Solace
Oflog league tables journalist defends article
The journalist who wrote the controversial league tables story based on data compiled by the Office for Local Government (Oflog) has defended the article.
New extremes
Mike Bennett reflects on Solace’s response to the 2006 challenge posed by the election of extreme right wing candidates to English councils.
Don’t squeeze out the trust
The sector had a responsibility to speak out against a national newspaper article that turned data published by Oflog into a purported council league table, says Gavin Jones.
Guildford issues ‘heartfelt apology’ after £13.5m contract overspend
Guildford BC is at ‘serious risk’ of failing to deliver Best Value after overspending by millions of pounds on a housing contract, reviews have found.
Keeping local government relevant and meaningful
Following the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, we need to recognise that social capital may be just as tired as some staff in local government, says Kathy O'Leary.
EXCLUSIVE: Killian lobbied to halt work with watchdog
Sector figures have been lobbied to withdraw engagement and co-operation with the local government watchdog after a national newspaper used its data to rank councils, The MJ understands.
Stopping the downward spiral
Mike Bennett reviews a new book that captures the degradation of ethics in public life and sets out ways to restore high standards – but is local government listening, he asks.
TPA analysis of senior local government pay is relentlessly unsophisticated
Graeme McDonald says: 'Perhaps the diminishing number of national news outlets covering the TPA’s so called "Town Hall Rich List" means the message is finally getting across – their analysis is so simplistic it verges on the dangerous.'
Councils hit with new productivity demands
Ministers have demanded councils improve their productivity in the same week as the Government quietly published a report revealing Whitehall makes the sector less efficient.
LGA looks to do more to help officers
The Local Government Association (LGA) is looking to do more to help officers fulfil their roles as part of a policy shift for the politically-led organisation.
Oflog co-design promises have been broken, say councils
Ministerial promises to ‘co-design’ the Office for Local Government (Oflog) with the sector have been broken, councils have claimed.
Elections show the organisation at its ‘one council’ best
Kathy O' Leary says: 'As both pollsters and returning officers would agree, success in elections is talking only about the result and not the process.'
Future Forum: Councils hit by absence of employee value propositions
The ability of councils to attract, keep and develop future talent is being hit by the absence of a defined employee value proposition (EVP), The MJ’s Future Forum has heard.
Solace at 50
As Solace hits its 50th anniversary – alongside the anniversary of the 1974 local government reorganisation – Heather Jameson looks at the highlights of an essay collection launched to mark the occasion.
Good councils make effective use of consultants
'While it’s easy to dismiss reports criticising spend on consultants it is worth reflecting on what consultants bring to our organisations, whether we are clear on their purpose and ensure we focus our spend in those areas that rebuild capacity at a time when it is most needed,' says Graeme McDonald.
A Faer Point
Following last week’s by-election results, Martin Tucker ponders the electoral changing of the guard that underpins our democratic local government system.
Taking public health right to the top
Many directors of public health have the leadership approach, experience and technical ability to make excellent chief executives and they need the opportunities to reach the top role, says Julia Weldon.
REVEALED: Productivity plan demands toothless
Councils have been told Whitehall will be unable to force them to submit productivity plans.
Chiefs back ethnicity pay gap reporting
Council chiefs have backed proposals that would place a duty on local authorities to collect data and report on staffing, pay and outcomes by ethnicity.
Welcome to a bright future
The benefits of developing the sector’s own talent is self-evident, says Cllr Abi Brown. By taking on a National Graduate Development Programme candidate, councils get extra capacity and capability to better reflect the communities they serve.