Ian Parker, Head of Strategic Communications, NLGN
PR Week

Those who attack ‘spin’ in politics often date it from the arrival of New Labour in the UK and the beginning of the Clinton era in the US. In truth, ‘spin’ – or what might be termed the tactical use of emphasis in political communications – has been around as long as the Tuscan hills. Well, at least since Machiavelli offered his many words of wisdom to the Florentine Medici.

Chris Leslie, Director, NLGN
Yorkshire Post

Once upon a time, over a century ago, our great municipal forefathers built the great cities of Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, Birmingham and elsewhere from a foundation of local government strength, where Mayors and Council Leaders were respected alongside some of the nation’s leading figures. Times have changed, and while there is enormous cynicism about politics and politicians in general, few people would naturally assume that their local councillor is a powerful political figure, and local government in particular has suffered a decline in respect, participation and awareness. This is a great shame, not only because we desperately need to build up the strength of our neighbourhoods and cities to fight for attention from a strong central government, but also because local democracy matters.

James MacGregor, Researcher, NLGN
Public Finance

The news that local authorities are well on course to achieve government targets for efficiency savings was announced with quiet satisfaction by ODPM at the beginning of August. Understandably so, when there has been a relatively smooth transition from announcement to delivery, particularly considering the trepidation within local government when it was announced that £6.45 billion of savings had to be achieved by 2007-08. This trepidation has been replaced by a renewed confidence in the ability of local authorities to meet and surpass central government efficiency requirements. Even more impressively, local authorities expect to exceed the required £1 billion in efficiency gains for the period 2005-06.

Anna Randle, Head of Policy, NLGN
Local Government Chronicle

Active citizenship is a key strand of current government thinking. The idea is as follows: multiple benefits can be achieved through citizens becoming more engaged and active in their communities, including the building of individual capacity, the strengthening of community cohesion and the improvement of local services and the fabric of the area.