Collaborating with our peers
I joined Tamworth Borough Council as Chief Executive just 10 months ago, in April 2024. At first, I was very much in fact-finding mode; I saw fantastic things, but also things we could do better.
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Climate change and flood risk
Understanding flood and coastal erosion risk is vital to ensuring that policymakers, practitioners and communities are ready to adapt to a changing climate.
Drip-feed funding ‘weakening’ services
While February’s final local government finance settlement confirmed a 6.8 per cent cash increase and extra money towards increased employer National Insurance contributions, councils’ finances remain extremely challenging.
Working together locally and nationally
For the first time in 15 years, Labour councillors from around the country came together at the Labour Local Government Conference under a Labour Government.
Retaining the ‘local’ in local government
As we continue to discuss devolution and the reorganisation of local government following the publication of the English Devolution White Paper, the one question councillors need to have on their minds is: how does this benefit my community?
Ensuring no child goes hungry
Central and local government need to work together to build a healthier and fairer society.
Solar on roofs, not farmland
As global unrest and increasing tariffs unfold, I am very concerned about the threat to our farmland from the drive to install outdated solar panels.
Part of the solution
While eagerly awaiting the local government settlement at the end of 2024, Welsh councils were yet again called on to respond to widespread damage and disruption wrought by appalling weather conditions.
Reducing inequalities in early education
Improving take-up of the early education entitlement among disadvantaged children is key to meeting the government target of 75 per cent of five-year-olds being ‘ready to learn’ by 2028.