The Missing Middle: The Case for School Commissioners – RSA Report
The RSA has published a report setting out the case for ‘school commissioners’ acting as an educational middle tier at regional/sub-regional level, working alongside a new independent regulatory body, with a radically slimmed-down DfE. This is the latest contribution to a series of papers, from a range of bodies, on the middle tier – an…
Right to Bid for Community Assets
Several of the provisions in the Localism Act are being promoted as creating new rights for communities, but have depended on regulations to put them into effect. The right for local groups to bid to purchase buildings and land defined as community assets has the potential to have an impact in every community. It will…
NALM Healthwatch Development Progress Report
This briefing summarises and comments on a report and recommendations by the National Association of LINks Members (NALM) on a recent survey of local authorities and LINks on the progress made in each area towards setting up a local Healthwatch organisation. The briefing will be of interest to local government officers and Members with responsibility…
The Effectiveness of the Academy Schools Programme
Academy Schools under the last Labour government were largely failing schools that had become ‘Sponsored’ Academies. Since the advent of the Coalition government Academy ‘converter’ schools are largely schools that are performing well. This Briefing considers the wider debate about the effectiveness of increased school autonomy and the ‘Sponsored’ academy programme. It then reviews the…
Commission on the Future of Local Government
On 03 July 2012, the Commission on the Future of Local Government launched its final report in the House of Lords. With a clear focus on civic enterprise, the report sets out the Commission’s recommendations on the shape and role of local government in the future. Set up by Leeds City Council to explore how…
Draft Energy Bill 2012
This briefing highlights the relevance to local councils of the Government’s proposals to reform the nation’s electricity market: * a new Energy Bill is planned for introduction to Parliament, and will establish a new legislative framework for the delivery of secure, affordable and low carbon energy; * a pre-legislative scrutiny report argues that the reforms…
The 2011 Summer Riots: one year on
This report draws on research carried out by LGiU to examine the local government response to the summer riots of 2011, and gives a snapshot of how prepared local authorities are to respond to future riots.
Outcome-based commissioning in domiciliary care
Many councils are grappling with how to ensure their services promote better outcomes for their local communities, and nowhere is this more true than adult social care. Although outcomes are generally acknowledged to be the future of commissioning (recent LGiU research showed that over 90% of councils regard outcome-based commissioning as ‘important’ or ‘very important’ in…
High Income Social Tenants – Pay to Stay consultation
This briefing covers two housing consultations; the most recent , the “Pay to Stay” consultation concerns the government’s desire to enable social landlords to charge high earning tenants a market or near market rent. The consultation closing date is 12 September 2012. The second consultation concerns the circumstances under which an offer of private rented…
Quality Matters in Early Childhood Education and Care OECD survey England 2012
The OECD is surveying each member country’s Early Childhood Education and Care. The report for England Quality Matters in Early Childhood Education and Care United Kingdom (England) by Miho Taguma, Ineke Litjens and Kelly Makowiecki was published on 25 April 2012. The report examines England’s policy of engaging families and communities as one of the…
