Chris Tambini
Now back to the real world
Chris Tambini takes a fantastical look at what he thinks a rational secretary of state could do - if unrestricted by the real world and pressure groups - to improve the current fragile position of local government.
Autumn Statement: It’s pretty depressing, but it could have been worse
Chris Tambini says that after the Autumn Statement local government is in a better place than we feared, but this remains an extremely tough period for councils.
Councils face stark choices on services
President of the Society of County Treasurers Chris Tambini says that if local government is going to be squeezed financially we need a grown up conversation about new service standards with 'sponsoring' government departments.
We need genuine reform of the system and extra funding
President of the Society of County Treasurers Chris Tambini says we are not in a perfect storm, 'but maybe next year that will be the case, given public finances are looking increasingly fragile'.
Whitehall needs to up its game
Adult social care and special education reforms are examples of Whitehall departments' poor policy development and implementation, says Chris Tambini.
Adult social care reform costings need probing further
The level of underfunding currently being modelled for the reform of adult social care has the potential to push many authorities into crises and do the same to care providers, with major implications for vulnerable people, says Chris Tambini.
Assume the brace position
The real impact of the cost of living crisis is yet to really unfold and, as for council finances, we probably need to brace ourselves for a tough few years, says Chris Tambini.
The implications of war for the world and our public services
Chris Tambini outlines the four main implications of the war in Ukraine for UK public services.
The levelling up of local government funding is long overdue
The system for funding local services is desperately in need of root and branch reform and a half-hearted fair funding review will just store up even bigger problems for the future, says Chris Tambini.
A model for change
Byron Rhodes argues the need for a shake-up of the local government funding model, and Chris Tambini outlines Leicestershire CC’s radical proposals.