SOLACE
Collaborative leadership for thriving places
PlaceMakers is an immersive programme that brings local leaders from all sectors together to develop a collective understanding of their place. Anna Randle explains why single-sector leadership development programmes ‘are increasingly not enough’
Going places
Martin Reeves says despite the Treasury’s positive assessment of the Total Place pilots over a decade ago, the initiative fell off the radar. He calls on the new Prime Minister to ‘reinvigorate a successor’.
The current standards regime is not fit for purpose
The recommendations within the Committee for Standards in Public Life report on local government standards must be taken seriously by the sector and Whitehall, says Graeme McDonald.
EXCLUSIVE: Miller in talent exodus warning
The ‘vilification’ of public servants risks driving considerable talent out of local government, former president of chief executives’ organisation Solace, Jo Miller, has told The MJ.
'We've broken the social contract with people'
Former Society of Local Authority Chief Executives president Jo Miller is leaving her chief executive role at Doncaster MBC to take up a new local government post in New Zealand. She talks to Heather Jameson about her legacy.
EXCLUSIVE: Treasurers reject financial management plan
Treasurers have called for wholesale changes to a planned overhaul of financial management in councils as they rejected a draft code.
Elections staff left asking questions on EU poll payments
Elections staff remain in the dark over the payments they will receive if the EU polls are cancelled.
Chiefs hit back at 'rich list'
Chief executives have hit back at claims from the Taxpayers’ Alliance pressure group that more local authority staff are being paid six-figure salaries.
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.
Sector unites in call for Troubled Families funding
The local government sector has urged the Treasury to continue funding the Troubled Families programme following a glowing report on its impact.
Local government employment down 2%
Local government employment has fallen by 2% over the last year, new figures have shown.
End 'lazy language of austerity,' sector urged
Government’s choice to target councils for cuts rather than austerity is to blame for local government’s financial woes, leading finance experts have argued.
EXCLUSIVE: Avoiding the precipice
As councils seek ways to meet the funding gap, Martin Reeves and Rob Whiteman look at the implications for the future of public services and how we need a mature debate on prevention, accountability and joined up services. Heather Jameson reports
Former SOLACE president gets New Zealand role
One of local government’s most high profile chief executives, Jo Miller, is leaving to take up a post in New Zealand.
EXCLUSIVE: Sector fumes over lack of pre-Brexit briefing
Councils have threatened to walk away from Government attempts to engage with them on Brexit amid growing frustrations about the response to their concerns.
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.
SOLACE recruits former Localis chief executive
Alex Thomson has been announced as head of policy at the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE).
'Cuts begin to bite' for Scottish authorities
Funding cuts are finally beginning to take their toll as Scottish councils can no longer protect services, according to report published today.
EXCLUSIVE: Sector organisations to meet after high-profile chief departures
Talks have started between two local government organisations after two high-profile chief executives parted company with their council just months after being appointed.
125 years and the issues remain the same
Spending time poring over issues of The MJ (Municipal Journal) from the past 125 years – as you will see from this week's supplement – it is remarkable how much things change and yet they remain the same, says Heather Jameson