Queens Speech
Dawn Baxendale: Chiefs have lost their public service raison d’être
Dawn Baxendale speaks to Sam Clayden about how Southampton City Council – and local government as a whole – will be grappling with an increasingly uncertain future
Westminster could learn something from local place leadership
Judith Blake highlights some of the outstanding examples of whole-place leadership in the UK's cities - an approach those in Westminster may be wise to adopt.
Local Government Finance Bill: A big let-down for the sector
With a parliamentary agenda lacking much in terms of legislation for the next two years aside from a series of Bills aimed at delivering a ‘smooth and orderly’ Brexit, Sam Clayden reports on the sector’s reaction to last week's Queen's Speech.
Local government has been left in limbo
A lack of finance reform legislation may give local government the chance to craft a better solution for the future of funding, writes Heather Jameson.
Where next for local government financial reform?
With the falling of the Local Government Finance Bill, the IFS's David Phillips assesses where this leaves reforms to the sector's finance system.
Central government inertia spells opportunities for cities
Central inertia and growing concern about the economy presents real opportunities for city leaders to show their fundamental importance, writes Patrick White.
Austerity must be eased
Heather Jameson says that without the return of business rates or a solution to the social care crisis, the only option must be the easing of austerity.
Little substance predicted from Queen's Speech
The Queen’s Speech is set to have Brexit at its heart but not much else, according to predictions in the run up to the state opening of Parliament.
Warning over ‘proxy vote’ as elections clash
The local elections could be turned into a ‘proxy vote on party politics and Brexit’ by the General Election weeks later, a think-tank boss has warned.
An appetite for reform
Following the raft of bills announced in the Queen’s Speech, Bob Neill MP explains why local government faces a pivotal year ahead
Corridors of Power: The Queen
Oh dear. Those pesky TV cameras have been eavesdropping on her Majesty again at another Buckingham Palace garden party…
A nugget of digital gold
As the Digital Authority Forum gets underway, Dean Wanless explains how interesting work on digital innovation held in the Queen's Speech could have significant ramifications for local government
Straight talking
The recent Queen’s Speech has promised huge implications for the sector. Heather Jameson examines the key points
Reading the small print
Mark Rogers gives his view on the Queen's Speech and considers hints at another devolution drive building in central government
Data sharing ‘will boost public sector evolution’
Public sector transformation could be given a boost after the Government revealed plans in the Queen’s Speech to allow more sharing of data across authorities.
Queen's Speech 2016: Local government at the heart of legislation
The Government has vowed to strengthen life chances and continue to bring public spending under control as it revealed a legislative programme with local government at its heart.
Queen's Speech 2016: MPs to reassert power over peers
The power of MPs in the House of Commons could be strengthened under plans announced in today’s Queen’s Speech.
Queen's Speech 2016: Crack down on extremists working with vulnerable groups
Councils will be given the power to stop extremists from working with children or vulnerable people, under tough new measures unveiled today in the Queen's speech.
Everyone should have the right to be heard
As calls come for a radical re-think of the government’s current complaints system, Mark Whitehead looks at the ways local authorities can work with their communities and enable the real issues of the day to surface.
LGA sets out key priorities
The Local Government Association (LGA) has chosen five key pieces of legislation from the Queen’s Speech to target as lobbying priorities, it has emerged.