By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter With the exception of "the grand bargain" and the idea of a Bruges-sized EU speech today's 'Rebooting series' has been focused on the mechanics of governing, especially personnel matters. Let me end, however, by returning to the big picture from which every thing else flows. The biggest barrier between the […]
In a post a couple of years ago on 100 ways to cut Council Tax without cutting key services, numbers 86 and 87 read: 86. Youth Clubs and Youth Centres. These should not be run by the Council: they are typically pretty drab, dreary institutions when they are. Some of the money saved by closing […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter. The latest edition of the New Statesman may boast an image of Margaret Thatcher on its front page, covered with kisses, but the main essay inside is a call from Philip Blond – the self-styled Red Tory – to form a post-liberal conservatism that is every bit as radical […]
Cllr Andrew Povey is standing down as leader of Surrey County Council to develop his business interests. One issue is a personality clash with Cllr David Hodge who resigned as Deputy Leader a few days ago. I have had some criticisms of Cllr Povey as well as some praise. I obviously wish him ever success […]
By Paul GoodmanFollow Paul on Twitter David Cameron fought the last election on a manifesto theme that was never tested with voters. "An invitation to join the Government of Britain," it proclaimed – but no-one seems to have tried to find out whether the electorate would like to. At first glance, it is surpassingly baffling […]
I am pleased that my own council of Hammersmith of Fulham is to be a pilot for the Social Impact Bonds – along with Westminster, Leicestershire and Birmingham. With these Bonds, people are able to invest in social projects and be paid a return from the taxpayer if the projects are successful. Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, […]
Cllr Andrew Harper, the Deputy Leader of Barnet Council, gave the following speech to this week's Reform conference Let me begin with some context. Barnet is London’s biggest borough – our population is rising 350,000; we are one of the largest unitary authorities in the country; our revenue budget for this year is £904m – […]
The Government’s Localism Bill, which aims to take power from the centre and give it directly to communities, will enable people to have a much greater say on what happens in their area.
The Scout Association (TSA) revealed today that thousands of Scout Groups across the UK are being subjected to enormous rent increases by local councils threatening the future of the Movement and the voluntary work it does in communities. In response to this unfair “tax”, TSA is today launching a campaignurging councils to take a stand […]
Glyn Gaskarth says local authorities need to make public spending cuts but we must still provide for our armed forces community. The Local Government Information Unit and the Royal British Legion, in our new publication Honouring the Armed Service Community have developed twelve painless steps councils can take to provide real help for this community which has […]
Local Government Minister Bob Neill has today written to Camden Council's leader urging him to reconsider the decision to not grant the People's Supermarket, a social enterprise initiative, a not-for-profit business rate discount. The People's Supermarket is a sustainable food cooperative working within a local area providing healthy, local food at reasonable prices. The supermarket […]
Bury Council has a minority Conservative administration and a third of seats up for election on May 5. But that has not stopped them coming up with a radical vision. Here is a summary of their "transformation strategy": Local Government is facing some of the greatest financial and organisational challenges ever. Central government has announced […]
Congratulations to Reading Borough Council, which the Conservatives gained from Labour last May, on increasing funding for the voluntary sector. The funding is £6,818,281 million in the current year but will rise to £7,039,519 million in financial year 2011/12. Looking at the details we see greatly increased used of commissioning of the viluntary sector in an […]
This morning The Times featured(£) the progress made in building the Big Society in Windsor and Maidenhead. The Council leader, Cllr David Burbage criticised Liverpool Council for their "political gesture" in opposing the initiative. The report detailed what the Big Society means in Windsor and Maidenhead: In practice it means that “Adopt a street” — […]
By Steve Baker MP I have written before of my support for the Big Society idea. For me, it is about the nature of good relationships between individuals, the foundation of a healthy society and civilisation. But this post is not about my views. It is about the ideas of my constituent David Jefferies who, […]