavirus rates have urged residents to stay at home amid fears the Government’s change of message to ‘stay alert’ was confusing.
There is an opportunity to dump the centralist approach
Tackling the coronavirus crisis has been held back by a ‘central government know best’ approach, says Heather Jameson.
Twitter or bitter?
Senior local government officer Donna Ball says that during the pandemic she has had to block aggressive Twitter users – but despite this she argues for the benefits of staying connected.
