Local democracy
Voter ID pilot using poll cards worked in Watford
Watford BC's voter ID pilot using poll cards with technology as proof of identity enhanced the elections and did not put electors off exercising their right to vote, says Gordon Amos.
EXCLUSIVE: Down to the core
Six out of 10 senior council figures admit their authority is now only delivering a basic core offer of service, The MJ and LGiU think-tank’s annual local government finance survey has revealed.
NILGA: Give councils the power to change Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) has called for the role of councils to be formally reviewed and strengthened after the elections in May, giving greater decision making powers to local people and places.
The real task ahead after deal or no-deal is to reconcile the bitter divisions
If we are to overcome the divisive nature of Brexit, we must let people into the decision-making process - and devolution provides an ideal test bed for new democratic innovation, says Sarah Longlands.
Northern Irish councils in fresh calls amid Stormont deadlock
Northern Ireland’s councils today said they need to be equipped to deliver more as the country marks two years since devolved government met at Stormont.
Putting people first
Detached is not her form of politics and she ‘worked like an absolute sod’ to capture an ‘unwinnable’ seat in Waltham Forest MBC. Council leader Clare Coghill talks to Heather Jameson
Female empowerment is in need of a boost
Women are under-represented in local government leadership roles and the West Midlands is behind the rest of the UK. Ann McGauran examines how this imbalance can be rectified
Rural councils should get the chance to influence voter ID rollout
Voter ID pilots due to take place across 11 councils this year including Craven DC will help provide an insight into the best way to ensure the integrity of the voting process in the future, says Paul Shevlin
Be the talk of the town (hall)
The way we talk about councils really matters, says Dr Jonathan Carr-West – and it’s time to speak up for local government and reclaim the powerful origins of the word ‘municipal’
Does the People's Vote clamour herald a move to more referendums?
Electoral events are, of course, at the cornerstone of our democracy. But Louise Round asks if it is possible to have too much of a good thing.
We need to talk about finance
Piali Das Gupta wants central Government, caught up with Brexit, to start paying attention to the voice of local authorities who argue that the practical needs of the people are not being met.
More councils need to help drown out the voices of hatred
Many councils are leading the chorus which is starting to drown out the voices of hatred threatening local communities - but more need to join them, says Claire Kober.
Be wary of good intentions
New Year’s resolution: however nasty social media might get, don’t let’s lobby for even more powers for Facebook, Twitter or the Met Police to brand what is difficult as hate, argues Claire Fox
Democracy's different down under
Most people are aware that voting in Australia is compulsory, but far fewer will be informed about the traditions surrounding the trip to the polls.
Reinvigorating local democracy
A conference in Newport this week looked at the future of democracy. Will Godfrey emphasises the city’s ‘proud history of making its voice heard’ and says the role and influence of local government is now more important than ever
The third option
Deliberative democracy is helping bridge the gap between people and policy says Reema Patel
Local democracy reporters aid transparency
The Local Democracy Reporting Service – the new BBC scheme that attempts to fill the gap in the reporting of local democracy issues – is already having an impact, reports Dan Peters
Democracy can only ever be the winner
Head of Local News Partnerships at the BBC, Matthew Barraclough, on a new project adding another layer of council scrutiny.
Say ‘no’ to municipal censorship
When grassroots activists proactively engage in the democratic process, they should be allowed to do so without municipal censorship, argues Claire Fox
Voter ID: Sledgehammer to crack a nut
New analysis from the Electoral Reform Society shows the Government’s voter ID trials were far from successful, writes Jess Garland.