Special seminar: The Education Act 2011 – working it out
Yesterday the Education Bill gained royal assent. The legislation is designed to create an education system that delivers higher standards for all children. However, some measures will create significant new challenges for local authorities. The seminar is aimed at local government officers who already have a working knowledge of the main aspects of the legislation.…
Pickles: “Today marks the beginning of an historic shift of power from Whitehall to every community”
Yesterday the Localism Bill gained royal assent. DCLG have issued a press release outlining the key measures in the Act and this useful plain English guide. Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities Eric Pickles said: “Today marks the beginning of an historic shift of power from Whitehall to every community to take back…
C’llr Awards 2012: Young Councillor of the Year
It is easy to latch onto the argument that, in an attractive democracy, our elected representatives ought to come from all walks of life. In fact, the demographic make-up of political institutions is arguably one of the most important indicators of a healthy social order. As such, with the average age of councillors currently standing…
Localisation issues in welfare reform: CLG Committee report
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…
Localisation issues in welfare reform: CLG Committee report
The CLG Select Committee's report into the proposed changes to the discretionary social fund, council tax benefit and housing benefit is very critical of the plans. The changes will have serious implications for all councils.
How to be the greenest local authority ever
?Last week, Karen Lawrence, head of CRC and Consultancy at Local Energy, part of the LGiU, took part in a Guardian Q&A that explored how to be the greenest local authority ever. Karen said: The idea that ‘being green’ costs more needs to be tackled: Energy efficiency can save councils millions of pounds a year and…
LGiU Events: Planning seminar
The government’s planning reforms represent a significant challenge for councils. This seminar will outline what neighbourhood planning and the NPPF will mean for members and officers, the potential risks and opportunities for local government in these changes and existing best practice from around the country. Speakers include experts from local government, key trade organisations and the private…
C’llr Awards 2012: Judges’ Special Award for Contribution to Local Government
It is easy to think of political progress in terms of sweeping legislation, dramatic landslide elections, or grassroots movements building an unstoppable momentum on their brave journeys towards seemingly immovable barriers. The rolling out of universal suffrage, the creation of the NHS, and the various successes of civil rights campaigns show that, undoubtedly, some of…
What would a digital champion do for your authority?
Yesterday I gave a speech based upon LGiU’s recent Going where the eyeballs are report at the GovDelivery User Conference – #GovD11 on Twitter. One of the recurring issues that came up throughout the day was the lack of clarity across departments as to how to make digital technology work best throughout a whole local…
Health Select Committee Report on Public Health
This briefing summarises and comments on the Health Committee’s report into public health which includes recommendations directly relevant to councils and highlights crucial financial issues such as the scale and distribution of the public health budget.
