A new report by Localis, commissioned by the Local Government Association, recommends the abolition of the Highways Agency, which sometimes over-prices schemes or vetos them based on overly-simplistic projections of increased congestion.
Four new independent but government-funded centres of policy advice covering local economic growth, ageing, early intervention and crime reduction are being launched by the government.
Localis’ Steven Howell participated in a Guardian online debate about the demonstrating the value of resident involvement to communities and businesses.
Ministers have announced a 9.2m cash pot to encourage councils to team up in delivering front line services. Leading a Commons debate on local government finance, local government minister Brandon Lewis said the new Transition Challenge Award was inspired by the success of the West London tri-borough initiative.
Plans for a £75,000 cap on the amount the elderly will have to pay for social care in England will give people “greater peace of mind”, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.
MPs have launched an enquiry into the role played by skills provision in local economic growth plans amid pressure for funding and decision making to be devolved to the local level.
Steven Howell, senior policy officer at Localis, was quoted in an MJ article on commissioning skills across the public sector.
As the current prime minister of India, Manmohan Singh, once remarked: ‘Borders cannot be redrawn, but we can work towards making them irrelevant ? towards making them just lines on a map.’
Data shows 185 councils are yet to adopt local plans, despite 1 April deadline
The government must establish mechanisms for dealing with widespread financial failure in local authorities, the National Audit Office has warned in its first assessment of the sectors financial robustness.