James Maker
James Maker is policy manager at CCN
Extra funding eases the pain for councils
Whether MPs really would have voted the finance settlement down, we will never know, says James Maker. But the letter from 46 MPs 'was undoubtedly the tipping point in the negotiations'.
Time for local and national action on hospital pressures
The County Councils Network's new report with Newton shows the causes of winter pressures are more complex than the prevailing narrative and sets out solutions to make the system work better, says James Maker.
Inflation, finance and the future
Inflation may be coming down, but local government will still face some tricky decisions. James Maker explains.
Transferring LEP functions to upper tier councils goes with the policy grain
The County Councils’ Network will be engaging Government to ensure the transfer of LEPs is compatible with the wider policy direction that believes local democratic institutions are best placed to lead on the growth agenda, says James Maker.
County devolution delivers
With the blueprint in place, devolution is happening, and counties across the country are preparing proposals to help boost growth. James Maker explains
Councils need financial support to help residents and businesses through crisis
The County Councils Network, alongside others, will be making the strongest case possible to ensure that local government is adequately funded through what is going to be an extremely difficult period, says James Maker.
A year of progress on county devolution
James Maker says that rather than stripping powers from any tier of local government, Clause 16 encourages and enables districts to play a more active and extensive role in devolution proposals.
Calculating the cost of care
Local and central government must prepare for the significant workforce challenges that will be presented by adult social care charging reforms. Daniel Sperrin and James Maker explain.
A fresh vision
A new report from Newton and the County Councils Network presents a vision for what the future of children’s social care could be and defines an optimised model for delivering it, say Luke Tregidgo and James Maker.
Embedding a new approach to devolution is critical to county deals success
A report concludes the White Paper on levelling up must include a devolution framework to build on and embed the Government’s county deals ‘principles,’ says James Maker.
There's a lot to play for when it comes to delivering devolution
While Government has provided a strong steer on the basic principles of county devolution deals, it’s now down to local areas to build on this guidance and bring forward proposals in collaboration with partners, argues James Maker.
A social care model that’s fit for the future
A new report sets out the key ingredients of a better social care system, using a delivery model that is both optimised and local, say James Maker and Daniel Sperrin.
Striking the right balance
The County Councils' Network's journey over the past six years has shown just how crucial striking the right balance is to being an effective special interest group, says James Maker
Reforming two-tier arrangements
Reorganisation has proved controversial in many parts of the country. James Maker suggests pooling new and existing powers at the strategic level could offer a more politically attractive devolution agenda in county areas.
Building the evidence base for a long-term settlement
James Maker says Northamptonshire CC’s mismanagement of austerity should not prevent us talking about the latter more openly.
Reorganisation in counties must be based on evidence
Reorganisation may be part of the future of local government in two–tier counties, but it will only deliver long-term sustainability if it is built around evidence, not short-term fixes, argues James Maker.
Counties can impact the next administration's agenda
There is a growing disquiet as to whether business rate retention offers the solutions to local government's funding needs, argues James Maker as he looks ahead to the Queen's Speech.
Local elections must springboard the sector to the centre of the national debate
Next week's local elections must be used to propel local government to the centre of the General Election debate, writes James Maker.
Gearing up for the rate debate
James Maker outlines the importance of county authorities in achieving a balanced business rate system and looks ahead to the contentious debate about tier-splits.
A new future for reorganisation
Sajid Javid's comments have hinted at how the Government will approach local government reform, says James Maker