Transformation
Radical transformation’s biggest gift
As the COVID-19 crisis escalates, its impact has shifted the community empowerment and participation agenda into overdrive, writes Heather Jameson as she looks at what the lasting legacy could be for local government and society.
‘We must speak truth to power’
HR directors gathered for a Penna/The MJ round table to discuss a service with an ‘identity crisis’ – and whether they can drive disruption and transformation at pace and scale. Heather Jameson reports.
Fit for the future
Surrey County Council and PwC outline the ‘very clear and powerful’ shared ambition driving their joint approach to transformation – focused on creating an inclusive and healthy place where people are proud to live.
Building communities for change
In order to deliver sustainable and impactful change we need to take a whole place-based approach that involves deep understanding of what each group within a network contributes, says creative director at FutureGov Robbie Bates.
Organising for change
Dominic Campbell looks ahead to the NLGN’s upcoming flagship event, assessing how the sector can make the most of the power of change
Council bid to breach accounting rules
A request to the Government for a capitalisation direction has been made by Peterborough City Council.
More power for the people
Margaret Bolton argues that it’s time to establish a Community Wealth Fund to devolve decision-making power and resources to the residents of the communities that have been ‘left behind’.
More weirdos wanted!
You don’t have to be brilliant at digital, algorithms or a weirdo to see that naked self-preservation and worrying about rocking the boat too dramatically is what is behind the failure to deliver local public service reform, observes Donna Hall.
Boston urged to ‘shout loudly’
The council has been told it should be proud of its achievements following a corporate peer challenge by the Local Government Association.
Two out of three councils eat into reserves
Two-thirds of councils have reduced their general fund reserves over the last three years, a new report by Scotland’s watchdog for local government has found.
New management roles to reflect changed emphasis
Durham Council is to create two new roles in its senior management team, partly to reflect the growing importance of climate change and the environment.
Once upon a place...
Susan Parsonage says the stories local leaders tell have tremendous power to remind us of our common purpose of transforming lives and places.
Lessons learned from two years of the State of Transformation
Benjamin Taylor reviews the landscape of local government transformation over two years of case studies, conferences and academies. The picture that emerges is both a depressing and inspiring one.
Learning to lead is essential to the future
Nadira Hussain asks how the sector can future-proof continuous improvement when technology and ‘need’ evolve all the time.
Welsh Government announces £500,000 a year for digital officer
Local authority leaders in Wales have welcomed an announcement that the Welsh Government will pay £500,000 per year towards the cost of a local government digital officer.
Shaping a 21st century Jersey
Charlie Parker arrived in the top job at the States of Jersey determined to bring in a programme of change. Heather Jameson talks to him about the scale of the task he faced and what he’s achieving.
Why telling a straight story matters
How do you create the compelling narrative that in the first case secures funding, but also engages people who need to change how they think and what they do, asks Tracie Langley. Sometimes reality is just too complex - 'so simple narratives work'.
Improvement board formed for troubled council
The Welsh Government has formed an improvement board to oversee changes at Merthyr Tydfil CBC after a review into the troubled council.
Nine myths about your council’s digital transformation
Michael Taylor drives customer expansion in the UK for novoville, the citizen engagement and digital transformation expert with over 50 clients in 3 European countries. Here he analyses some of the common digital fears that councils harbour.
Wigan’s next chapter
The success of Wigan MBC’s 2013 Deal has prompted the council go one step further with Deal 2030. Alison McKenzie-Folan explains.
