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Owen Mapley

Owen Mapley

Articles by Owen Mapley

Sorting the finances of social care

By Owen Mapley | 30 July 2026

In light of the Prime Minister’s announcement on social care Owen Mapley says it will take public...

Turning more complex council politics into effective local governance

By Owen Mapley | 12 May 2026

Officer-member relationships matter more than ever in local government’s new reality, and the pri...

Fifty years on: Lessons from the Layfield report on local council funding

By Owen Mapley | 29 April 2026

Half a century from the Layfield Report on local government finance, many of the issues it raised...

Financial reform cannot wait

By Owen Mapley | 18 February 2026

Owen Mapley says the finance settlement provides breathing space for many authorities – but this...

Council finances at a crossroads

By Owen Mapley | 18 September 2025

Owen Mapley looks at the progress made with local government finances since Keir Starmer’s party ...

Local authorities are at a crossroads

By Owen Mapley | 21 November 2024

While the Budget increases councils’ core spending power, many remain in the dark regarding fundi...

No magic prescription for performance

By Owen Mapley | 30 October 2024

Two weeks ago The MJ published the IMPOWER Index of top ten out-performing authorities, with York...

Breaking free from short-term fixes

By By Owen Mapley | 11 October 2024

The sector needs immediate support to 'start planning for an alternative to episodic crisis manag...

The public services crisis calls for twin-track approach

By Owen Mapley | 29 August 2024

Owen Mapley says the Government needs to implement reforms 'alongside measures to address the fin...

A new opportunity to grasp old challenges

By Owen Mapley | 12 July 2024

Securing funding stability, public trust and greater collaboration are among the priorities for C...