Research to Help Rebuild After Covid-19

Jason Lowther Last month Sir Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government, met (virtually) with over 100 researchers and policy officers to discuss the output of a six-month programme looking at some of the fundamental challenges to our society, economy and ways of living.  Commissioned by the Government Office for Science, the Rebuilding … Continue reading Research to Help Rebuild After Covid-19

Andy Burnham was right: this Prime Minister can’t handle devolution

Chris Game Negotiate? Look what happened last time! “Unlike previously, there will be no negotiation with local leaders … financial support will be allocated on a uniform per capita basis”.  Simply a Guardian report, not a Prime Ministerial quote, but it didn’t need to be. What happens after December 2nd, the local restriction tiers to … Continue reading Andy Burnham was right: this Prime Minister can’t handle devolution

Keeping the window open: the 21st Century Public Servant and Covid-19

Image by @laurabrodrick Prof. Catherine Needham Local authorities had experience of managing short-term local crises, but the national and long-lasting crisis created by Covid-19 has been something new outside wartime. Local authorities had to manage the local implications of the lockdown and Covid-19 preparedness in their area whilst also moving all of their own non-essential … Continue reading Keeping the window open: the 21st Century Public Servant and Covid-19

The £3 Billion Pound Question

Jason Lowther The Institute for Fiscal Studies’ latest review of English council finances documents why so many chief executives and treasurers have been having sleepless nights since “whatever it takes to tackle Covid” transformed into “as little as we can get away with giving you”. On Wilkins Micawber’s “income” side, Covid has hit councils’ commercial … Continue reading The £3 Billion Pound Question

Simon Clarke – first his speech goes, then him

Chris Game Boris Johnson didn’t start the modern trend of hyper-rapid ministerial turnover, but he did ratchet it up.  His election last July produced a larger ministerial cull than in any other recent transition between ministers of the same party, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government being no exception. So, were you paying … Continue reading Simon Clarke – first his speech goes, then him

Prime Minister, remember when you weren’t hell-bent on infantilising local government?

Chris Game   I should just have returned from Limpopo, northernmost South African province and home to a substantial chunk of the famous Kruger National Park.  I, however, would have been there not for the wildlife, or even the wild life, but for the eminently respectable annual conference of IASIA, the International Association of Schools … Continue reading Prime Minister, remember when you weren’t hell-bent on infantilising local government?

Prime Minister, remember when you weren’t hell-bent on infantilising local government?

Chris Game   I should just have returned from Limpopo, northernmost South African province and home to a substantial chunk of the famous Kruger National Park.  I, however, would have been there not for the wildlife, or even the wild life, but for the eminently respectable annual conference of IASIA, the International Association of Schools … Continue reading Prime Minister, remember when you weren’t hell-bent on infantilising local government?

Prime Minister, remember when you opposed infantilising local government?

Chris Game I should just have returned from Limpopo, northernmost South African province and home to a substantial chunk of the famous Kruger National Park.  I, however, would have been there not for the wildlife, or even the wild life. Quite the contrary. I’d have been presenting a paper at the eminently respectable annual conference … Continue reading Prime Minister, remember when you opposed infantilising local government?

Prime Minister, remember when you opposed infantilising local government?

Chris Game I should just have returned from Limpopo, northernmost South African province and home to a substantial chunk of the famous Kruger National Park.  I, however, would have been there not for the wildlife, or even the wild life. Quite the contrary. I’d have been presenting a paper at the eminently respectable annual conference … Continue reading Prime Minister, remember when you opposed infantilising local government?

Social care reform – comprehensive is good, but comprehensible vital

Chris Game Cllr Ketan Sheth’s recent blog on ‘Local Government and the NHS Integrated Care System’ was, as he explained, timely for him personally – as an elected London borough councillor about to take on a novel scrutiny role in a new ICS. For us Midlands readers it was timely too, for reasons most easily … Continue reading Social care reform – comprehensive is good, but comprehensible vital