From crisis intervention to prevention?
Helena Herklots, is right to stress in her Guardian article the absolute importance of day-to-day services to many older people’s quality of life – services that are often low cost and straightforward can help people to stay independent and to enjoy life – services like befriending and handypersons. All of us, but maybe especially health…
Looking at a more proactive approach to digital communications
The Localism Bill is pushing us towards new, more personalised ways of service delivery. At the same time, the Spending Review requires councils to deliver savings of 28% by 2015.
Open Public Services White Paper
This briefing summarises and comments on the Open Public Services White Paper.
Will the government put its money where its localist mouth is?
The long awaited launch of the government’s public services white paper – delayed since the start of the year – took place yesterday.
Localism needs to be bolder if councils are “to be truly innovative”
It is easy to think, with the financial pressures on local government, that somehow it is all doom and gloom. There is no denying the economic realities facing us, yet I strongly believe that through innovation and transformation we will scale the financial mountain and come down the other side better for it.
Meeting Housing Needs in Oxford
When most people think of Oxford, it tends to be the dreaming spires images that dominate. This is certainly how I imagined it before I lived here. This image is only a small part of Oxford. In reality, it is a thriving diverse city that owes a lot to the car industry and workers who’ve…
LGiU reaction to Open Public Services White Paper
Today sees the long awaited launch of the government’s public services White paper opening up of public services to private and third sector providers. For local government much of this will look familiar.
Paternalism in Local Government
Much is made of ‘you said, we did’ exercises in public bodies like Councils, where a list of actions stem from requests from the public. It is a far cry from the ‘you said, we ignored’ public services of old and people are rightly proud of public services becoming more responsive.
The Local Leaders series
The Localism Bill is pushing us towards new, more personalised ways of service delivery. At the same time, the Spending Review requires councils to deliver savings of 28% by 2015. This will lead to unprecedented change in our public services.
Andy Sawford’s Powerful Ideas lecture
The Powerful Ideas lecture series is designed for high profile thinkers to engage with sector leaders from across civil society. Andy Sawford's lecture was entitled "Localism will lead to the emancipation of local government and give much- needed power back to the people"
