Devolution
Sector urged not to give up on health devolution
The sector should not give up on securing future health devolution deals despite the Government’s ‘centralising tendency,’ experts have urged.
So when will Whitehall take a back seat?
Andrew Carter says that with eight mayors up for election, after a year of centrally-mandated COVID restrictions people have one clear message for the Government: ‘Give us the powers and resources to make the right decisions for our areas’.
Opportunity knocks for West Yorkshire
The winning candidate in the first West Yorkshire mayoral election will have an opportunity to shape the long-term trajectory of the region – and it’s about time, says Zoë Billingham.
Discrimination twice as high among ethnic minorities
People from ethnic minority backgrounds are twice as likely to face discrimination when using local services, new research has suggested.
Public backs more city devolution
More than eight in 10 people support more devolution to England’s largest cities, a new poll has revealed.
Communities call for funding powers
Funds aimed at levelling up the country should be devolved to communities, according to a new report.
Seizing the opportunity
Local authorities are setting their own devolution agenda, showing there’s no need to wait for the White Paper to push ahead, argue Jonathan House and Ben Pykett of PwC.
Real power has to be moved away from London
It's time to move real power away from London, not just government offices, argues Dr Arianna Giovannini.
Still devoted to devolution
Lord Heseltine has devoted most of his distinguished career to regional growth and is one of the biggest advocates for metro mayors. But he believes that the ‘whole momentum has gone out of the devolution agenda’. Ann McGauran reports.
Levelling-up ‘losing its way’
The Government’s methods of levelling-up are further dividing rather than uniting the country, it has been claimed.
Lord Heseltine calls for a cross-government approach to regeneration
Lord Heseltine has put the case for a senior cross-departmental Cabinet minister and committee to lead on regeneration, 'mirrored in the big regional centres'.
Councils in a jam shouldn’t have to scrape for funding crumbs
Heather Jameson lays out what ministers need to do if they 'really want to streamline local government, create efficiency and allow councils to reach their potential'.
Tear down devolution 'barriers,' APPG urges
Powers should be devolved to councils before reorganisation takes place, a new report has concluded.
Changing the economic geography
Paul Swinney believes last week’s Budget showed a Government intent on maintaining control from the centre when it should be seeking to level up.
You can't level up from (just) the top down
Andy Burns says while the ‘levelling up’ measures in the Budget are welcome, more strategic coherence and bottom-up, placed based approaches are needed
Whatever happened to Devo 3.0?
Devolution is here to stay ‘no matter if the Government’s preferred phrase is now place and if they want to talk in terms of levelling up not rebalancing’, says Steve Barwick of DevoConnect.
Putting the power into place
The past year has highlighted inequalities and exposed the inadequacy of centralisation while councils are dealing with a threadbare funding system. Cllr Georgia Gould and Baroness Judith Blake say funding and powers for places could make it better.
Eye spy – Somerset
Of all the threats Western democracies have faced, perhaps the gravest is the spectre of foreign state interference in elections.
Building citizen centred systems to deliver the best integrated care
Local government has the mechanisms and knowledge to ensure place, neighbourhoods and citizens are at the heart of integrated care systems which are responsive to local needs and accountable to communities, says Anja Beriro of Browne Jacobson.
Levelling up resembles a jigsaw of disparate ‘pieces of policy’
Arianna Giovannini says there is a consistent lack of clarity about what levelling up means - and it also remains unclear what areas should be 'levelled up'. The Government needs to develop a clear vision and strategy for the long-term, she adds.
