Liam Walker: This pandemic has shown remote council meetings can work and they should continue

Red tape should be lifted to allow the Zoom era to continue. It can raise awareness and engagement.

James Jamieson: What local authorities are looking for in the Queen’s Speech this week

With a new devolution settlement councils can boost economic growth and provide improvements to the services people rely upon every day.

David Simmonds: Refugee resettlement has been a British success story. Something we must continue.

Councils would benefit from clarity on funding in order to provide sanctuary for more of the world’s most vulnerable people.

Izzi Seccombe: Councils need simple and efficient public procurement to ensure the best value for public money

We must seize the opportunities from Brexit to provide services in a more efficient, flexible, and responsive way

Ricky Bower: Some of the proposed planning reforms are welcome. But localism should not be sacrificed.

Blaming councils for delays is often unfair. Often the highways authorities delay providing the infrastructure needed.

David Pugh: After the crisis, we need to continue with flexible planning policies to boost economic recovery

We could reduce or waive fees for applications that relate to business development. Virtual meetings can reduce delays.

Izzi Seccombe: Councils are putting their extra funding to effective use

I am grateful to the Government for responding to our financial concerns. It’s meant that help has reached those who need it most.

Will town halls run out of money?

The funding pressures are genuine. But expecting to be “fully” compensated by central Government is unrealistic.

Izzi Seccombe: Our councillors have reason to feel upbeat again after this week in Manchester

There was a really good vibe at Party Conference – especially at lots of outstanding fringe events discussing how to give local communities greater powers.

Izzi Seccombe: Conservatives should let local communities take back control

An English Devolution Bill is needed to reignite the process of devolving widespread powers and funding to local areas across the whole country.

Gary Porter: Reflections on four years as the voice of local government

When we work with central government, we improve lives and achieve the best results for our communities.

Gary Porter: The local elections weren’t just about Brexit. Hostility to new housing was a big factor.

The Government has committed to building 300,000 new homes by the mid-2020s. But we need to deliver this with public consent.

Gary Porter: It wouldn’t be Christmas…without the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement

It contained a number of positive announcements. The New Homes Bonus is particularly significant for shire districts.

Tom Bell: Councils should raise their readiness for cyber attacks

More than one in four councils was subject to a serious security breach in the last five years. Given the sensitive nature of the information held, security needs to be improved.

Ian McCord: Bay of Pigs, Challenger Space Shuttle, Northants County Council – groupthink destroyed them all

Too often local government lacks proper scrutiny. There is a closed-mindedness that ignores warnings and fails to consider long-term consequences.