Coronavirus
Greater certainty is needed on social care reform
The Spending Review was a missed chance to provide adequate funding and a firm basis for the reforms the Government has committed to bring forward, says Dr Eleanor Roy.
Ofsted warns of unseen child abuse
Opportunities to protect children at risk of harm are being missed due to the pandemic, Ofsted has warned.
The dash from cash
Head of innovation at Civica Liz O’Driscoll explores how public services can better prepare for the acceleration of the cashless agenda.
How Irish innovation is helping the green recovery
Smart traffic solutions are helping councils meet a range of sustainability objectives, says Enterprise Ireland's UK Local Authority Lead Laura Brocklebank.
Getting up to speed in a COVID world
Kate Watts shares her experiences of returning to work after a year’s maternity leave and adjusting to the major changes brought by coronavirus.
Revolution for Welsh local democracy
The Welsh Government’s Local Government and Elections Bill is not a technical and legalistic charter, says Welsh local government minister Julie James. Rather, it will ‘positively transform the experience of democratic engagement and empowerment’
Casting light on a dark problem
An innovative integrated approach to tackling drug-related harm in Blackpool is achieving promising early results – but significant challenges remain on funding, commissioning cycles and data. Ann McGauran reports.
Investing in our future
Jenny Coles is president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services Jenny Coles explains why early investment in children prevents harm and makes financial sense.
Seven reasons for hope
Seven projects were successful in What Works for Children’s Social Care’s ‘highly competitive’ first open funding round to support innovative practice. Dr Michael Sanders explains why they stood out.
Child vulnerability evaluated
Deven Ghelani looks at what more can be done to stop children from falling into crisis, and examines how data can be used to secure better outcomes for the most vulnerable.
Warm words mean nothing when frontline staff are snubbed
Heather Jameson says: 'The Prime Minister’s speech to Scottish Conservatives at the weekend, reiterating his commitment to devolution.... all bodes well for local government. Or does it?'
Councils key to tackling 'anti-vax mob'
Councils must act quickly to knock down the ‘anti-vax mob’ as the Government puts the sector at the heart of its strategy to tackle coronavirus, a senior public health chief has urged.
Time to stop what isn’t working
Before setting their budgets, councils must rethink themselves and the purpose they serve within their communities, argues Professor Donna Hall.
This hidden housing scandal has a specific human face
Pretty soon the shadow of the COVID crisis will lift - and hopefully the Grenfell inquiry will report one day - says Paul Wheeler. At some point soon we need to address the appalling record of the major builders in this country, he adds.
Solving town centres’ Rubik’s cube conundrum
Ensuring town centres are both vital and viable is not easy, writes Professor Cathy Parker. She says redefining them requires the strengthening of collective capacity through restructuring, repositioning, rebranding and reinventing.
All I want for Christmas
As an early Christmas present Tony Kirkham would like 'a clear and positive Comprehensive Spending Review which adequately reflects the demands on local government'. And he would like 'a local government settlement that allows us to meet the needs of our residents and businesses'.
PPE supply for care workers was 'inadequate'
The social care sector was ‘left to fend for itself’ during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an investigation into supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Being ready for change is critical
Local government reorganisation is on the near horizon, says Lawrence Conway. He believes South Lakeland DC 'will be well placed to provide a flexible way of working whatever the outcome of this latest round of deliberations'.
We need a detailed green recovery map
Nigel Riglar says while the Government’s emphasis on green recovery provides a way to tackle many of the most pressing issues facing us, a coherent policy framework and sufficient investment are key.
Councils still hungry for cash despite winter grant scheme
Councils that want to use the new £170m COVID winter grant scheme to stop children going hungry during school holidays may need more cash, the Government has been told.
