A crucial year
January 16, 2007
NLGN Director Chris Leslie argues that the government has an opportunity to revolutionise the way municipal power and money are controlled in Society Guardian

Pressure is on to share and save
January 8, 2007
If shared services are to achieve their potential, a more coherent strategy with strong leadership is needed to bring councils together says Anthony Brand in an article in Public Servant.

Don’t diss the districts
January 4, 2007
Article: Big isn’t necessarily beautiful, in this era of efficiency and shared services says NLGN Director Chris Leslie in Guardian Public.

Efficiency Drive
December 6, 2006

PPP Bulletin Anthony Brand, Researcher, NLGN NLGN’s Anthony Brand calls on the private sector to help increase authorities’ trust of shared services “Something must be done!” – the war cry of the British politician. In recent months it has been hollered increasingly in the direction of efficiency, cost savings and smarter procurement. This push has [...]

When choice isn’t fair?
November 18, 2006

Chris Leslie, Director, NLGN Inside Housing Recent years have seen a fundamental shift in the purpose of local authorities, from being direct providers of services, to institutions that facilitate and support others on territory over which they are now expected to offer ‘community leadership’. Of all the services ‘lost’, housing is perhaps the most well [...]

Finance after Lyons
November 15, 2006

Dick Sorabji, Deputy Director, NLGN LGC Act one of Labour’s devolution drama was the White Paper. Act two will be Lyons final report; especially the recommendations for reform of local government’s financial regime. Lyons has concealed his intentions behind a multitude of inquiries and suggestions. It raises the question of whether he is moving towards [...]

Flexing our municipal muscle
November 7, 2006

Chris Leslie, Director, NLGN House Magazine The publication of the local government White Paper marks a cautious but gradual shift in real decentralisation and devolution from central government. ‘Localism’ is apparently one of the few areas of consensus in Westminster, but there is a crucial difference between political leaders paying lip service to its aims [...]

Mind the gaps in the white paper
November 2, 2006

Dick Sorabji, Head of Policy and Research, NLGN Local Government Chronicle Despite publication just before the Lyons Inquiry and the resulting absence of essential answers on local funding, the white paper has more substance than expected. Stronger local leadership, joined up government and fewer targets are the biggest gains. But the omissions are just as [...]