Too often local government lacks proper scrutiny. There is a closed-mindedness that ignores warnings and fails to consider long-term consequences.
Digital is changing the way we live our lives. Councils can’t keep up unless the younger generation are part of the decision making process.
Demands for billions of pounds for extra adult social care spending lack credibility given the continued profligate spending in our town halls.
On Brexit, housing and social care there is constructive dialogue and partnership with Ministers. It is delivering results.
It is not a fix-all, but I hope its measures will produce a real improvement in the number of people who become homeless in the first place.
Councils sharing space with job centres is an example. It means an improved service – and releases buildings which can be sold to reduce debt and provide new homes.
We must seize the opportunities to provide services in a more efficient way – cutting the long delays on public procurement is an obvious example.
The full text of the Communities and Local Government Secretary’s speech to the LGA today.
The Government has not reintroduced the Bill that would implement its commitment to the localisation of business rates by 2020.
Heath and Social Care integration is in everyone’s interests and we need to work hard to make it a reality.
We need a strong voice to demand that Brexit means devolution.
Councils need a voice in the Brexit negotiations, more devolution deals and full retention of Business Rates.
Skills and training programmes, partly financed by the European Social Fund, are highly centralised and inefficient.
Many thousands took part in events around the country.
Vaping has left public health programmes increasingly ineffective.