Positive powers amid adversity
Local government chiefs say budget cuts, managing citizen expectations and the reducing workforce are the top three challenges they face. Dan Peters reports on our The MJ/SOLACE survey
Opinion
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Politics may be coming home
October 17, 2018
Local government had a ‘pretty good showing’ during the party conferences says Dr Jonathan Carr-West. He hopes it could be the start of a much-needed public debate on the local state
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Promises, promises – and election pledges
October 17, 2018
The IFS Green Budget – its pre-Budget financial briefing – is always an interesting read, says Heather Jameson. The conclusion is, the Government can’t keep all of its promises
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The dilemma facing the chancellor in the Budget
October 17, 2018
Never have expectations from the Budget on 29 October been so high, explains Michael Burton - and never has the chancellor’s influence over events that will effect his forecasts been so low
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Taking solace in SOLACE
October 17, 2018
Being a public service leader has never been more difficult, according to Jo Miller, who – in the build up to this week’s Society of Local Authority Chief Executives conference – says that strong leadership is as important and rewarding as ever
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Brokenshire writes: Lifting the barriers to building
Councils are the ‘sleeping giant’ of our housing system, as James Brokenshire explains, and now is the time to remove the barriers preventing them from delivering the homes their communities need.
Future shocks
It is our job as public service leaders to be ambitious for our places and optimistic about their future, even though local government is going through very tough times, writes Gavin Jones
Driving growth requires more freedoms
Regeneration can offer the capital exciting new opportunities, according to Cllr Clare Coghill. She says Government is being called on to work with London Councils to develop local industrial strategies and deliver the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
Domestic decisions
Positivity, pragmatism and long term thinking – the latest Tory conference has left local government with a lot to mull over, as Bob Neill describes
Where's the debate over business rates?
We haven’t any money, announces local government. Absolute tosh, pronounces ministerial department spokesman – you have £200bn a year to spend. Lawrence Conway wonders where we are on business rates.
soapbox
‘Brexit means Brexit’ may be memorable, but not in the way Mrs May would like, says Ben Page. Her 2017 election campaign saw her lose a commanding lead and a majority. But sometimes she gets it right.
From the archive
The next stage of community budgets
The prospectus for bids to become the next four community budget pilots covering neighbours and 'whole place' is a right riveting read.
A Victorian solution to the housing crisis
Lord Salisbury's comments on housing are relevant today,in the midst of another housing crisis, according to Michael Burton.
Establishing a radical programme for change
Local government must stop being a mini-Whitehall and instead become a forward-looking, dynamic force for change, argues Paul Wheeler.