Local Government Management and Organisation
There are two key strands to Localis' thinking on this: Innovation and Leadership. In what is often described as a post-bureaucratic age, public bodies including local Councils, need operate efficiently and effectively in order to deliver what is expected of them. This involves engaging staff at all levels as well as the people they represent in order to engrain a culture of innovation into the operation of the Council. A successful Council also requires strong leadership in order to foster this culture and use it to make strong political decisions. However, we believe that strong leadership can come in many forms, and not necessarily in the traditionally accepted form.
3 Projects
The Future of directly elected Mayors
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Roles and Responsibilities[Oct 16, 2009 - Localis In The News]London’s governance arrangements may not be the most glaring issue the capital seems to face, but they do need upgrading if other critical challenges are to be met.
Mayors Don't Suit Everyone[Jul 27, 2009 - Localis In The News]Directly elected mayors have made a major difference in some cases and usually have more influence than council leaders but they're probably not the answer for all cities, writes Mike Morgan-Giles of Localis.
Directly Elected Mayors: Are they appropriate?[Jun 10, 2009 - Localis In The News]The debate is ‘not over’ regarding the benefits of Directly Elected Mayors says a new publication by Localis. In this series of essays from key commentators, the debate ranges over a number of topics.
Council experts question directly elected mayors[Jun 10, 2009 - Localis In The News]The MJ reports on our latest publication, assesing directly elected mayors. It discusses the arguement that there is still not enough evidence to prove directly elected mayors provide any benefits to large cities.
Should we have more directly elected mayors?[Jun 10, 2009 - Localis In The News]Harry Phibbs comments on our latest report on directly elected mayors. The report included articles from Anthony Browne, Cllr Richard Kemp and Steve Malanga.
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Move on mayors and finance system[Apr 12, 2010 - Local Government Chronicle]A re-elected Labour government would allow the introduction of London-style city region mayors in conurbations like Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham and would set up another commission to consider the future of local government finance
London calls for US-style funding[Dec 2, 2009 - Local Government Chronicle]London Councils and London mayor Boris Johnson have made a last ditch plea for greater financial autonomy ahead of the pre-Budget report. The boroughs and the mayor want to explore the use of US-style funding models.
Mayor tightens grip on Met[Sep 3, 2009 - The Guardian]The Conservatives have wrested control of Scotland Yard from the Home Office and now have its top officers working to their agenda, a senior aide to the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has told the Guardian.
Fostering a culture of innovation within councils
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Putting the Customer First[Sep 10, 2010 - Publications]In this report, we discuss the intricacies and virtues of customer-focused policymaking, and how it applies to local government. We based our findings on an innovative council, Cheshire West and Chester.
Tackling Barriers to Innovation in Local Authorities [Oct 15, 2008 - Publications - Discussion Note]This is a summary of the topics covered at the roundtable discussion hosted by Localis and the Audit Commission on the 15th October 2008, attended by James Morris, Steve Bundred, Greg Smith, Tom Fairhead, Emer Coleman, Prof Jean Hartley, Peter Gilroy, Dr Su Maddock, Crispin Moor, Rhodri Davies, Geor
How to Reduce the Barriers to Innovation[Oct 14, 2008 - Events]We held a joint roundtable with the Audit Commission looking at ways in which local authorities can be encouraged to innovate
Defining a Conservative Council[Jul 2, 2008 - Events]During the LGA Conference, we held an event where attendees were asked to consider 'What defines a Conservative Council?'
1. What defines a Council as a Conservative Council?
2. What 3 innovative things have you done as a conservative Council?
3. What barriers do you face?
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Windsor recycling reward scheme adopted by government[Jun 8, 2010 - BBC]A pioneering recycling scheme in Berkshire has been officially launched following a successful pilot.
Council of the Year: Hammersmith & Fulham[Mar 25, 2010 - Local Government Chronicle]Hammersmith & Fulham LBC is LGC’s Council of the Year - praised by the judges for “doing something very special in challenging times”. The tribute came at the climax of the annual awards at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
Bid costs ‘putting outsourcers off’[May 14, 2009 - Local Government Chronicle]Fresh concerns have been raised over the escalating cost of bidding for outsourcing contracts following a leading company’s decision not to bid for a flagship deal
Local Government Leadership
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Is the bandwagon now rolling for elected mayors?[Sep 19, 2011 - Localis In The News]The Liberal Democrat conference got underway last weekend with a fringe debate on elected mayors. Michael Burton, who chaired the event, reports on the findings.
'Widen elected mayor policy,' Lib Dem urges[Sep 19, 2011 - Localis In The News]Directly elected police commissioners are likely to stimulate the public appetite for directly elected mayors, a leading peer has told a Liberal Democrat conference fringe.
Legislative boldness is only half the story[Jul 5, 2011 - Localis In The News]This is certainly a government keen to get on
with things but, as befits a prime minister who
made localism a key plank of his election platform,
activity at CLG has been particularly pronounced.
The Inaugural Bruce-Lockhart Lecture[Jun 16, 2011 - Events]Localis, in association with Kent CC, Essex CC, East Sussex CC and the Local Government Group, sponsored the inaugural Bruce-Lockhart lecture commemorating the life and work of Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, who led Kent County Council and the LGA with such distinction. The lecture entitled ‘Winning the Peac
What Does 2011 Hold For Local Government?[Jan 12, 2011 - Localis In The News]Following the excitement and rumour surrounding the release of the local government finance settlement last month, 2011 will be the year when the actual impact of funding cuts to councils, rather than often unsubstantiated speculation, will take centre-stage.
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Districts eye shared chief for five councils[Sep 1, 2011 - Ruth Keeling, LGC]A single chief executive could manage as many as five district councils at one time, the leader of Conservatives in local government has claimed.
LGA Conservative group head Gary Porter, who is also leader of South Holland DC and already shares his council’s chief executive with neighbouring Brec
A new chair, a new start with ministers[Jun 30, 2011 - James Illman, Local Government Chronicle]Sir Merrick Cockell (Con) has this week called for a fresh start in relations between the sector and ministers, as the new Local Government Association chairman set out his plans to guide the group through a “pivotal” period.
Lack of leadership puts community-based budgets at risk[Feb 17, 2011 - James Illman and Allister Hayman, Local Government Chronicle]Ministers’ much-vaunted community-based budgets programme is at risk of collapsing, senior council figures have warned.
