Sally-Ann Hart: Becoming a magistrate is a fulfilling way to serve the community – but the number resigning is worrying
Mean gestures like cutting the coffee and biscuits in the retiring room make these committed volunteers feel unappreciated.
Susan Hall: More Londoners are being murdered, but Khan’s complacency continues
In February there was an extra £5 million for training new police officers, yet the recruitment drive didn’t start for a whole six months. There is no sense of urgency.
Phil Taylor: Fire deaths dropped 28 per cent last year – but don’t expect to hear that number being reported
The Grenfell Tower tragedy was a shocking exception to a trend of improvement in safety. Fire deaths are down below 250 a year, the second lowest on record.
Council by-election results from yesterday
The Conservatives held a seat in Torridge. Labour held a seat in Ealing and two seats in Harlow.
What Americans can teach us about local democracy
It should be easier to call local referendums in the UK. Politics is too important to be left to the politicians.
Greg Hammond: Freedom for disruptive technologies v the need for peace and quiet
Clumsy bans are not the answer – but local rules do need to be adapted to cope with Uber, Deliveroo and Airbnb.
Judy Terry: Slashing red tape would mean more Suffolk homes
Here is one firm’s account of how unnecessary costs and delay in the planning system holds them back. Timescales promised by councils are not honoured.
John Bald: School inspection is not a “little extra”
There is no evidence of funding cuts reducing school standards. But Ofsted does need enough staff to thoroughly assess the performance of classroom teachers.
The double standards of those sneering about “pastiche”
Roger Scruton is advising the Government on ensuring new buildings are beautiful. But defeating the architectural establishment will not be easy.
Council by-election results from yesterday
The Conservatives lost a seat to Labour in Kirklees. Labour held a seat in Newham. The Lib Dems held a seat in South Gloucestershire.
Good news from Sunak for parish councils
Rather than being encouraged to maintain village halls and public lavatories, too often community efforts have been penalised by the tax system.
Letwin’s land banking review identifies the real obstacle to housing growth – the Government.
His recommendations look likely to be accepted. Greater diversity of type and design is to be encouraged – rather than the imposition of uniformity.
Andrew Wood: The brave citizens who defeated electoral fraud in Tower Hamlets are faced with a huge legal bill
If the Cabinet Office won’t help defend democracy, why should ordinary citizens do it? The wrong signal is being sent out.
What will the Budget mean for local government?
For councils – unlike others in the public sector – austerity has been real. It is ending. But planning powers are being diminished.
Rob Jonkman: Local government must retain good European relations after Brexit
Meeting many of the global challenges depends on local action. We must to share best-practices and ideas.