More burden-sharing than burden-busting
July 7, 2020
Last week’s funding announcement was ‘miles away from the Government’s initial vow to support local authorities in full’ - and the sector remains unsatisfied, says Dan Peters.
Analysis
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Getting ahead of the curve
June 30, 2020
How can COVID-19 testing and tracing best harness the experience and expertise of councils, and how ready is local government for the next phase of easing lockdown? Ann McGauran reports.
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‘Give Redbridge its money back’
June 29, 2020
Redbridge’s chief executive predicts the pandemic will cost the local authority £60m He explains to Heather Jameson why he’s written to the Government to demand it covers both its expenditure and lost income.
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Life after lockdown: managing local variations
June 23, 2020
Wide local variations in the impact of the coronavirus pose a major headache to the government. Michael Burton reports on a new Institute for Fiscal Studies report examining varying needs judged by local authority areas.
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Time to relax borrowing rules
June 23, 2020
An Institute for Fiscal Studies report on coronavirus regional variations paints a stark picture for councils’ budgets, says Michael Burton.
You may have missed
‘Just be kind’
While local government has been distracted by austerity, what has happened to diversity? The MJ, Penna and North West Employers asked HR professionals where they were on equality. Heather Jameson reports.
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.
From the archive
Further streamlining ahead for local government workforce
David Fagan and Jawaid Rehman suggest the future local government workforce will be an increasingly streamlined one.
Socially enterprising Croydon
As a Social Enterprise Place, Croydon is reinvigorating local communities across the borough, creating opportunities, local wealth and changing lives for the better, writes Peter Holbrook.
Let’s get our houses in order
The NAO’s Matthew Wilkins looks at the housebuilding challenges ahead for the Government in the wake of the organisation’s recent overview on housing.
