Shining a strong light
January 15, 2020
The Local Government Association is about to launch a review of its peer challenge process. Paul Marinko asks whether the approach is robust enough to meet the demands of a tough financial climate.
Analysis
-
A gap that will prove hard to close
January 9, 2020
Dan Peters investigates the scale of the funding challenge faced by the 32 councils told by the Government to bring their SEND funding deficit back into balance within three years.
-
Councils are faring well on finance
January 9, 2020
Last month, CIPFA published its resilience index tool – and the picture for local government is better than expected. Heather Jameson looks at the data.
-
Rooted in the real world
January 9, 2020
Director of the New Local Government Network, Adam Lent, talks to Ann McGauran about the impact made by the think-tank during his three years of leadership and the next steps for empowering communities.
-
Ringing the changes
December 16, 2019
Localis chief executive Jonathan Werran on how the Johnson government might seek to tackle the challenges brought by its unexpectedly broad mandate.
You may have missed
Retro-fitting councils around the 21st century
The MJ and BT recently conducted a survey of local authority directors to find out how they believe 5G will affect their organisations. The conclusions formed part of the discussion at a roundtable debate. Martin Ford reports.
Moving up to the next level
Earlier this year, Suffolk CC’s peer challenge report said the time was right to drive leadership further, and ‘be bolder’. So how are leader Matthew Hicks and chief executive Nicola Beach faring? Ann McGauran reports
Breaking down the barriers between councils and the NHS
How are HR heads overcoming the barriers to closer working between councils and the NHS? Michael Burton put questions to London borough HR leads at a recent monthly meeting.
York’s rural champions
North Yorkshire CC has launched an independent rural commission, believed to be the first of its kind, to give a fresh perspective on the challenges faced by its deeply rural communities. Heather Jameson takes a look.
Councils ‘set up to fail’ on SEND
A committee of MPs has acknowledged the Government’s proposal for a significant increase in high needs block funding next year - but say it will make little difference without ‘a systemic cultural shift’. Ann McGauran reports.
NILGA’s no-deal dilemma
Karen Smyth explains how Northern Ireland’s local councils are playing a pivotal role in helping their communities get ready for whatever Brexit outcome lies ahead. Ann McGauran reports.
From the archive
Tweeting the gap between #localgov and communities
This year councils showed a greater appetite for and invested more time in using social media than ever before, explains Adam Leeder.
A healthy new direction or a costly gamble?
Judith Barnes and Ros Ashcroft examine the legal and constitutional implictions of Greater Manchester Combined Authority taking control of a combined £6bn health and social care budget from 2016.
Dealer’s choice
City devolution seized the news agenda last week with the chancellor’s announcement of a City Devolution Bill in the 27 May Queen’s Speech that could drive a radical transfer of powers for cities prepared to sign up to a directly-elected mayor. [..]