Gerard Hargreaves: The long journey in Kensington and Chelsea to rebuild local trust
Our borough is still recovering from the Grenfell tragedy. We’re working hard to share information on how decisions are made.
LocalGovernment
Michelle Lowe: How local government can ease the pressure on the NHS
In Sevenoaks District Council we contact people that regularly miss appointments to find out why and how we can help.
Tom Bell: We should embrace a “digital-by-default” approach to make council services more efficient
Embracing technology can include smart bins to improve waste collection and electric vehicles to reduce running costs and improve air quality.
Gary Porter: Self-build and custom build will become increasingly important to delivering the new homes we need
In the UK, we have lost the capacity for individuals to provide or commission homes individually tailored to their needs.
Stephanos Ioannou: Councils have the financial incentive to rubber stamp bad development proposals
Jeopardising local beauty and conservation for the sake of housebuilding is a real problem for councillors. We have to defend our communities.
James Palmer: We need a Minister for East West Rail
We must drive this project forward. It is a vital piece of infrastructure which could allow a million new homes to be built. But we need to sort out the route.
Meirion Jenkins: Birmingham is the largest metropolitan authority in Europe – and one of the worst-run.
The structure and management of the council needs total reform. I would reduce the current 101 councillors to around 30.
Council by-election results from yesterday
In the first contests of the year, independent candidates held seats in East Sussex and Rother.
Ben Houchen: Free Ports would allow leaving the EU to boost the most deprived regions of the UK
The new Shared Prosperity Fund, which will replace EU funding into the regions, is a great opportunity to put areas like mine back in control.
John Bald: Misbehaviour in classrooms is often due to a failure to teach children to read
Behind most disorder is the idea of anxiety. A great deal of that is caused by a feeling that the pupil can’t do their work.
Shaun Bailey: Khan has taken his eye off the ball on Crossrail
It was on time and on budget when Boris Johnson left office. Now the opening has now been pushed back from December last year to August 2020.
Judy Terry: Councillors are still too passive in allowing costly procurement and infrastructure projects
There remains a culture in much of the public sector that no-one will ever be held to account for wasting money on unworkable vanity projects.
Murad Gassanly: Why I left the Labour Party
The Conservatives are the natural political home for those who value national identity and are open to the world.
We have twice as many shops as we need
The good news is that it means great potential to increase the housing supply. Bold planning changes are needed.
Council by-election results from yesterday
The Conservatives gained a seat from the Lib Dems in Charnwood. But the Lib Dems held seats in Cumbria and South Lakeland.