County Councils Network
Seize the reins
The County Councils Network's new business plan for recovery and renewal puts forward evidence-based practical proposals to influence the Government's key agendas across six clear priorities, says Simon Edwards.
County set to walk out of LGA membership
Leicestershire CC leader Nick Rushton has said he will pull the council out of membership of the Local Government Association (LGA) at the end of the month.
Pandemic forces finance reform rethink
Whitehall plans for local government finance reform were thrown into doubt this week after civil servants indicated the pandemic would force them to rethink.
Counties scale up to the challenges
Counties’ ability to blend both a central and local focus means they should be further empowered to lead on transforming local economies after the pandemic, argues Cllr Barry Lewis.
Public health commissioning move 'illogical'
A suggestion from the body representing NHS trusts that the commissioning of key public health services should be removed from local government is ‘illogical,’ councils have said.
Plenty of reasons to be cheerful in the health and care White Paper
Cllr David Fothergill says while many of the 2012 health reforms will now be unwound, local government's responsibility for public health should be the one that remains untouched.
Starting from the wrong place?
The first White Paper on NHS reform in nearly a decade confirms England will be covered by statutory integrated care systems. Ann McGauran canvasses local government sector experts on the contents.
Social care should remain delivered by councils, says report
Tens of thousands of people could live more independent lives if councils keep hold of social care under government plans to overhaul health services, a new report has insisted.
A social care model that’s fit for the future
A new report sets out the key ingredients of a better social care system, using a delivery model that is both optimised and local, say James Maker and Daniel Sperrin.
Turning housing numbers into communities
The pandemic has shown that collaboration between county and district councils yields results, and they must also be capable of coming together to create the step change we need in how we turn housing numbers into communities, says Joanna Killian.
Heseltine highlights devolution ‘botch’
The former deputy Prime Minister claimed the deals process had curbed ambitions in Cornwall and Newcastle.
EXCLUSIVE: DCN attempts to use tiers frustration to boost reorganisation case
The District Councils’ Network (DCN) has attempted to boost its local government reorganisation arguments by capitalising on Conservative unhappiness about the tiers system.
Foresight group finds 'lack of strategy and shared plan'
‘Siloed and isolated action has been proven to fail again and again’ in the country’s response to coronavirus, a debrief by a cross-government review has warned.
Call for ‘urgent clarity’ on elections
Speculation over whether local elections will take place in May as scheduled has been labelled ‘unhelpful’ by councils.
Tory mayor claims Whitehall blocking devolution
One of the biggest challenges to devolution comes from civil servants, the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, James Palmer, has claimed.
Spending review: Rishi delivered what we needed, stability
In a time of financial uncertainty, the chancellor's Spending Review delivered basic stability. Now county councils need to be at the heart of levelling up, says Cllr David Williams
A golden chance for reform
The leaders of Cumbria, Somerset, and North Yorkshire Cllrs Stewart Young, David Fothergill and Carl Les explain why they believe a single county unitary for each of their areas is the best option on the table.
Counties warn of dramatic frontline cuts
Just one in five County Councils’ Network (CCN) members are confident of agreeing a balanced budget next year without dramatic reductions to frontline services, a new survey has revealed.
Making Counties Count: Don’t they Already?
Steve Leach and Colin Copus argue a move to county-based unitaries would ‘draw local government away from recognisable communities and increase the drift to meaningless conglomerates’.
Reorganisation battle lines drawn over think-tank report
The bitter war of words between counties and districts over reorganisation stepped up this week as battle lines were drawn around a new think-tank report.
