Communities
Redefining the rules about resettlement
Andy Burnham threatened to pull Greater Manchester out of the asylum resettlement scheme - igniting the debate about refugee dispersal. But forcing councils to take on more families without more funding will make the problem worse, says the sector.
More councils need to help drown out the voices of hatred
Many councils are leading the chorus which is starting to drown out the voices of hatred threatening local communities - but more need to join them, says Claire Kober.
Be wary of good intentions
New Year’s resolution: however nasty social media might get, don’t let’s lobby for even more powers for Facebook, Twitter or the Met Police to brand what is difficult as hate, argues Claire Fox
Let’s rebuild support for our voluntary bodies
Something is not right in the state of the relationship between local government and the voluntary and community sector – yet the importance of a productive collaboration has never been greater, argues chair of NAVCA John Tizard.
What should councils do?
Tough decisions will have to be made on budgets in town halls across the country, says Dan Corry – but his plea is to try to focus on providing the right culture for the longer-term.
How to balance budgets while creating happiness
Most councils are struggling to balance their social care budgets, but Wigan MBC generated a small surplus while radically remodelling services. Donna Hall shares her journey
Embedding wellbeing in Northern Ireland
Carnegie UK Trust is working with three community planning partnerships to help them address the challenges they face in collecting, analysing and incorporating the data needed to develop a wellbeing framework. Lauren Pennycook outlines the aims.
Lord Bourne urges bids for Windrush Day events cash
As the MHCLG launches a £500,000 fund to support councils and community groups in putting on events to celebrate national Windrush Day Communities Minister Lord Bourne says local authorities have a powerful role to play
Communities need the place-shaping we excel at
Local government hasn't lost its mojo, says Lawrence Conway. Now must be the time when its role is given the recognition and responsibility to help drive the long term plan.
Right time, right place
Eugenie Harvey describes how Harlow DC has developed a compelling place story to support the town’s growth opportunities.
Local authorities must pave the way on the Living Wage
If we want to tackle the scourge of low pay and in-work poverty we must acknowledge the vital role of local authorities and encourage more to commit to paying a Living Wage, says Tess Lanning
Powerhouses must work for people too
In our talk of powerhouses the focus is so often on physical infrastructure, writes Jo Miller - but she reminds us that while this is vital we must also move the discussion onto thinking about people and communities too.
The extra-ordinary people doing extraordinary things
The individual councillors celebrated in the LGiU C’llr Achievement Awards are part of the glue that holds civic life together, says Dr Jonathan Carr-West
Seeing glimpses of the future through the smoke
No matter how good the social care Green Paper proves to be, it won't solve all the sector's challenges - and solutions must be rooted in local communities, says chair of the Social Care Institute for Excellence, Paul Burstow.
The North needs help with supporting asylum seekers
Unlike Germany, the UK has outsourced the challenge of supporting asylum seekers to the poorest communities in the North - and when they ask for help they are treated with contempt by journalists, writes Paul Wheeler.
The finite capacity of civil society
How much capacity has civil society got to absorb the increased demands on its financial and human resources, asks Sarah Longlands
The long journey towards rebuilding trust at Kensington and Chelsea RLBC
The Grenfell tragedy and its aftermath were devastating, says Elizabeth Campbell - and she pledges to listen more closely to local people to ensure they 'have a real stake in what is happening on their own doorsteps and in their own lives'
Burnham leads revolt over 'mounting chaos' in asylum dispersal system
Critics have claimed the Government’s policy on asylum seekers is ‘entirely driven by cost considerations’.
Local democracy reporters aid transparency
The Local Democracy Reporting Service – the new BBC scheme that attempts to fill the gap in the reporting of local democracy issues – is already having an impact, reports Dan Peters
Councils need more clarity around Brexit
To provide effective help to local communities grappling with Brexit changes, councils will need Government to provide information, clarity and some recognition of the potential resource inherent in that task, says John O'Brien