Local government has always been at the forefront of tackling the climate emergency. And now, writes Malcolm Powers, councils are key to delivering at fairer, sustainable economic recovery from Covid.
Jonathan Silver is the Head of Clinical Engineering at a major London teaching hospital trust. These are extracts from a personal account he has been writing of his experiences in an intensive care unit throughout the pandemic.
Local government has been a key partner of both the NHS and central government in tackling the pandemic, reflects Alan Waters, Leader of Norwich City Council. He looks back on a tumultuous year and considers the direction that post-Covid recovery might take.
A year ago the government ordered ‘Everyone in’ and accommodation had to be found for all rough sleepers. Aline Clayson, Rough Sleeping Navigator at Southend on Sea Borough Council takes up the story for us.
Karen Campbell was writer in residence for five months last year at Dumfries and Galloway Council, hearing the stories of frontline workers and creating a lasting record of their service to their communities during the pandemic.
Jo Wiley’s campaign has made sure that people with learning disabilities are treated fairly and given priority for the Covid vaccine. Steve Palmer hopes this can usher in new thinking about learning disability across all areas of life.
Covid has ripped through some of the poorest places in the UK. Given the opportunity and resources councils can be powerful agents in building back fairer, more sustainable local communities and economies across the country, writes Councillor Eleanor Southwood of Brent Council.
Ella Henry writes for us about the uncertainty and disruption that the past year has brought to the lives of young people – there are worries for the future of course, but also some optimism and a real desire among the Gen-Zs to drive change.
John Fowler on the government’s decision to override Greenwich Council’s locally made decision on Covid-related school closures.
Natalie Creary and her colleagues from Black Thrive discuss how local government can collect and respond to data in ways that are centred on the perspective of communities rather than reinforcing stereotypes.