Wouldn't it be refreshing, wonders Janet Sillett, if we could have a government that made decisions based on reliable figures that were grounded in economic reality and not plucked out of thin air?
Local government needs to make sure the messages on devolution, reform and finance are loud and clear.
The devolution question following the Scottish referendum was debated widely at each conference, particularly in the fringes, and the fallout from the Scottish referendum for local areas is still a hot topic among localists and some political commentators.
The Scottish independence referendum has created a debate around a more devolved UK regardless of the result
LGiU's Janet Sillett looks at the year ahead in local government.
The LGiU has updated its Guide to the Localism Act originally published in February 2012. The February guide brought together a series of LGiU briefings on the Act published in November and December 2011, alongside additional comment. The updated guide brings readers up to date with the guidance and regulations that have been published since February…
UPDATE: DH have confirmed that a ‘progress report’ addressing the funding of social care will be published later in the spring, to go alongside the Social Care White Paper. They say that the two documents will “probably” be published at the same time. These will be followed by the Draft Care and Support Bill once…
On 8 February the LGiU hosted a major one-day policy conference for the south-west and west midlands. The Localism Act – over to you brought together Local Government Minister Andrew Stunell, Cities Advisor Lord Shipley, with a range of local councillors and officers, as well as senior officials from the Department for Communities and Local Government. The slides form…
The CLG select committee recently held a short inquiry into the implications of the government’s welfare reform proposals (pdf) from the point of view of local government and the localism agenda. It examined the proposals in the Welfare Reform Bill to abolish elements of the discretionary social fund and council tax benefit, replacing both with localised…
This briefing highlights and comments on the key announcements and debates for local government and reflects on what the conferences may tell us about how the leadership of the political parties view local government.