Poverty and inequality are financial challenges for local authorities and threaten the cohesion of their communities.
This JRF report deals with trends in the numbers of individuals living in households below the Minimum Income Standard (MIS) between 2008-09 and 2014-15. MIS is an alternative way of measuring poverty risk and is based on what the general public think is an acceptable minimum standard of living.
More than half of the UK population uses parks on a regular basis. The CLG select committee’s report into parks asks why do they matter, what challenges do they face and how can a sustainable future be secured?
An analysis of the interaction between local authorities, central government and low paid workers will be undertaken to identify what is and can be done to counteract the negative societal impact of low paid work. This paper will outline the issues presently surrounding low paid work in Scotland.
Local authorities are developing new ways of securing youth services for young people. This briefing, one of series, looks at two local authorities which have encouraged mutuals to take on the running of the youth service as a way of securing provision in light of significant local authority expenditure savings.
This briefing is on the Government commissioned of the youth justice system which recommends a reduction in central government’s role, greater co-ordination of funding and provision through local authorities, the abolition of the duty to maintain a youth offending team, changes to court procedures, the creation of Children’s Panels and the establishment of ‘Secure Schools.
To obtain access to social housing support in Ireland, applicants must go through a formal assessment process. Here, we look at the way in which the assessment process works, consider some of its limitations as a measure of housing need and review the results from the latest national figures.
International Women’s Day is upon us, and what better time to reflect on our progress in local government? We look at how local government shapes up against other parts of politics and the wider professional sector. I’m a great believer in perspective. And when talking about gender equality, it’s often easy in our impatience for change…
This briefing aims to give an overview of the experience of women employees in Scottish local government, and how it has changed over the years. It examines factors influencing the workforce participation of women and suggests some ways in which councils could influence this.
The IFS produces a Green Budget every year in the weeks running up to the Budget, which this year will be 8 March. Issues covered include the economic and fiscal outlook, health and social care spending, incapacity and disability benefits, and the Apprenticeship Levy.
The Northern Powerhouse is an amazing concept, writes Donna Hall, Chief Executive of Wigan Council. It’s up to us who live and work in the north to shape it to make sure we grow our business base, our housing supply, improve our transport connectivity and upskill our residents to enable them to take advantage of…