Solace

The message from senior officers’ group Solace is clear: adult social care reform, neighbourhood health and devolution must be treated not as separate agendas, but as interconnected parts of a wide...

POLICY

Pervasive centralism continues

By Ian Miller | 22 October 2026

A lack of progress with the MHCLG’s review of fees and charges, and a conflict between changes to...

Newcastle chief to become new Solace president

By Paul Marinko | 21 October 2026

Newcastle City Council chief executive Pam Smith has been announced as the next president of Sola...

GOVERNANCE

Local government: Leading through testing times

By Ann McGauran | 21 October 2026

Natalie Brahma-Pearl and Stephen Gabriel talk to Ann McGauran about the challenges faced by globa...

GOVERNANCE

Local government: Time for tougher standards to deal with abuse and bullying

By Ann McGauran | 21 October 2026

The report of the Solace Commission on Professional Standards and Ethics has been published. Kath...

GOVERNANCE

Getting online back in line

By Martin Ford | 21 October 2026

Social media has had a seismic impact on the political landscape, but it now faces calls to curb ...

STANDARDS

Local government demands action on online abuse

By Martin Ford | 21 October 2026

Local government has called for ministers to hold social media firms responsible for online abuse...

GOVERNANCE

Solace standards report highlights lack of police engagement

By Ann McGauran | 21 October 2026

The year-long Standards Commission put together by senior officers’ group Solace today highlighte...

SOLACE

EXCLUSIVE: Outgoing Solace president issues rewiring the state warning

By Paul Marinko | 21 October 2026

Solace chief urges local government to ‘seize the moment’ amid concerns of divisions derailing th...

SOLACE SUMMIT

Councils must seize chance to rewire the state

By Paul Marinko | 21 October 2026

As he prepares to stand down from the presidency of Solace, Robin Tuddenham tells Paul Marinko ho...

REWIRING LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Councils must prove their relevance

By Barry Quirk | 21 October 2026

As the sector awaits the arrival of a devolution White Paper expected to contain a blueprint for ...