-
1 week ago | 
themj.co.uk | Jonathan Werran |Amardeep Gill
REORGANISATION Audit, government and scrutiny must be reformed and renewed alongside reorganisation or the risk remains of larger-scale council financial failures, say Jonathan Werran and Amardeep Gill. W e are at a once-in-a-century crossroads in redefining the form, function and finances of local government. However, delays in local audits are serving to undermine public confidence in local government finances and are a hindrance to understanding the national balance sheet.
-
3 weeks ago | 
lbc.co.uk | Jonathan Werran
Careful cutting the fat cats: Local governments' problems go much deeper than eye-watering salaries Careful cutting the fat cats: Local governments' problems go much deeper than eye-watering salaries. Picture: Alamy By Jonathan Werran It is fair to say that the annual TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) ‘Town Hall Rich List’ is feared and loathed by council leaders as a yearly punishment beating ordeal.
-
1 month ago | 
themj.co.uk | Jonathan Werran
DEVOLUTION Southern power play Jonathan Werran says the geographic and economic reality of a more prosperous and easily investable south, which guarantees a stronger return on capital, has often let the market take care of business. 'So, what does the South need from the devolution game?' By Jonathan Werran | 19 March 2025 SHARE An accusation made against the European power elites in recent weeks has been their helplessness in global relations.
-
1 month ago | 
lgcplus.com | Jonathan Werran
With the government’s consultation on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities closing today, Localis chief executive Jonathan Werran calls for a whole systems approach. This year we are marking the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the seven Nolan principles in public life.
-
Jan 22, 2025 | 
themj.co.uk | Jonathan Werran
WORKFORCE Is there a gorilla in our midst?
-
Jan 21, 2025 | 
lgcplus.com | Jonathan Werran
We must guard against well-resourced authorities storming ahead with improved services while others struggle in their wake, writes Jonathan Werran, chief executive of Localis.
-
Dec 11, 2024 | 
lgcplus.com | Jonathan Werran
The devolution agenda must be grounded in the reality of resource and capacity, writes Jonathan Werran, chief executive of Localis. Well so much for that was the year that was. In a year of major domestic news and local government sector developments running as rapidly and crazily at times as a Latin American telenovela, 2024 is finally running out of weeks. But not before the epic season’s plot twists on housing, devolution and finance come to the boil in time for the Christmas special.
-
Dec 4, 2024 | 
themj.co.uk | Jonathan Werran
TRANSFORMATION Why southern comfort requires R&R Restoring strategic capacity for long-term resilience will be vital to the twin pillars of public service transformation and nuanced devolution in the country’s most populous region, argues Jonathan Werran. By Jonathan Werran | 04 December 2024 SHARE At the time of writing, we're living in one of those times for local government when, to paraphrase Lenin, more is happening in weeks than often happens in decades.
-
Dec 3, 2024 | 
themj.co.uk | Guy Clifton |Jonathan Werran
FINANCE Renewing and reforming local governance The case for reforming and renewing local financial governance must be made with long-term resilience and sustainability in mind, explain Guy Clifton and Jonathan Werran. By Guy Clifton, Jonathan Werran | 03 December 2024 SHARE Earlier in the year, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Rates Act, a historically significant dateline in the history of local government finance.
-
Nov 19, 2024 | 
lgcplus.com | Jonathan Werran
An uncontrollably expanding failed super state is dangerous for local government and successful place policy, writes Jonathan Werran, chief executive of Localis. Apocryphally, it was Napoleon who derided Imperial Russia as ‘So vast, so weak.’ The same thought applies to the nature of the British state, which from recent Budget documents is forecast to be spending £1.5 trillion by 2029-30 - having only breached the trillion barrier at the start of the 2020s.
