Insourcing: ‘The contractor says no’
15/08/2016 Paul O'Brien and Mo Baines examine the reasons why some councils are moving to bring services back in-house. |
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Joining the dots of local democracy
31/03/2015 Paul O'Brien reflects on research among councillors, which shows that non-executive members provide a vital connection between residents and front-line services but feel marginalised from decision-making. |
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Plugged In
01/12/2010 A senior central government figure recently asked me what a transformed council should look like in four or five years’ time. |
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Plugged In
14/05/2009 The recent Budget merely confirmed what most of us already knew – the years of massive investment in public services are well and truly over, and between now and 2015, the Government will be seeking massive efficiency savings. |
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Plugged In
23/10/2008 Up until a few months ago, the big scare story in local government was how tight the current Comprehensive Spending Review period was going to be. But the unprecedented failures in financial markets over the last few weeks, surely, mean CSR worries p |
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Plugged In
10/09/2008 A recent APSE survey of council education catering managers brings home just how difficult things are getting for those delivering front-line services. |
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Plugged In
23/07/2008 Hazel Blears’ latest White Paper announcements speed up devolution of powers to the public and underline the need to ensure scrutiny is ever more effective as a function of local democracy... |
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Plugged In
04/06/2008 Having made it to the North of Majorca for the half term break I thought I may have escaped the daily grind of life back in the UK... |
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Plugged In
04/06/2008 At some point in my past, I was part of a team pitching the idea of a national graduate development programme for local government to some people who had influence over how future investment in the sector might be best directed... |
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Plugged In
29/04/2008 "With so much coverage of the American electoral process it’s hardly surprising that when you start to think about some of the complex issues facing local government your mind reverts to some of the soundbites used across the pond..." |
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It’s the ‘local’ economy stupid
16/04/2008 With so much coverage of the American electoral process it’s hardly surprising that when you start to think about some of the complex issues facing local government your mind reverts to some of the soundbites used across the pond... |
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Plugged In It’s now or never for social housing
27/02/2008 With the Housing and Regeneration Bill rapidly making its way through Parliament, housing minister Caroline Flint’s outspoken comments on unemployed council tenants distracted attention from some of the more important housing issues facing the UK in |
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Plugged In
10/01/2008 It’s time to get away from the Nintendo Wii’s, Bratz Dolls and High School Musical DVDs and start to think about some New Year resolutions. |
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Stars in your own eyes
09/01/2008 The Comprehensive Area Assessment looks set to scrap star ratings, which will place greater onus on performance frameworks at the local level. Paul O’Brien examines the implications |
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Plugged In
24/10/2007 While the press has obsessed about Gordon Brown’s leadership skills and David Cameron seized the moment at prime minister’s questions time to promote the pre-Budget statement as a ‘smash and grab’ on Tory policies, local government could be forgiven |
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A new look for best value
03/10/2007 Paul O'Brien offers a solution to ensuring councils get the best possible services and best value for money, which he thinks should be adopted as the Government prepares new guidance on best value |
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Cutting your carbon footprint
17/07/2007 A decade ago, global warming was only a concern for hardcore environmentalists. Today, few people doubt the threat it poses. Paul O'Brien assesses councils' role. |
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Should we charge for waste?
24/05/2007 Charging for waste collection is highly controversial. Paul O’Brien discusses how it can be introduced to householders as one of a range of measures to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill |
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