Management
Don’t be afraid to jump in the deep end
Donna Hall maintains that if we are serious about bringing about positive change we need to work out how our own behaviours influence the culture of an organisation or a team.
21st century leadership, technology and climate change
A number of councils in the UK have declared a climate change emergency. Max Wide says that while better technologies will help, what’s really needed to change behaviour is ‘bold, artful and technologically aware leadership’
Do no evil
Defining integrity is easy, says Blair Mcpherson. The difficult part is applying it in a complex political environment such as local government.
Elvery: Improving children's outcomes is top priority after Ofsted blow
West Sussex CC’s boss Nathan Elvery has said improving outcomes for the most vulnerable children is the council’s ‘top priority’ after Ofsted rated services inadequate.
Brighton claims there's no grounds for bin strike
Brighton & Hove City Council has insisted strike action is 'unwarranted' as a union threatens to hold an industrial action ballot.
A ‘genuine joy’ for local government
Amanda Deeks is retiring from her chief executive role at South Gloucestershire Council. She says setting a culture is about listening to and respecting others – and she believes this has helped to create an environment where women have thrived.
The importance of team bonds
Tracie Evans ponders the challenge of managing multiple contracted companies working on a single programme. She concludes that KPIs are important to success, but making sure the client makes time for collaborative work is even more crucial.
Tackling tricky social issues in the SameRoom
Alex Bailey outlines how Adur DC and Worthing BC use the platform of good systems leaders and robust, low-code applications-building to achieve new solutions to long-standing local problems.
A day in the life
Staff from district councils put their future leadership talents to the test during this year’s District Councils’ Network Leadership Challenge Day. Ann McGauran reports on the highlights.
What a good manager looks like
Assessing the effectiveness of senior managers is not as simple as examining their track record, according to Blair Mcpherson. How do you separate out the effects of available resources, inherited talent, local circumstances, quality of the board and luck?
Mr Benn and the rise of the super directorate
It is clear the role of chief officer is rapidly being reframed - and they often find themselves in a Mr Benn-like world, according to Paul O'Brien.
Teams help make Salisbury a success
In the aftermath of the Salisbury Novichok attack, the town faces a unique issue with its local economy. Wiltshire Council asked the second LG Challenge of the year to come up with plans to rebuild its high street, writes Robert Gibson.
Districts are definitely ready for challenges
The last two sessions of this year’s District Councils’ Network staff development programme featured teams facing challanges in a calm, collected and very creative way, says Louise Round.
How chiefs can lead digital change
At a round table debate in Manchester, The MJ and BT discussed the implications of digital transformation for senior management of local authorities. Heather Jameson reports.
EXCLUSIVE: Community cropping up in more top roles
The growing importance of community-focused roles has grown among senior management positions, according to research by The MJ.
In space no one can hear you laugh
Each team needs a member 'who is a bit of a comedian, a mediator and peace maker, who takes the tension out of a situation and replaces it with a smile', says Blair Mcpherson
Council should 'build on lessons learned' after critical review
King’s Lynn & West Norfolk BC should ‘build on the lessons learned’ from the construction of a state-of-the-art commercial workspace, the council’s chief executive has said.
New directors help children's services improve
A new senior leadership team has brought ‘drive, energy and focus’ to Croydon LBC’s efforts to improve after an inadequate Ofsted judgement 18 months ago, inspectors have found.
Cost of Dorset redundancies to be recovered in 20 months
Nine proposed senior officer redundancies made as part of the creation of new unitary Dorset Council will pay for themselves in 20 months, it has been announced.
Why we back exec leaders
Cllr Barry Lewis and Cllr Andrew Proctor outline why Derbyshire CC and Norfolk CC have replaced the traditional chief executive position with a system where the council leaders have a more corporate leadership role