In praise of Pickles
27/11/2014 Council leaders should think carefully before popping the champagne corks once the current communities secretary, genuine localist Eric Pickles, is no longer there, writes Simon Parker. |
Why councillors should go on strike
08/05/2014 Swiftian proposal on why councillors should go on strike canvassing for PPCs at next General Election in protest at council cutbacks. |
Why councils need to 'get on' with shared services
07/03/2014 Shared services may be boring and difficult, but they are also politically essential for the future of local government. |
Soapbox by Simon Parker
03/09/2013 NLGN director urges local government to intervene in housebuilding crisis to help address market failure. |
What’s the big idea?
21/07/2011 Some of our poorest areas have the strongest sense of community and the greatest social capital – and councils need to tap into that potential, suggests Simon Parker |
Rethinking modern times
21/04/2011 Local politicians will have to do the ‘heavy lifting’, if councils are to establish a convincing narrative for changing the way public services are delivered, contends Simon Parker |
Market forces
06/04/2011 Councils may be under pressure to contract out services and reduce costs, but they still expect to support the local economy and employment, says Simon Parker. |
Localism is dead – long live localism
16/12/2010 Plans for the future of local government have been swept away by the Localism Bill and the finance settlement and replaced with a new era of innovation, says Simon Parker |
Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.
Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.
Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.