Local democracy
'Cracks' starting to show in electoral system
Election administrators have warned of ‘cracks’ beginning to show in the electoral system with the prospect of another poll on the horizon.
We’re bringing our people closer to us
Dudley MBC has embraced the use of its website and social media presence, allowing residents to get closer than ever to the people providing their services. Cllr Patrick Harley discusses the experience so far
Hopes of devolution framework revival
Sector sources remain hopeful that the long-promised devolution framework could still be revived after a private informal meeting with Government officials about the next steps.
Conservatives in Scottish mayoral call
Scotland’s seven cities should have directly-elected mayors or provosts, the Scottish Conservatives’ finance spokesman has said.
Wheatley at 50 – plus ça change?
In 1969, the Wheatley review of Scottish local government said something was seriously wrong with the system. Fifty years on not much has changed and while we don’t need a review re-run it's a good starting point for reform, says Bill Howat.
Co-designing the West Midlands’ future democracy with young people
Cllr Brigid Jones says this week - which includes International Youth Day - is a fitting time to reflect on why the West Midlands Combined Authority has launched the Young Combined Authority.
Setting standards for democracy
Proposals to suspend councillors for their misdemeanours may cause more problems than they solve, argues Colin Copus. Instead, the public should have the right of recall
Leave those kids alone
Claire Fox says councils continue to thwart kids’ play activities in the interests of bureaucracy
'Nearly everyone' showed correct ID in voter trials
An independent evaluation of voter ID trials in May has found they were a success and ‘nearly everyone’ showed the correct identification.
Local government must surely be up for a shift to insourcing
Labour has published a plan for ‘21st century insourcing’. John Tizard says the party is 'not simply arguing for a return to the early 1970s' - 'rather they want to reset the dial’ so that public services are more democratic and accountable.
MPs to examine devolution progress
Progress on devolution in England will be scrutinised by a new Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee inquiry.
Voter ID confidence drops
The proportion of people who think voter ID helps to prevent electoral fraud has dropped from 52% in 2016 to 35% in 2019, new research has found.
Call for Liverpool intervention after mayoral review frustration
Liverpool City Council’s Lib Dem leader has called for the Government to intervene after he claimed the authority blocked his attempts to review the elected mayor position.
Council hits back after MP calls for abolition
Telford & Wrekin Council has said calls from an MP for its abolition are an ‘insult to democracy and residents’.
The basic laws of political physics
Dr Jonathan Carr-West says pressure provides a burning platform and the political vacuum an opportunity for action. But if the atmosphere remains toxic, we won’t be able to move forward at all
‘Enough is enough’
Chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) Peter Stanyon says a root and branch review of election delivery must happen, with the concerns of those on the frontline heard and understood
Counting the costs of the 'break-neck speed' EU elections
Returning officer Ian Miller writes in a personal capacity about the lessons Government and the House of Commons must learn after two major elections within three weeks - and he backs the recent Localis call for five-year terms for councillors.
Impartiality has never been more important
Louise Round says that for many in districts over the coming years, the lines - red or otherwise - may not be drawn on a party-political basis.
Sufficient polling stations are essential to democracy
Allen Graham says he is continually impressed by how Rushcliffe BC's election staff respond to immense logistical and administrative pressures.
Counting the costs of the EU Exit process
When the dust settles on the UK's departure from the European Union there will surely be a formal public inquiry into how the government has handled the process, says Ian Miller