Breaking down England's fiscal devolution plans
David Phillips of the IFS tells LocalGov why England's regional finance reforms are modest by global comparison and what ministers still need to get right.
Public audit will soon need a spring clean
21/02/2019 John Tizard and David Walker make the case for a new way of auditing how public money is spent that uses evidence before spending decisions are made. |
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Importance of imparting information
02/04/2015 ‘Town hall Pravdas’? No. Information is the lifeblood of local government and constricting its flow will cause injury and even death, writes David Walker |
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Where else to turn?
17/08/2011 Only local authorities have the flexibility and common sense to organise the practical help communities need during times of crisis, says David Walker |
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A reality check for localism
21/07/2011 The Dilnot report is a ‘1948 moment’ as it favours finding a centralist solution to social care rather than making it to a truly local responsibility, says David Walker. |
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Making room at the top
20/06/2011 The new leader of the Local Government Association will face an uphill battle making sure its voice commands the attention of Government, says David Walker. |
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Seize the time
18/05/2011 The civil service is at a low ebb. Morale is at rock bottom and ministers are moaning, but the worst thing is the realisation in Whitehall that prime minister David Cameron’s criticisms contain a grain of truth. And it’s all the fault of local govern |
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Mapping out needs
20/04/2011 Poverty and affluence exist side in many areas leaving councils with little choice but to act as local instruments of social justice, suggests David Walker |
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Peering into the abyss
25/02/2011 Councils are not all identical when it comes to assessing needs and resources, so even the best-laid plans for self-regulation could lead to splits in local government, suggests David Walker |
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What will happen to auditing once the commission exits?
27/01/2011 As the fall-out from the proposed abolition of the Audit Commission rumbles on, David Walker, former communication chief, gives his own take on what happens next. |
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Why the CAA died friendless
01/12/2010 The Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) was launched 12 months ago – and scrapped six months later. David Walker gives his view why the CAA was buried with hardly a murmur of dissent from the sector |
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Don’t shoot the messenger
13/09/2010 As the LGA announces it is no longer planning to recruit a communications director, David Walker – one himself – says now is not the time to downgrade the function |
