Category: Articles
The pandemic showed how much central government tightens its grip in a crisis. But it's the connection with local goverrment, not just power that's the problem.
6th October, 2020
Central government • Devolution and reorganisation • Strategy and leadership
The decline of the high street was only sped up by Covid-19 – but could commununity ownership help reverse this trend? With inspiring examples from across the UK, Ailbhe McNabola […]
1st October, 2020
“We need to be creative, brave and try things that no government has ever done before.” This is how, in a recent tweet, chancellor Rishi Sunak proposed that he would […]
1st October, 2020
The rise of Mutual Aid groups was a rare positive to come out of the pandemic, seeing thousands of people coming together to help their neighbours through hardship and isolation. […]
1st October, 2020
A ‘marriage from hell’ between big state and big business birthed a litany of failures during Covid-19. Meanwhile, councils and communities have proved themselves far more equipped to cope. As […]
25th September, 2020
While devolution might be set back by the government’s centralising instincts, which have been laid bare during the pandemic, this is counterbalanced by the support councils have won through their […]
16th September, 2020
From the perspective of international comparisons, Britain’s performance during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a chastening experience. Both in terms of economics and in terms of public health, we endured […]
15th September, 2020
A new podcast series from the New York Times makes a simple observation – that the single most powerful force in American public schools are concerned white people. Over five […]
3rd September, 2020
When we talk about devolution, as we will do increasingly when the UK Government’s Devolution and Local Recovery White Paper is published this Autumn, we should remember that it is […]
1st September, 2020
This might not be your traditional summer for kicking back and relaxing with the latest page-turner, so why not try out something a bit more… powerful? Our NLGN team present […]
7th August, 2020
As we look to a post-pandemic future, more and more local authorities are getting behind the idea of a Universal Basic Income. The case is stronger than ever, argues Simon Duffy
7th August, 2020
A new Government White Paper envisages radical reform for planning. But, while it hints at a community-led approach, it also sets rules and targets to be imposed by national government. John Myers of the YIMBY Alliance sets out how...
6th August, 2020
Community Power • Housing • Place building • Planning • Public Services
Communities have the power to do extraordinary things. The evidence for this is all around us at the moment. However, for this potential to be unleashed, work needs to be done.
29th July, 2020
The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) turn their attention to what life might look like after lockdown, and the opportunities for change this might bring.
29th July, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as producing huge hardship and challenges, was also a time that saw incredible innovation, resilience and compassion. NLGN's new report 'Shifting the Balance', aims to capture the best examples of this
26th July, 2020
Kicking off a new conversation about Resilient Britain, chief executive of Local Trust, Matt Leach, and director of NLGN, Adam Lent, set out their plan to bring together a network of people and organisations to design and deliver plans...
24th July, 2020
Build Back Better • Covid-19 • Employment • Public Services • Resilience
As councils prepare for recovery from COVID-19, we asked leaders in local government how their councils are preparing for a potential second wave
23rd July, 2020
What have we learned from monitoring innovative local responses to COVID-19?
16th July, 2020
Have a Listen: The public response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been a source of much-needed hope. Thousands of spontaneous, voluntary Mutual Aid groups have emerged to support the most […]
13th July, 2020
Across the country, thousands of Mutual Aid groups have emerged, taking on vital work and supporting the most vulnerable people in their communities through this unprecedented disaster. The flourishing of these groups raises many questions, particularly for those of...
13th July, 2020
Mutual Aid groups have been an indispensable part of the country’s response to COVID-19, powered by people on furlough. Research published today (14 July 2020) by the New Local Government […]
13th July, 2020
We're talking to people leading change in local government about their work, their place, and the pandemic.
10th July, 2020
Build Back Better • Community Power • Council Voices • Covid-19
NLGN is proud to welcome Sir Chris Ham to our Board.
7th July, 2020
Community Power • Health and social care • Interview • New Local Board
Local authorities are indispensable in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. What are they doing to meet the challenge?
3rd July, 2020
Rory Palmer, former deputy mayor of Leicester, tracks the governments over-centralised approach to lockdown.
1st July, 2020
Michael Gove's agenda-setting speech fails to reckon with power.
29th June, 2020
Local authorities are indispensable to our COVID response. How are they going about meeting the challenge?
26th June, 2020
We're talking to people leading change in local government about their work, their place, and the pandemic.
23rd June, 2020
Alex Fox, CEO of Shared Lives Plus, argues that we need to see a rapid shift from the ‘command and control’ leadership style which arguably saved the NHS a few weeks ago, to a much more devolved and collaborative...
22nd June, 2020
Build Back Better • Covid-19 • Public Services • Social Care
Wigan council’s Chief Executive Alison McKenzie-Folan on how her local authority have dealt with the challenges of the Covid pandemic. There have been smiles and tears, exhilaration and complete exhaustion. […]
22nd June, 2020
A growing number of councils are adopting new approaches to children's services which tap into the capacity and experiences of local people.
18th June, 2020
Local authorities are indispensable to our response to the pandemic. So how are they stepping up to the challenge?
18th June, 2020
We talk to people leading change in local government about their work, their place and the pandemic.
17th June, 2020
Local authorities are indispensable to our response to the crisis. So how are they meeting the challenge?
12th June, 2020
In a new report, we explore how COVID is changing the relationship between public services and communities.
9th June, 2020
Build Back Better • Community Power • Covid-19 • Public Services
How can deliberative forums be used to engage and mobilise communities?
8th June, 2020
Local authorities are indispensable to our response to the crisis. So how are councils meeting the challenge?
4th June, 2020
"How do we know what to measure?" This is a key question for local government.
3rd June, 2020
In our Decades in Days series, we talk to the people leading change in local government. They tell us about their work, their place, and the effect of COVID-19 on […]
2nd June, 2020
25/5/20 – 29/5/20 Local authorities are indispensable in our current crisis and are therefore under enormous pressure. They manage the public services that people are increasingly reliant on, support the […]
29th May, 2020
Throughout the pandemic central government has worked against the grain of local energy, but hope can be found in our communities and councils, writes Jessica Studdert. Councils’ confidence in the […]
28th May, 2020
As the COVID-19 crisis unfolded, we asked leaders in local government how their councils are coping with the challenges of this crisis. Here are the three things we’ve learned from […]
28th May, 2020
18/5/20 – 22/5/20 Local authorities are indispensable in our current crisis and are therefore under enormous pressure. They manage the public services that people are increasingly reliant on, support the […]
21st May, 2020
If there has been anything heartening to come out of misery of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been the growth of mutual aid groups, which we have seen spring up […]
18th May, 2020
11/5/20 – 15/5/20 Local authorities are indispensable in our current crisis and are therefore under enormous pressure. They manage the public services that people are increasingly reliant on, support the […]
15th May, 2020
“Disasters shake things loose. And the things that we regarded as fixed and unchangeable can suddenly be changed” (Solnit, 2020) Rebecca Solnit has become the ‘go to’ writer for many […]
12th May, 2020
‘Place transformation’ has become a well-used term, as the principles underpinning the positive transformation of place are becoming better understood and established. But does this mean we know what it […]
11th May, 2020
04/5/20 – 08/5/20 Local authorities are indispensable in our current crisis and are therefore under enormous pressure. They manage the public services that people are increasingly reliant on, support the […]
7th May, 2020
Community Power • Councils Respond • Covid-19 • Public Services
27/4/20 – 01/5/20 Local authorities are indispensable in our current crisis and are therefore under enormous pressure. They manage the public services that people are increasingly reliant on, support the […]
1st May, 2020
Community Power • Councils Respond • Covid-19 • Public Services
Under pressure following criticism of his approach to testing for Covid-19, at the start of April Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced a new target: the government would be carrying out […]
29th April, 2020
Community Power • Leadership • Local government finance • Strategy and leadership