Heather Jameson
Heather Jameson is editor of the MJ
When two become one
Amid high profile reorganisation battles, Suffolk Coastal and Waveney DCs have calmly and quietly merged to become the first ‘super district’. Heather Jameson talks to East Suffolk chief executive Stephen Baker about the journey
Breaking down the barriers to change
A survey of local authority chief executives and directors by The MJ and BT found strong resistance to transformational change among their management teams. The issues were discussed at a round table with senior staff in the Midlands
An independent view of finances is crucial
With the final settlement, budget-setting and the Spending Review all on the horizon, an independent view of finances is crucial, according to Heather Jameson.
Brexit will not halt economic growth, says Walkley
Economic growth will not grind to a halt when we leave the European Union, chief executive of Homes England Nick Walkley has predicted.
Catherall announces his retirement
Blackburn with Darwen BC chief executive Harry Catherall has announced he will retire at Easter, after 40 years in local government.
Denial won’t make cash-poor councils’ problems vanish
It must be nice to be Melanie Dawes, to live a life of optimism and confidence. Few senior council figures will be as optimistic as she is, says Heather Jameson.
A developing story
Heather Jameson talks to chief executive of Homes England Nick Walkley about supporting house building and working with the LGA to regrow capacity within local government.
Ireland steps down as Lincs chief
Lincolnshire CC chief executive Keith Ireland has left the council after just a few months in post.
EXCLUSIVE: The Bucks stops here
Local government secretary James Brokenshire will only invite new unitary proposals in the case of another Northamptonshire CC-type collapse, The MJ understands.
Southampton appoints Hopkins as new chief
Southampton City Council has named Sandy Hopkins as its new chief executive. Ms Hopkins is currently chief executive of Havant BC and East Hampshire DC.
Ten of the best
Which 10 councils get the best results? Consultancy firm iMPOWER claims to have found out by analysing service-based figures from 30 public datasets to create a productivity index for the 150 upper tier authorities. Heather Jameson reports
Gwynne: There's been no end to austerity
Opposition politicians have hit out at the Government’s record on funding the sector at the County Councils’ Network conference today.
Porter: My devolution regrets
Failing to do more devolution is Lord Porter’s biggest regret in his career as Local Government Association chairman so far, he told the County Councils' Network conference today.
Brokenshire: 2019 will be turning point for local government
Next year will be a ‘turning point’ for local government, communities secretary James Brokenshire has told the County Councils’ Network conference, with the Spending Review and changes to the finance regime.
London leaders call for 'proper' debate on funding
Central Government needs to have a ‘proper conversation’ on public sector funding and put councils on a sustainable footing for the future, London Councils chair, Cllr Peter John, has told The MJ.
Bucks shake-up last of its kind
The scrapping of Buckinghamshire’s councils in favour of a single county-wide unitary is likely to be the last local government reorganisation decision of its kind, The MJ understands.
Interim chief at Harrow lands new role
Harrow LBC interim chief executive Tom Whiting will leave on 1 February next year, the council has announced.
The trouble with troubled families
In the melee of the adult social care cash crisis, rising children’s services pressures and pothole funding chasms, Troubled Families budgets have been low down the list of priorities, writes Heather Jameson
Healing health is a local government issue
Prevention is better than cure, as health and social care secretary Matt Hancock has trumpeted all over the news this week, but his efforts were rewarded by 'a series of accusations over everything', writes Heather Jameson
Single Bucks council gets the go-ahead
Buckinghamshire’s five councils are to be scrapped in favour of a single county-wide unitary, communities secretary James Brokenshire has announced.