John Bald: Michaela offers great lessons – for the rest of us as well as its pupils

The Ofsted report is a vindication for the approach of Katharine Birbalsingh.

Council by-election results from yesterday

The Conservatives gained a seat from an independent in Powys.

Let’s keep up the battle for localism

Will Labour MPs really vote down decentralising more power to councils?

David Simmonds: Why I am standing to be Conservative Group Leader of the Local Government Association

We need a strong voice to demand that Brexit means devolution.

With tower blocks, fixing one design flaw can create another

An attempt to improve energy efficiency has increased fire risk. Demolition is the better alternative.

Judy Terry: Conservative councillors are reaching out to the disengaged

MPs need to work better at sharing intelligence about local concerns. We can win with a message of hope.

John Bald: On the campaign trail it was clear that concern over school budget cuts lost us votes

One headteacher I spoke to, who normally vote Conservatives, had a dodgy boiler at her school and no means of replacing it.

One lesson can already be learnt from the Grenfell Tower disaster

A transparency rule should require councils to publish all the Fire Risk Assessments for their housing blocks on their websites.

Thomas Turrell: Let’s select the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London now

Our challenger can then have a three year long conversation with London.

John Moss: Jobs, houses, pensions – the policies we need for the future

News schemes should include shared equity homes reserved for people under 30 years old.

Judy Terry: Councils and schools need to take more trouble over procurement

Take the time to create an accurate specification – millions can be wasted on late changes.

Barry Wood: Expand the Council Tax base rather than the rate

There have been 800 new homes in Cherwell in the past year.

Katrina Wood: How regeneration is keeping down the Council Tax in Wycombe

We are bring empty and derelict buildings back into use.

Tom Fitzpatrick: In North Norfolk, the Council Tax has been frozen by sticking to Conservative principles

England has only 68 beaches with Blue Flags – we are very proud to have six of them.

Judy Terry: Labour’s class war on independent schools would be a disaster

Many fee-paying schools already offer scholarships and are sponsoring academies.