Scrutiny
Tackling our next big governance challenge
As the changes that need to be made to local services become more profound, we must involve a wider range of councillors in how to use information about risk. Ed Hammond explains.
Watchdog calls for regional partnership boards to improve accountability
The accountability of regional partnership boards (RPBs) should be improved, according to Audit Wales.
Respect, Standards and Freedom of Expression
In the main, councillors should not fear being disciplined or called to account for their sincerely held views, passionately expressed, says Nick Graham.
Advisers brought in to boost Liverpool governance
Two independent advisers have been co-opted onto Liverpool City Council’s audit committee in a bid to strengthen the authority’s governance.
Becoming a trusted news source for care in Scotland
Jenny Copland of the Care Inspectorate discusses how putting simple measures in place before COVID-19 hit enabled her team to share crucial updates with care professionals.
When robust scrutiny becomes unfounded abuse
Michael Burton says surely 'citizen journalists' should accept the same ethical standards as professional journalists, and he asks why 'unelected public servants' shouldn't have the same protection against unfair criticism granted to the public.
Tory council criticised over shopping centre purchase
A Conservative-led Surrey council has been criticised for failing to follow ‘good practice’ during its purchase of a shopping centre.
Losing the confidence of members
It’s crucial for managers to keep the confidence of members, says Blair McPherson. ‘But the trouble is they are increasingly reliant on the information they’re fed by their bosses.’
Combined authorities advised to ‘revisit’ devo deals
Combined authorities may need to ‘revisit’ devolution deals to help regions recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Northants commissioners in ‘hubris’ warning
Councils have been warned against falling victim to ‘hubris’ in the same manner as Northamptonshire CC.
Report shows 'accountability vacuum' in council finances
A damning report into citizen’s experiences of scrutinising their councils’ finances has claimed there is an ‘accountability vacuum’.
Liverpool Labour and the wider party should never have let this happen
After Max Caller's 'shocking' report on Liverpool City Council, Labour needs to make a case for good governance, and let go of its centralising tendencies, says Emma Burnell.
Councillors call extraordinary meeting over director secondment
Councillors in Stockport said they had been ‘treated with contempt’ after a joint director with Tameside MBC was appointed without their knowledge.
What can be learnt from the recent Public Interest Reports?
Paul Dossett of Grant Thornton UK considers the key lessons for local government that have emerged from the recent Public Interest Reports.
Councils should not 'overly collude' with 'flagellation' on governance
Councils should not ‘overly collude’ with the ‘flagellation that sometimes comes from the centre’ on their state of governance, according to a London borough chief executive.
A toolkit for good governance
Launched this week, a new framework for examining complex local governance challenges focused on behaviours and culture provides a ‘common language’ to talk about risk, says Lord Bob Kerslake.
Groundwork laid for combined authority
Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council are pressing ahead with laying the political groundwork for a combined authority as they await a decision from the Government.
Local scrutiny should stay embedded in the local community
Local scrutiny can and must play an ongoing and supportive role relating to the Secretary of State’s new powers as outlined in the recent white paper for NHS and social care reform, says Ed Hammond.
Building citizen centred systems to deliver the best integrated care
Local government has the mechanisms and knowledge to ensure place, neighbourhoods and citizens are at the heart of integrated care systems which are responsive to local needs and accountable to communities, says Anja Beriro of Browne Jacobson.
Picking up lessons from poker
Nick Graham explains why local authority decision-makers should play more poker, and listen to their lawyers.
