Mayors
Arithmetic matters
The new director of IPPR North, Zoë Billingham, speaks to Ann McGauran about taking on the role at a time of political and economic turmoil, and gives her verdict on how the Government’s flagship levelling up policy is shaping up.
Leaders to reconsider governance overhaul
Fears have been raised plans to ‘re-establish’ the West of England joint committee could put £600m of funding at risk.
Croydon elects Conservative mayor
Croydon LBC has voted in a Conservative mayor, bucking the trend for a shift to the left in the Capital.
Former mayor takes Tower Hamlets after elections ban
Lutfur Rahman, has won the Tower Hamlets LBC mayoralty six years after an electoral commissioner removed him from office.
Bristol votes to abolish elected mayor
Bristol voters have decided to abolish the city’s directly elected mayor following a referendum.
Break for the border!
Diary hears our Australian cousins could soon be giving some pointers on how to emulate renaissance Italy’s city states.
The Hunt is on...or is it?
Regular readers will be well aware of Diary’s penchant for county days and flags.
Chief warns leaders over governance overhaul
A chief executive has warned council leaders a proposed governance overhaul will put £600m of Government funding at risk.
Mayor's meetings with contractors breached constitution
Meetings between Middlesbrough’s Mayor and contractors over the council’s flagship regeneration project were against the council’s constitution, internal auditors have found.
No time like the present to commit to buses
The importance of buses in levelling up cannot be overstated, but political ambition supported by tough funding decisions will required to realise their potential, says Andrew Carter.
Helping the mayoral medicine go down
There is a willingness to enter into negotiations on a county deal in good faith, but there seems to be a mismatch between our ambition and what may be on offer, says chief executive of Great Yarmouth BC Sheila Oxtoby.
Sector must 'step up' the case for devolution
Liverpool’s metro mayor has urged councils offered devolution deals to ‘snap the Government’s hand off’.
Talks held on East Midlands combined authority
Proposals for an East Midlands combined authority covering Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire could be put forward to the Government as part of county deal negotiations.
From Russia without love
The road from Moscow to Kyiv passes through Belgravia in Westminster, according to a video that’s going viral this week.
Let’s reflect and represent communities’ diversity
This International Women’s Day offers a great chance for local government to reflect on the scale of ambition needed to make itself more representative of the people it stands for, says Erica Roscoe.
Gove opposed to mayor referendums
Levelling up secretary Michael Gove has said he is not in favour of putting devolution proposals to public votes.
Ministers stand firm on mayors
Council leaders have been told areas negotiating a non-mayoral devolution deal will not be granted any powers beyond those in the Levelling Up White Paper.
Devo should not be about what Whitehall is prepared to cede
After nearly a decade of devolution, the Levelling Up White Paper has finally created a blueprint for devolved decision-making. Jessica Studdert calls for less ‘divide and rule’ and more decentralisation.
Still no fiscal fix
What is missing from the Levelling Up White Paper, can its targets can be met and how does the Government intend to increase its grip on how local services are doing? Heather Jameson reports.
Councils rule out mayoral model
Two areas have already ruled out adopting mayors despite being selected by the Government to be in the first wave of county devolution deals.
