Consolidating my thinking and in a spirit of sharing … The Right Conditions for Digital Paul Brewer (@pdbrewer) pitched a session about the Right Conditions for Digital (see his blogpost) based on his experience at Director of Digital and Resources at the very interesting Adur and Worthing. This could have been a longer session. Paul…
Category: public policy
Devolution: The end of Localism?
(This is a bit of thinking out loud in an entirely personal capacity) In future times as we look back on the process of devolution now beginning, we may see that this was the point at which localism came to an end. This may seem contradictory – surely devolution is a decentralising force and therefore…
Councils in 2043 – the Next Thousand Words
I was delighted to be asked recently to contribute a piece to LGiU’s 30 birthday celebration work, an imaginative idea that asks 30 people to project what councils may be like in thirty years’ time in 2043. The post is here: http://www.lgiu.org.uk/30birthday-jonathan-flowers/ and is an imagined conversation between two un-named individuals at a mono-bus stop! In writing…
Four Futures of Local Government
My Guardian Professional, Local Government Network, piece about Four Futures for Local Government is here, and the more detailed paper can be downloaded from here.
Building a Platform for Evidence Use in Local Government
This blog was originally published on Demsoc’s Open Policy Blog. I attended the “Informed Future” workstream at the 2012 Solace Summit, and whilst I won’t try to give a blow-by-blow account I want to share here some of the key things which emerged, for me. There is a lot of hard work at many levels required before Local Government…
In the Bleak Mid-Decade: The View from Bartle Borough Council in 2017
It’s 2017. We are halfway through the projected decade of austerity. Bartle Borough Council is a (fictional) unitary with 250,000 residents. It describes itself as a “commissioning council” and more than 80% of its services are provided by the private or voluntary sector. Resident satisfaction is pretty good – just below upper quartile. 75% of…
Thoughts arising from … #LocalGovCamp
Attended my first localgovcamp this weekend, (though it wasn’t my first unconference). These are my 10 takeaways – a clever format suggest by someone (possibly even Dan Slee) a little while ago: 1. Struck once again by how extraordinarily easy it is to enjoy the company of people who share a common passion and with…
Competing to be the most Business-Friendly Council
This post was originally published on http://www.localgovernmentmatters.co.uk. I recently participated in a workshop arranged by a council to bring together its staff, local businesses and other relevant stakeholders in a session which focused on envisioning a future economic strategy. It was an impressive piece of co-creation, and as is usual with these things the…
Guardian Public Services Summit 2012
This blog was originally posted on http://www.localgovernmentmatters.co.uk The Guardian Public Services Summit is a rarity on the Summit circuit as it draws together people from across the public, voluntary and private sectors to share views on current issues and future opportunities in public service. It provides an interesting snapshot of the zeitgeist and I have…
The Tale of the Town Hall Clock
I wrote this shortly after joining Local Government, in 2001…. The Tale of the Town Hall Clock Once upon a time there was a town hall clock. It was quite a famous clock because it kept very good time, and people for miles around liked to see it, and hear its chiming bells. Lots of…
Town Councils – 2
After my fictional blog looking back at the success of a Town Council from the vantage point of 2015 I was delighted recently when someone pointed out this – Frome Town Council’s strategic plan is written in a similar way to the blog. It would be nice to think that the blog was mildly influential in…
Wexton Town Council – May 2015
Wexton Town Council Speech of the Incoming Town Mayor, David Sander, to the AGM 5th May 2015 (Check against podcast) I feel a tremendous privilege to stand here today as Town Mayor for Wexton, and a sobering responsibility. The last four years have been incredibly active for our town council and our community and before…
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