Blogs
The latest blog posts from the team at LGC
Latest Blogs
The welfare time bomb
Local government insiders have described the government’s welfare reforms as a “time bomb” for local government, and in recent weeks you may have heard a whispered countdown.
'Market information is vital to winning new business'
The importance of market information to social enterprises wanting to win new business.
Living together in a decent society
Can we embrace notions of consensus around principles that we can agree we can share?
Blind man's bluff
Private letters between Conservative leaders and their ministers reveal frustration over the way the council tax freeze grant was handled. Not only did they feel forced into making a decision they were unsure about, but the lack of information about future funding meant they were making that decision “in the dark”
Taking positive action to help social enterprises
It is becoming widely recognised that good ownership of business really matters.
A perverse incentive
Chief executives who overhaul their councils too thoroughly may be doing themselves out of a job, writes Ruth Keeling.
Choice but in whose hands?
The Government last week published an update to its plans for open public services, injecting flexibility into local services through increased choice among individuals and greater competition among providers. According to the paper, the new public services agenda is here to treat citizens as “grown-ups – by giving them greater choice and control; genuine information on outcomes; and a stronger role for their communities”. Central to this is the Government’s call for evidence to see ...
Enterprising developments in the Health and Social Care Act
The development of the Health and Social Care Act (2012) through Parliament has been tortuous but never underestimate the value of stubbornness, persistence, dogged determination, commitment and self-belief.
One city deal - many lessons
The Budget confounded expectations on city deals. What can we learn from Greater Manchester’s success?
When short term actually means long term
The good news is that official figures for January suggested that the UK’s public finances were in the greatest surplus for four years, following a fall in local government borrowing and a rise in tax receipts. However, it seems confidence among local government finance offices is less than upbeat for the medium term future, as The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) latest poll of local authorities indicates.
Banking on the Bankers
Surely we need to keep our banks alive and well and supporting social enterprises and other small and medium sized businesses
No love lost on council tax
Ministers’ conduct over councils’ decision on whether or not to put up council tax has been shabby - my lead article from last week’s magazine
History of the 'chiefless' council
My column from this week’s magazine feature on councils that have done away with - and then reinstated - the role of chief executive
Involving service providers: defining the scope of the Big Society
The concept of Big Society has been hard to pin down for some, but we seem to be getting closer to the heart of the matter as the pace of change quickens and the government responds to the need to encourage different ways of doing business.
When in doubt, blame the officers
Ministers have opened a new front in their council tax battle - and it involves a favourite past time
Council Tax 'rebels'
Keeping track of which councils have rejected the government’s financial incentive to freeze council tax next year
Best laid plans
Despite the best efforts of negotiators the local government deal for pension reform fell down at the last hurdle. So what exactly happened?
An agreement to… come to an agreement
There was much drama as local government finalised a pension reform deal last month. But what did they actually agree on?
The Little Things
Did Portas have a point?
Many of the points outlined in Mary Portas report on high streets struck a chord with life in Westminster, but it is the comments on reducing betting shops that continue to resonate. Cllr Daniel Astaire, cabinet member for business at Westminster City Council explains
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Working with third parties to access funding in Flintshire
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Embracing apprenticeships in Lancashire
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Thinking about regeneration in Basingstoke
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Getting to grips with the new Blue Badge - Three months later
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Working hard to tackle fraud
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An economic growth strategy for Norfolk
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Dispelling some myths of outsourcing
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Going mobile: How Bolton Council took the plunge
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The importance of bilingual care delivery
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Changing your approach to procurement on construction projects
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A new plan reflecting local priorities
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Helping young people get into work in Surrey
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Lawyers go back to school in Cumbria
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Staffordshire's move towards Public Service Networks
Dan Drillsma-Milgrom
Ruth Keeling
The Pensioner's Post
Views, analysis and some attempt to shed light on the confusing subject that is pensions from LGC’s workforce reporter Ruth Keeling
Ruth reports...
Ruth Keeling covers workforce, management, legal, community safety and Wales and the south west
Emma Maier
Robin Latchem
Digital Local Government
LGCplus editor Robin Latchem looks at how local government is embracing digital technology and social media.
