Local Government Chronicle
19 January 2012
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A future beyond book lending
Last year was an annus horribilis for local authorities. Faced with budget cuts of 28% as part of the Government’s deficit reduction drive, they discovered in November the cuts would be deeper and last longer than expected as George Osborne announced that the spending drought would continue beyond the next election. -
An opportunity to shape education
The common assumption is that the government’s flagship Free Schools and Academies policy leaves no role for local authorities. But, as our education team established in a recent study, this is wrong. -
Burstow: No crisis in care funding
Care minister Paul Burstow has insisted there is no crisis in the funding of social care. -
Chiefless councils set out new structures
Reading BC - one of a number of councils to do away with the role of chief executive - is set to recruit a “director and council manager” to focus on the internal running of the organisation. -
Dual oversight role proposed
Lead members for children’s services should double up in the role of local commissioners for academies and free schools, an expert has said. -
Forging successful partnerships
Although now symbolic, in medieval England freedom of the city was originally conveyed to signify that someone enjoyed a ‘free status’, had the right to trade, earn money and participate fully in the economy. The parallel for decentralisation to cities from the state is similar in this one respect. -
Guidance for the transfer of public health to local government
The historic transfer of public health back to local government presents a fantastic opportunity to reduce health inequalities, challenge difficult issues facing our communities such as drug and alcohol misuse and obesity, and to bring about significant improvements in people’s health. -
Inside Out - Big Society: a transactional activity
Very interesting Big Society discussion on BBC Radio 4 this weekend. If I understood it, it is the fault of the masses that the concept has disappeared from view. -
LGC View - City Deals
Earlier this month, City and Council of Swansea bought a struggling shopping centre from an asset management group. -
Local Enterprise Partnerships set out aims
Local Enterprise Partnerships set out their aims -
Local spending priorities and the necessary income to fund them
The first Conservative council to reject the government’s council tax freeze grant has incurred the wrath of the secretary of state and ConservativeHome bloggers -
Ministers criticised as 'media evidence base' drives decision-making
Ministers have been criticised for introducing new policies solely on the basis of articles in the media. -
Peer review pioneers warn of hidden pitfalls
The new system of sector-led improvement could allow councils to hide poor performance, one of the first authorities to undergo peer review has warned. -
Pickles fires warning as Tories join council tax freeze rebellion
The rebellion over the government’s drive to keep council tax levels frozen next year has spread to Conservative-run authorities - prompting Eric Pickles to warn of political retribution at the hands of voters. -
Pooling switch marks ‘city deal’ plans
Ministers have dropped plans to incentivise councils to pool a proportion of their business rates across the area covered by their local enterprise partnership. The proposal had been mooted as a key part of moves to devolve more powers to cities. -
Q&A: The troubled families programme
In the wake of the summer riots the prime minister launched a programme to turn around the lives of the country’s 120,000 most troubled families. With local authorities playing a key role, LGC asked the Department for Communities & Local Government how the programme will work. -
Responding to new opportunities
Nick Clegg heralded the publication of his Unlocking Growth in Cities as “an unprecedented transfer of power”, first to the eight core cities but then in further waves to other urban centres. This is the kind of bold claim one has become used to hearing from the deputy prime minister but in principle – if not yet in practice – it deserves some consideration. -
Shouldering greater responsibility
Cities are usually the first places jobseekers and budding entrepreneurs look to set up shop. The UK’s cities account for 60% of the country’s jobs and 52% of its businesses. With rising unemployment and stagnant economic growth, it therefore seems appropriate that in December Nick Clegg announced the intention to develop a series of “City Deals” for the eight core cities. -
Survey reveals mutual antipathy
Only a small proportion of councils intend to actively encourage employee-led ‘spin-outs’ to provide public services, a survey has found. -
Three-year limit for troubled families unit
The government’s drive to tackle troubled families could be destined for failure because of its short-term focus, councillors have warned. -
Two-tier system 'may not survive'
Two-tier local government may be unable to survive the spending cuts demanded from local authorities, a paper by Essex CC has said. -
Winning privileges and then a referendum
Director, Greater London Group, London School of Economics
