Spending Review
Government must get education right to 'level up'
How the Government manages school catch-up policy is closely linked to the levelling up agenda, says Andrew Carter of Centre for Cities. And it needs to ensure it gets education right for both children and adults, he adds.
Playing it long
A Localis policy webinar on long-term local government finances indicated strategic pragmatism will be order of the day for the sector until the mid-2020s, writes Jonathan Werran.
EXCLUSIVE: Finance reforms in 2022-23 'challenging but possible'
Government officials believe it is still possible to introduce much-anticipated finance reforms to the sector in time for the next financial year, The MJ understands.
In one year...
Monday at 2.30pm might be a time for digesting sandwiches and tentatively sipping on a steaming mug of coffee.
Finance teams must stay in the loop
Local government finance teams must be constantly inquisitive about Government policy changes that may impact on them, and the new Environmental Bill is one example, says Adele Taylor.
Will Zoom speed up reform?
As the Government plans a new round of public sector reform Michael Burton considers the impact of the Zoom revolution.
Consider the risks of terminating COVID support prematurely
Currently additional COVID support beyond June is in doubt. 'The uncertainty this poses for councils cannot be underestimated', says chief executive of CIPFA Rob Whiteman.
Now's not the time to be shy
With a Spending Review later this year, local government finance leads should be 'making our case and evidencing what our resources deliver', says Adele Taylor.
Seize the reins
The County Councils Network's new business plan for recovery and renewal puts forward evidence-based practical proposals to influence the Government's key agendas across six clear priorities, says Simon Edwards.
Building back better and fairer
Tameside MBC’s Budget and focus on Inclusive Growth offers a platform to work together to seize an opportunity to build a new and better future, argues Cllr Oliver Ryan.
Pandemic forces finance reform rethink
Whitehall plans for local government finance reform were thrown into doubt this week after civil servants indicated the pandemic would force them to rethink.
Cost-benefit analyses: Making the most of Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ fund
Mark Matthews looks at how cost-benefit analyses can improve local authorities’ chances of success in making a successful bid to the Levelling Up Fund.
Under pressure from many directions
Last week’s Budget made optimistic assumptions about post-pandemic costs that could mean cuts in services like local government down the line, reports Michael Burton.
Post pandemic public purse propositions
Mike Bennett and Tim Byles outline a holistic and strategic approach on post pandemic public spending in order to navigate the dangers ahead.
Experienced drivers wanted
Let our localities choose which local delivery vehicles should drive growth and recovery from government’s post-Brexit cash pots, writes Localis chief executive, Jonathan Werran.
Finding more funding
A flurry of Government grants have been received by local authorities in the wake of the pandemic. While this has helped some councils stabilise finances, what longer-term approach is needed to balance budgets? Martin Ford reports.
Babies’ needs overlooked in COVID response
A generation of babies risks being damaged by the fallout from the pandemic without a concerted effort from local support systems to improve outcomes, says a new report.
Seeing the bigger picture
Combining data in one place to build up a much fuller picture of what is happening within each area from a mental health perspective enables councils to have a comprehensive picture of prevalence, demand and support services, says Nick Clarke.
Levelling up our health and wealth
The current challenges can be a catalyst for a major rethink about how national and local government spends and invests to create better communities, says Solace spokesperson for economic prosperity Robin Tuddenham.
Communities and councils need the power to act locally on unemployment
We need to give local authorities the power and the means to tackle unemployment rates at a community level, says Vidhya Alakeson.
