Communities
Access all areas: the digital inclusion challenge
How can broadband access be spread to cover all areas, especially deprived sectors for whom access may be too expensive? This was one of the key questions posed to a round table hosted recently by The MJ and 6G Internet at The MJ Future Forum North.
Eleven heads in Herts are better than one for public health
A strong partnership of 11 local authorities in Hertfordshire including the public health department in the county council has together delivered more than 213 public health projects, says Ciceley Scarborough.
Brokenshire announces new integration measures
Communities secretary James Brokenshire has announced new measures to promote integration as the UK moves closer to life outside of the EU.
Manchester commission will promote putting people before profit
Greater Manchester already has a thriving co-operative sector. The launch of the Greater Manchester Co-operative Commission will explore the real opportunities to tackle the issues that affect residents and businesses, says MP Jo Platt.
Is it time to revisit Total Place?
Total Place began to drive real cross-sector (system) working, says Richard Stay. He believes the need for a focus on place has never been greater, and it’s arguably time to revisit and broaden the concept
Local politicians must take the lead in uniting communities
Given the febrile atmosphere that surrounds public debate in the run-up to 29 March, local politicians must take the lead and work with partners to bring communities together, says Claire Kober.
Corporate memory: A valuable and scarce resource
Short term planning seems to prevail at present, says Lawrence Conway. But he believes district councils will continue to play their part in ensuring their collective knowledge informs long term plans for local communities' prosperity.
Facing Brexit’s ‘unknown unknowns’
Much of the civil contingency expenditure in preparation for a no-deal Brexit may turn out to be totally unnecessary, but unlikely events do happen, argues Dan Corry
Lack of preparation suggests no-deal is a negotiating tool
The Government has hardly bothered to involve local authorities in any serious planning for exiting the EU without an agreement. This suggests two mindsets, according to Mike Burton.
Tackling unauthorised encampments
Jan Britton describes how Sandwell MBC is leading the way in tackling unauthorised encampments. Working with West Midlands Police, the council has established a fast-track approach to dealing with groups with caravans as soon as they arrive.
Recycling that makes a difference
Each Christmas Rushcliffe BC collects food and clothes for a local homeless charity - and the waste teams take huge pride in collecting the thousands of items that are picked up at the same time residents put out their wheeled bins, says David Banks
Havering's housing model is a genuine partnership with the private sector
Over the next 12 to 15 years, using funding from the HRA, Havering LBC's joint venture partnership will deliver around 3,000 new homes for local people, says leader Cllr Damian White
This is far too little far too late
Philip Glanville says the prime minister's decision to scrap the £65 fee EU citizens were set to pay to keep the right to stay in the UK after Brexit is, for many, far too little far too late
May scraps £65 settled status fee
Prime Minister Theresa May scraps the £65 fee for EU citizens to stay in the UK.
EXCLUSIVE: Councils warn Whitehall of Brexit risks
Councils this week started to formally inform Whitehall about their Brexit risk assessments amid fears of crime spikes, public demonstrations and food bottlenecks.
When it comes to our cities there are reasons to be cheerful
There is little doubt that 2019 will be an historic and turbulent year, but there are some great opportunities for our cities to drive radical change and play a key role in post-Brexit Britain, says Cllr Judith Blake
Let's work together to solve the housing crisis
Brexit hasn't caused our divisions, but it has laid them bare, and nowhere is this more prevalent than in housing, says Jo Miller. We must do something different to ever have a chance of being a society that works for all, she adds
Pulling leisure out of the deep end
Denbighshire CC is sharing the learning and the success of its commercial approach to leisure provision with the rest of the UK through a £750 million framework, says Jamie Groves
Building without the battles
While 2018 saw community resistance to regeneration projects, Colin Crooks believes there are some signs of optimism for the growing regeneration activity in 2019
Meeting the needs of asylum-seeking children
Bournemouth BC’s Sue Ross explains how her team provides an environment in which unaccompanied asylum-seeking children can achieve their full potential