‘Vim and vigour’
Speaking exclusively to first, local government’s new Secretary of State sets out his priorities for the sector.
interview
Making a difference
Lord Gary Porter is standing down as Chairman of the LGA after four years in post. He talks to first about the ups and downs of a turbulent time in local government.
Thinking differently
More than one in 100 people in the UK are believed to have autism. But with the right support, there are no limits to what autistic people can achieve – according to a councillor with the condition.
Real people, real services
Complaints about councils can provide an early warning of where things are going wrong, says Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Michael King
Challenging the extremists
Extremism threatens our values as a country – and councils have an important role to play in tackling it, according to Sara Khan, Lead Commissioner for Countering Extremism
An independent voice
Councils need to understand the financial risks they face, warns Abdool Kara, Executive Leader, Local Services, at the National Audit Office.