Emergency planning
Pause, reflect and do better
Dr Arianna Giovannini says there is a real risk that this new rhetoric of ‘empowering the local state’ could turn out to be a strategy to shift accountability and responsibility onto local government and away from Westminster.
Tackling the economic impact of COVID in the Morecambe Bay region
Matt Williams outlines how South Lakeland DC is working with other councils and agencies across the region to help businesses and residents withstand the crisis.
We need to talk about this emergency and others to come
As we move into the next phases of the COVID-19 response, the Red Cross's Norman McKinley looks at lessons learnt, and how to make sure access to food is central to emergency planning.
Delivering despite difficult odds
Karen Bradford’s first 100 days as chief executive of South Kesteven DC started just three weeks before lockdown. Here, she looks back on what’s been achieved.
Government’s ‘top down’ approach hindering LRFs
Poor communication by the UK Government of crucial changes to coronavirus policies is a central problem being experienced by local resilience forums (LRFs), says new research.
Ready for a restart?
With local resilience forums being hampered by factors outside of their control, Solace spokeswoman for civil resilience and community safety Kirsten England asks if a complete reset is needed in central-local relations.
Time to give LRFs back some value
The Government’s ‘top down’ approach has undermined local resilience forums’ ability to deliver local COVID-19 capabilities efficiently, say Dr Arabella Kyprianides and a group of specialist academics and former senior police officers.
Six lessons for devolution from COVID-19
A localised and nimble response to the coronavirus outbreak is important, say Colin Copus and Steve Leach, who highlight six broad lessons to inform devolution.
Redrawing our future after COVID
What we have learnt from coronavirus is that we need flexibility, adaptability and civic solidarity, says Dr Jonathan Carr-West - and in the next phases of the pandemic the need for relocalisation will become more urgent for at least three reasons.
Righting Wrongs
Anger and tumult have exploded around the world following the death of George Floyd. Ann McGauran reports on the effects of the waves of protest and how councils are working to ease tensions.
Give councils the powers and funds to transform their societies
As counties begin to move out of the most stringent lockdown measures, CCN member councils will be starting to set out bold visions for their areas, says Simon Edwards.
What have we learned from London councils’ response to COVID-19?
Rebecca Eligon and transformation lead colleagues from councils across London write of their ‘deep pride’ in the way local government has ‘really stepped up’ in response to COVID-19.
Let’s remake the state
The state is a centralised, broken mess, says Professor Donna Hall. Instead of getting the public behind a common enemy, we should be harnessing public anger to reimagine local public services.
Listen to the experts on the front line
Heather Jameson says that if the Government’s mantra is that it will take the evidence over opinion and listen to reason, it should be listening to local government – those on the front line who have to deal with everyday issues.
COVID-19: Is Government really led by the science?
Jason Lowther argues that building in practical knowledge from councils and emergency planners could help avoid recommendations that prove impossible to implement effectively.
The transformative power of collaboration in a crisis
Bickering, arguments and tribalism were swept away when the COVID-19 emergency struck Essex, with partners galvanised by a common purpose, writes Gavin Jones.
Road to disaster?
With a huge proportion of income vanishing almost overnight, there is the very real possibility that every council in Yorkshire will have to issue s114 notices, says Cllr Judith Blake.
Ministers under pressure over school opening
Ministers are under increasing pressure to rethink its plans to open schools on 1 June after more councils highlighted safety concerns.
EXCLUSIVE: No-deal Brexit planning would 'overwhelm' emergency response
Planning for a no-deal Brexit at the end of this year would ‘overwhelm’ the country’s emergency response capacity, the Government has been warned in a leaked report.
There is an opportunity to dump the centralist approach
Tackling the coronavirus crisis has been held back by a ‘central government know best’ approach, says Heather Jameson.
