NLGN General Feed

Beyond CAA

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 06:55:28 -0400

Olivier Roth, Public FinanceWith the abolition of the CAA, how should we assess the 150bn spent by local authorities each year? How do we ensure that this money is spent ethically, productively and efficiently? How do we guarantee that schools are not deficient, that hospitals are clean and that children in care are looked after?

Through the Looking Glass: Putting citizens at the heart of the assessment process

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:01:44 -0400

In the wake of the Coalition Governments decision to scrap the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA), NLGN is today calling for remaining inspection regimes to be slimmed down and for local citizens to play a greater role in driving up standards. It also called for greater responsibility for local government in improving its own performance. Publishing [...]

Osbornes Sword of Damocles hangs menacingly over our heads

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:57:36 -0400

Anna Turley, LGCThe true threat of this Budget is whats yet to come the 25 per cent axe that hangs menacingly over public services like the sword of Damocles. We have until October to prepare for its descent.

Scanning Financial Horizons: Modelling the local consequences of fiscal consolidation

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 06:28:46 -0400

Analysing figures from the recent Budget, NLGN is predicting that this could leave councils with a funding reduction of over 12 billion, which could lead to services being cut or charges for local services increasing.

Local Enterprise Partnerships could be engines for economic growth

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 06:53:48 -0400

Responding to the announcement from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on the Regional Growth Fund and the announcement on Local Enterprise Partnerships in this mornings letter to councils and business leaders from Secretaries of State Eric Pickles and Vince Cable, Anna Turley, Acting Director of the New Local Government Network said: NLGN wholeheartedly endorses and [...]

NLGN gives reaction to budget

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:13:17 -0400

Responding to the Chancellors Budget Statement, Acting Director of the New Local Government Network Anna Turley said: “This is the toughest budget for decades and lays out the scale of the task facing local government in balancing the books. The scale of the cuts poses a serious challenge to councils ability to deliver services that [...]

Making Sense of Entitlement: Improving public services without performance guarantees

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:18:10 -0400

This paper argues that users would benefit if better outcomes could be achieved more efficiently if public services were subject to less central instruction, as long as the necessary safeguards of transparency, scrutiny and accountability to local citizens are in place.

Like Osborne, local government should seek public input

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 05:44:00 -0400

Anna Turley, LGCThis kind of consultation can be costly and take time, but will be crucial in bringing the public with us in the difficult times ahead. Difficult and honest conversations with the public will be tough, but could just lead to a new era of more realistic public expectation, greater trust, and a more mature relationship between the citizen and the state.

Floodgates open to next wave of cuts

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 08:21:04 -0400

NLGNs forthcoming financial horizons research will outline approaches to how councils can adapt to a new era of service design and mitigate for substantial spending reductions. The flood will take time to clean up, but at least there is now a clear policy direction from the government. Local authorities must rise to the challenge of making sure they dont drown. James Hulme, LGC

NLGN responds to new Decentralisation and Localism Bill

Wed, 26 May 2010 05:34:50 -0400

Commenting on the announcement in the Queens Speech of a new Decentralisation and Localism Bill, independent think-tank the New Local Government Network (NLGN) welcomed the direction of travel of the legislation but urged the Government to focus as much on local financial reform as political change. NLGN Acting Director, Anna Turley said: There is a [...]

Spending announcement points towards the devolution of cuts

Mon, 24 May 2010 12:49:43 -0400

Local authorities will have to cut 1.2billion from this years budgets according to spending plans published today by the Chancellor, George Osborne. Although ring-fencing will be removed from other grants, allowing local authorities greater freedom and flexibility in deciding how to spend their money, NLGN calculates that councils will still face a 15% cut to [...]

NLGN reaction to new review of local government finance

Wed, 12 May 2010 12:49:43 -0400

Responding to the announcement today that the Government is to undertake a full review of local government finance, NLGN Acting Director Anna Turley said: It is very refreshing that both the Conservatives and Lib Dems feel strongly enough to tackle the issue of local government finance in their Coalition Agreement. Given the way the Lyons [...]

Total Place: one year from now

Mon, 10 May 2010 07:43:31 -0400

Critical to the overall success of Total Place will be the level and depth of engagement of local citizens, local politicians, and partner organisations, because the major reforms in the pipeline will rely on a wider input from all these stakeholders. Guy Clifton and Nigel Keohane, The MJ

How CRC should be the starting point for tackling climate change locally

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 11:40:43 -0400

The CRC energy efficiency scheme (formerly the carbon reduction commitment), which comes into effect on April 1st, represents a considerable administrative, financial and reputational burden for local authorities. However, research from the NLGN is analysing how the initiative could also provide councils with the impetus they need to take a lead role in the effort to tackle climate change. Luke Hildyard, NewStart

Councils and Community Banking: Counteracting the local credit crunch

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:01:52 -0400

Polling published by NLGN show strong support from local government leaders for new measures to tackle financial exclusion. With figures showing[1] that more than a third of low earners are finding it difficult to access credit during the recession, NLGN argues that the Government should build on its commitment this week to provide a basic [...]

Budget puts Total Place at the heart of devolution agenda

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:50:31 -0400

Director of New Local Government Network Chris Leslie reacts to the Chancellors Budget Statement.

Making Total Place a success: more than a leap of faith

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:15:50 -0400

The Total Place pilots have set out both the risks in our current systems and the opportunities available when services can be built around local communities. It is now time for the central state to make the jump that local areas have identified they are ready to take. Nigel Keohane and Geraldine Smith, egov article

Total Place making it happen from the centre

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 07:47:38 -0400

At the moment, there seems to be something for everyone in Total Place. Even the Prime Minister has argued that fifteen percent savings from Total Place is probably not unrealistic.Nigel Keohane, Public Servant article

Whitehall: putting its money where its mouth is

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:05:49 -0400

Total Place must not be seen merely as another edict or buzz-phrase generating talk but no change. It is as much a challenge back for Whitehall and any test of seriousness can be judged nationally as well as locally. Chris Leslie & Nigel Keohane, Public Finance

Network Journal

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:05:32 -0500

Issues like climate change, public health and social care remain tough challenges, and local government cant face them alone. Anna Turley, ACEVO