Skills
London in skills devolution call
The capital has called on the Government to further devolve powers over skills funding.
The sector has a key role in reforming the Apprenticeship Levy
It's two years since the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy, and John O'Brien feels like it is time for employers including councils to be able to use it more flexibly.
Ticket to independence in Lancashire
Helping adults with physical disabilities and those over 65 stay healthy and independent for longer is a key challenge. But there are ways services can change to ensure people’s lives are transformed for the better. Louise Taylor explains
Social enterprise can play a part in reshaping our high streets
Nicola Steuer explains how the School for Social Entrepreneurs and its partners are using a new form of grant funding called Match Trading aimed at focusing social enterprises and community businesses on growth
Grounds to be optimistic - but let's not get carried away
Andrew Carter says there are reasons to be optimistic about an urban policy renaissance under this Government - but the most significant intervention Boris Johnson could do for cities is to agree a deal with the EU.
A challenging story of ‘care and neglect’
Tom Stannard says there is much to support in the Augar review for local government in terms of fixing a broken policy and funding system for further education (FE) and higher education (HE), but there is a ‘risk it goes the way of the adult social care Green Paper in the Spending Review and suffers multiple delays and dilutions’
Mace chosen for university project
Project management consultancy Mace has been selected to support Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority in delivering a new university.
Narrowing the outcomes gap in Kensington & Chelsea
Kensington & Chelsea RLBC has published a plan to create a successful economy and tackle the barriers preventing residents from fulfilling their potential, says Cllr Catherine Faulks
Finding the skills for a full house
Martin Ford reports on a round table hosted by Penna, discussing the role of local government in helping deliver the Government’s ambitious targets for new housing.
Dear Chancellor
As the dust settles on the Conservative leadership announcements, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Rob Whiteman writes an open letter to the new Chancellor Sajid Javid hoping for bold, transformative action.
We will not rest on our laurels
Waltham Forest Council won Local Authority of the Year in the MJ Awards 2019. Martin Esom and Cllr Clare Coghill believe the achievement is the result of ‘nearly a decade of relentless focus and grip’.
A Great Western Powerhouse is the 'missing piece of the jigsaw'
The ‘missing piece of the jigsaw’ for driving inclusive growth at scale is a Great Western Powerhouse waiting to happen, according to a landmark report launched yesterday at the House of Lords.
Non-metropolitan councils need the power to tackle barriers to growth
The Post-Brexit England Commission’s final report has set out a prospectus to Government of ‘tangible, practical proposals’ with the potential to ‘make a difference to local communities quickly’.
Mid-sized cities should be Government’s automatic choice for tech impact pilots
Chair of the Key Cities Group Cllr Peter Box says mid-sized cities are ideally positioned to be the UK's automation pilot areas (AutoPilots)
Brexit and austerity blows threaten service delivery
Nearly half of local authorities say some councils will fail to deliver essential services over the next year, says PwC’s latest annual local government survey.
Council chiefs cut through the social class barriers
So local government is less elite than most. Does it matter? Heather Jameson would argue it does.
Shaping careers for the nation
Tees Valley Combined Authority has been awarded a Careers Hub extension after being involved in the Department for Education’s first national pilot to improve careers support for young people. Ben Houchen outlines the region’s winning approach.
What can local authorities learn from the local industrial strategies signed so far?
Last week Manchester Combined Authority backed by local public and private sector leaders agreed England’s second local industrial strategy (LIS). Adam Cunnington says local government is central to this process
Regeneration schemes need to be about more than bricks and mortar
Damian White outlines how Havering Council's joint venture housing regeneration scheme for 3,000 new homes will deliver social value through increased investment in local SMEs, education, training and skills.
Searching locally for the antidote to populism
How can local government leaders help cohesive communities to flourish in a time of growing populism and in the middle of a central political and policy vacuum? Ann McGauran reports