Local democracy
Jenrick warned of legal action over end to virtual meetings
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick has been served a pre-action letter warning of legal action to allow virtual council meetings to continue.
We need to better capture the impact of community power
New Local's latest report forensically and persuasively shows community power works, and now we need to measure it better, says Luca Tiratelli.
Calls to vaccinate election workers grow
Pressure is growing for key election workers to be prioritised in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout after the Government confirmed polls will take place in May.
What's the future for digital democracy without virtual meetings?
Handforth Parish Council aside, if we can't hold council meeting via Zoom beyond 6 May, what will democracy look like after the elections, asks Kathy O'Leary
The problem with polls
Local government has finally learned that two years’ worth of elections will take place on ‘Super Thursday’ 6 May, with a ‘high bar’ for any delay. Martin Ford talks to the sector about the challenges ahead.
Why is central government not listening?
The pandemic has given local authorities the opportunity to shine and demonstrate to government that we can work effectively together, argues Blair Mcpherson.
Let’s digitise local democracy in civil, safe and productive ways
If the Handforth Parish Council video proved anything, it’s the need to digitise democracy, say Wietse Van Ransbeeck and Lora Botev.
Government 'understands' virtual meetings call
Sector representatives have been told their arguments for allowing virtual meetings to continue have been ‘well-made and are understood’ by the Government.
Cross-party backing for European charter
The European charter of local self-government took a step closer to being incorporated into Scots law after a Bill received cross-party support at stage one.
Don’t make local elections yet another COVID victim
As we have seen elsewhere, local elections can and have taken place in COVID times, says Professor Colin Copus.
It is time to digitise democracy
In May we will be back to the council chamber, all due to a lack of legislation to let councils continue online, says Heather Jameson. Keeping digital democracy 'would work wonders for the levelling up agenda', she adds.
Will May be a missed chance?
The Prime Minister wants the elections to go ahead. But Dr Jonathan Carr-West says that whether a U-turn ‘has already happened or is still to come, we have missed an opportunity to make an early and clear decision’.
Legal advice sought in fight to keep remote meetings
Local government officers are seeking legal advice to work out if councils can continue to hold meetings remotely without a change to the law.
Local authorities and coronavirus
Tiffany Cloynes and Clare Hardy of Geldards look at the implications of the pandemic for the way local authorities operate, and the adjustments they need to make.
Hall puts pressure on Croydon for May mayoral referendum
Local government minister Luke Hall has suggested any referendum on introducing a directly-elected mayor for Croydon LBC should be held in May alongside the local elections.
Jenrick: I would love remote meetings to continue
Robert Jenrick has said he would ‘love’ councils to be able to continue holding remote meetings but there are no plans to change the law.
Council elections must be set aside until the autumn at least
In the midst of the pandemic, postponing the local elections until the autumn/winter ‘would be the sensible, moral, safe thing to do,' says Paul Shevlin.
A letter to Santa from local government in England
It feels as if local government is on everyone’s ‘naughty list’ at present, says Colin Copus. Here, he writes to Santa with a long list of things all councils would like for Christmas.
The 2020s offer us the opportunity to truly realise the potential of places
When local government puts civil society at the heart of what they do, it brings democracy closer to the people, argues the Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees.
Let's grasp this opportunity to create One Somerset for outstanding public services
A single council for Somerset is the best option for the county, argues Cllr David Fothergill. 'On every test, it delivers over the alternative five organisation approach'.
