Devolution
SOLACE Summit: Councils are at back of austerity queue
Councils are at the ‘end of the queue’ when it comes to receiving funding from the Treasury, the chief executive of Brighton & Hove Council has said.
Leaders in talks over East Anglia deal revival
Norfolk CC has been in talks with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) over a potential revival of a regional devolution deal, the council’s leader has revealed.
Bradley praises council efforts in 'challenging landscape'
Northern Ireland’s secretary of state today emphasised her commitment to restoring devolution and praised the effort made by local government in drawing up City Deals.
Burnham plans 'as bold as NHS creation'
Greater Manchester’s mayor has heralded a series of health reforms that he claims will be ‘equally as bold as the creation of the NHS’.
Isle of Wight open to new devolution deal after Government rejection
A senior Isle of Wight councillor has warned the island will ‘not be bounced into new arrangements’ after Whitehall ditched plans for a combined authority.
Power to the people
Cornwall was the first council in England to deliver a programme of double devolution – also known as ultra-localism. Leader of the council, Adam Paynter, explains how this has helped sustain and improve facilities
Boris calls for ‘overdue’ fiscal devolution for councils
Boris Johnson has called for ‘long overdue’ fiscal devolution for local government saying it will help them fund services and encourage more housebuilding.
One Yorkshire submits devolution plans to Brokenshire
Councils in Yorkshire have made a show of unity in their pursuit of a devolution deal for the region.
Questions over cost of Labour's local government promises
Senior Labour figures delivered a raft of local government-related policy announcements at their annual conference this week – but questions remain over how to fund fresh promises.
Councillors given devolution warning
The slow pace of the Government’s devolution agenda is having unintended consequences, senior councillors have been told.
Some Broken dreams
Devolution has dropped off the political radar in the last few months, but it’s still an emotional topic for regional leaders.
The North finds its voice
On 6 September I attended the first Convention of the North in Newcastle. This was an historic gathering of political, civic and business leaders from across the North, in the Baltic Galleries on the banks of the Tyne and a fitting venue in which to forge a new spirit of collaboration.
Local politicians breaking through
The pending party conference season is likely to be a savage one, with a summer of simmering discontent in the major parties and an anger among the Lib Dems about their disappearance from political debate. Northern Ireland is regressing to the politics of past hatreds. Even the normal hegemonic SNP is not immune, with major ructions between past and present leaders. Expect some angry scenes on the conference floor.
Spending Review will be 'one of hardest ever'
Next spring’s Spending Review needs to decide the model for financing social care while the Treasury should pilot more devolved funding to local authorities, a report from a respected Whitehall-watcher has said.
It is not all doom and gloom
The IPPR's Commission on Economic Justice is presents a genuinely radical 10-part plan for economic reform to achieve prosperity and justice, writes Claire Kober.
Burnham: Devolution is our best hope
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has argued that devolution ‘offers the best hope of making Brexit work for the regions and uniting our uncertain nation’.
Ups and downs for districts
Ian Miller gives an overview of the latest decisions and indecisions to affect district councils.
The localism effect
Comparing the approaches of an English and German councils, Peter Eckersley argues closer relations between tiers of government can empower local authorities to pursue more ambitious policies and maintain greater control over decision-making.
Where next for devolution?
Gill Morris reflects on a panel discussion looking at the future of the devolution agenda and what policy measures need to be examined.
Reforming two-tier arrangements
Reorganisation has proved controversial in many parts of the country. James Maker suggests pooling new and existing powers at the strategic level could offer a more politically attractive devolution agenda in county areas.