Simon Cooke: Local authorities must offer high pay to recruit chief executives who are up to the job

Councils with poor management and leadership need to recruit the best people to senior roles to sort out their failings.

The key contests that will show if the Red Wall has been truly demolished

The fourth in a series of pieces on ConHome this week, looking forward to the elections this spring.

Previous success makes the county council elections challenging for the Conservatives

The third in a series of pieces on ConHome this week, looking forward to the elections this spring.

The Lib Dem local election effort will focus on the districts

The second in a series of pieces on ConHome this week’s looking forward to the elections this spring.

Commissioners are to be sent in to run Liverpool: Where are the Labour protests?

Imagine if the Thatcher Government had sought to run the City from Whitehall. The self-defeating militancy seems to have been discarded.

Marcus Fysh: The challenge of coronavirus shows the need for streamlined decision-making in Somerset

A single unitary authority in our county, is needed, as soon as possible, to help our communities to recover.

Harry Fone: Holding council meetings online can save millions in travel expenses

Plus: Why is Sandwell Council spending £10,000 for a lighting company to project messages onto buildings?

Tom Davies and Geoff Fazackarley: Why the Conservative Councillors Association needs new leadership

We want it to have a higher profile, communicate more with members, and provide better practical assistance.

Meghan Gallacher: Scottish Conservatives want to give planning decisions back to local communities

There has been a power grab by the Scottish Government. Decisions made by councillors have been overturned.

Tim Briggs: Labour is losing working-class support in London

Lambeth is the perfect storm of poor housing management, road closures, identity politics and a failed Mayor.

Peter Golds: Election fraud in east London – finally, a police investigation and a conviction

I very much hope that six years since the corrupt and flawed election, the residents of Tower Hamlets will be able to vote safely and securely.

Jenrick offers local people greater safeguards against “woke” indulgencies

A community veto against changing street names and destroying statues is not unreasonable.

Paul Mercer: Now that local government has arrived in the Zoom era, it should stay there

Some of our more technophobic members have readily embraced this change. Attendance at meetings has increased noticeably.

Chris Whitehouse: Councillor allowances should go up, not down

We need to ensure we are attracting those who can deliver effective and efficient services to our local communities.

Mark Ling: Set Ipswich free. It is being “Suffolkated”.

The town has been effectively excluded from power and from the growth it underpins.