Councils everywhere are on a strict financial diet. But judicious social investment can make restricted resources go further, creating new jobs, services and homes
When they go, the coalition won’t be able to send back a coherent analysis of their policies. Despite the small-state rhetoric, today’s mid-term message from the prime minister and his deputy shows that the Big State lives on Read more
With the Localism Act approaching its first anniversary there are already signs that grassroots enthusiasm for localism is waning. The government has over-estimated communities’ ability to take charge of the localism agenda Read more
Public services are not going through a temporary little local difficulty. And the knock-on effects for charities and communities will be severe. It’s time to face the financial facts Read more
Council cutbacks are affecting voluntary and community groups disproportionately. This is unfortunate and self-defeating for a government seeking to develop localism and create a Big Society Read more
A new investment market could help charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations to gain funding and avoid the dependence on continual one-off grants Read more
Just how viable is the government’s scheme to get the long-term jobless back into work? Read more
David Cameron’s favoured concept of a Big Society has been heavily criticised, but it is not too late to for ministers to launch a rescue operation Read more
Competition is meant to underpin the government’s public service reforms. But ministers are running scared of the c-word Read more
The Audit Commission is still holding back in responding to the consultation on its own demise. Criticising the government’s plans could be tantamount to attacking localism and the Big Society Read more
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