Total Place should not be about making cost savings (although it will lead to them), or political maneuvering within central government. It is therefore a challenge for the next government to take Total Place forward in the right manner.
Our political system is in need of large-scale systemic reform. For decades successive governments have pursued an approach to policy making which has centralised power and decision making to the detriment of local people, communities, local government and public services
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
Ambitious plans for all 33 London authorities to share financial and HR systems are being floated to finance directors, in a bid to make substantial savings
Pubs, post offices and gardeners are among those who will benefit from measures the government has agreed to take forward in response to the first round of the Sustainable Communities Act.
The government today announces a “mutual manifesto” as it unveils plans to allow people to own and run a plethora of local services including council estates and SureStart centres.
David Cameron is pledging that a Conservative government would train a 5,000 strong “neighbourhood army” to set up community groups, based on an idea from the U.S.
Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, Cllr Colin Barrow and Cllr Edward Lister, Leaders of three flagship London Councils are asking the new Government for the freedom to show how to save £13.9bn of public money while delivering better services
Elderly people who have been in residential care for two years will have the costs paid for the rest of their lives under Labour plans to reshape the welfare state, The Times has learnt
Extra funding of 180m has been pledged for a ?major expansion? of financial services offered by the Post Office. The new money is on top of 1.7bn currently being invested in the 11,500 branches, with the aim of making them more sustainable.