Governance

Latest Governance

POLICY AND POLITICS

Reform UK council hit by trebling of councillor conduct complaints

By Joe Lepper | 18 May 2026

Peers have raised concerns about the impact of increasing reports of negative member behaviour on staff morale and retention at a Reform UK-led council.

REGENERATION

Regeneration: Liberating nature-based infrastructure

By Stephen O'Malley | 13 May 2026

Local authorities lack the funding and co-ordination to respond effectively to climate risks like...

ELECTIONS

Losing control again

By Jonathan Werran | 12 May 2026

After an election that fragmented political allegiance, consideration must be paid to the grey ro...

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...

LEGISLATION

Councils have the power to shape national policy

By Alison Potter | 05 May 2026

The Sustainable Communities Acts and the powers to initiate legislation were designed precisely t...

CHIEF EXECUTIVES

EXCLUSIVE: Herefordshire top hire revealed as Walker walks

By Dan Peters | 01 May 2026

A chief executive who struck a settlement after a row with the authority he used to run is expect...

POLICY AND POLITICS

Devon reorganisation 'distracting' for region's emerging strategic authority, peers warn

By By Joe Lepper | 30 April 2026

Local government reorganisation in Devon is ‘causing a distraction’ for the region’s fledgling co...

MAYORS

Ministers still unconvinced by Tees Valley's Best Value

By Paul Marinko | 27 April 2026

The Government has said it continues to require assurances that Tees Valley Combined Authority (T...

GOVERNANCE

Why CfGS is needed now more than ever

By Ed Hammond | 23 April 2026

As Ed Hammond departs for pastures new, the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny’s deputy chief exe...

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

Rethinking the Better Care Fund

By Mark Palethorpe | 22 April 2026

Moving integrated care from rhetoric to reality calls for an urgent review of how resources like ...

LEADERSHIP

Attracting and developing talented people is crucial for local government

By Gill Kneller | 21 April 2026

In her final column for The MJ before her retirement, Gill Kneller says attracting and developing...