Innovation is the only choice
Tight budgets still threaten the public sector, demand still grows for our services. We are sick of saying ‘we need to do more with less’, but, sadly, it is still true.
comment
A strategic approach
We are publishing a new strategy to guide the LGA’s work over the next few years, as well as an accompanying financial plan.
Delivering on 1.5m new homes
The Government continues to deliver on its flagship commitment to construct 1.5 million new homes within this Parliament, having set out to bolster resources, streamline decision-making and promote local growth with an expansive package of housing interventions that will empower local areas and accelerate delivery of high-quality homes.
One of the hardest budgets to set
I have been a councillor since 2002 and this has been one of the most challenging budget processes I have been through. Why, one might ask?
Planning reforms – the good, the bad and the ugly
I had got my hopes up that we had moved away from government diktats and demonising of councils, but the language being used around the Government’s proposed planning reforms is just that.
Holding each other to account
Elected from within their local communities, and tasked with making decisions that affect the whole community, it is right that councillors are held accountable for their conduct and integrity while fulfilling their role.
Localising employment support
Transforming job centres from the country’s ‘most unloved public service’ into places where people can receive quality career support is a key ambition for me.
Buying into procurement reform
The Procurement Act 2023 will go live on 24 February. Now is the time for councils and their elected members to understand what the act means for them.
Why protecting access to cash matters
In today’s digital age, it’s easy to assume that cash is becoming obsolete. But around five million people in the UK are still reliant on cash. Many others use digital payments, but continue to depend on cash for certain purchases.
Support for affordable housing clearing service
Nearly 250 local authorities and registered providers have signed up to the Section 106 Affordable Housing Clearing Service since we launched it in late 2024, with the help of sector partners. They join 80 housebuilders, and counting.