Communities
Campaigners call for ’20-minute neighbourhoods’ to cut emissions
All new homes should be within 10 minutes’ walk from shops and schools if the UK is to reduce its carbon emissions, sustainable transport campaigners have argued.
Are we building back better or bleaker?
We glimpsed a reimagined world during the pandemic, but there is a certain bleakness stemming from a moment missed, says Max Wide. He believes building back better is still possible, but needs conscious leadership.
Council hosting monument decries Windrush funding
The council hosting the new national Windrush monument has decried the lack of Government funding for an annual day celebrating those who came to Britain.
United in the fight against poverty
Ahead of a Local Government Association Conference workshop on how councils can respond to the cost of living crisis, Lee Hemsworth outlines how the approach of the Leeds Poverty Truth Commission has evolved since 2014.
Poverty truth commissions are not a talking shop
Andrew Grinnell says poverty truth commissions may not be the answer to the cost of living crisis, but they have led to positive changes, including a shift in the way councils communicate with citizens.
The steps to success as a new councillor
John Tizard explains how councillors elected in May can best fulfil the commitment to their communities and champion the interests of the people they represent.
Finance is not the be-all and end-all of tackling some 'wicked' issues
Adele Taylor travelled to Sierra Leone to run her first marathon, and in visiting projects there she discovered how similar the approaches are to those taken by local government in this country.
Refugee week: providing more than bricks and mortar
Hounslow’s model of resettling refugees works because its overall aim is to make them proud residents of the borough, says Lourdes Debarry.
Beyond Net Zero
As we all bid to achieve net zero targets over the coming months and years, Andrew Spencer of EQUANS discusses how linking environmental and social approaches will provide unique opportunities to succeed.
Cutting 91,000 civil servants: ‘Efficiency’ at what cost?
Against a backdrop of unprecedented strain, it is difficult to see how a radical reduction in civil service numbers will increase efficiency or improve the quality of public services, says Lucy Woods.
Putting people at the heart of place
As Ilkley is named the best place to live in the UK, Jason Longhurst says Bradford City Council’s work with the town is part of a district-wide strategy that benefits people across the area.
Thick document; thin vision
Dr Jonathan Carr-West says it’s not that the measures in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill are bad in and of themselves, but it feels like a missed opportunity to ask bigger questions about the function and form of local government.
Government to strengthen community role in planning
The Government has made clear it intends to strengthen the role of communities in new planning legislation.
The private sector is essential to levelling up
When levelling up, government will achieve the most by enabling and empowering the private sector to increase investment, jobs and growth at local levels, says Athina Agrafioti.
Drawing from the past to help today’s refugees
Brad Collier draws from his experience resettling Vietnamese people in the 1980s to set out what support needs to be provided to Ukrainian refugees – and he believes councils must be empowered to manage resettlement.
Let’s deliver a long-term local resettlement system
Schemes to support refugees must exist around a core, standardised resettlement programme that has a multi-year commitment and specific targets and a variety of housing strategies, says Yvonne Kachikoti.
Future Forum: Call for relational public services
A relational approach can help councils connect with communities and improve services, according to a new report.
Only 14% trust Government to solve cost of living crisis
Two thirds of people do not have confidence in national politicians to tackle the growing cost of living crisis, according to new polling from think tank New Local.
Funding affordable housing in future
Steve Quartermain argues that Section 106 has been quite successful at securing concessions and contributions from developers, and he also considers if a new approach that sees affordable housing delivered through a revised levy would be good news.
The voluntary sector is not a surrogate for the state
Councils can and must show leadership to tackle the deep challenges of the years ahead – but a healthy and dynamic relationship with the local VCS also has a critical role to play, explains John Tizard.
