From delivering new homes, to promoting economic growth or improving the life chances of the most vulnerable in our society, councils are the key to solving our biggest local and national challenges. ...

The Arms Length Body has flirted with ‘place’ throughout its history, but has it responded too late to devolution and will that be its death-knell?

The Government’s decision to pause LGR has thrown the programme into uncertainty — here are four scenarios for what could happen next, and what that might mean for devolution.

The Government’s decision to pause LGR has thrown the programme into uncertainty — here are four scenarios for what could happen next, and what that might mean for devolution.

Why town centres need beetroots, bowling alleys and botox

Why town centres need beetroots, bowling alleys and botox

Curiously, there has been little interest in its future, despite authorities spending an anticipated £151 billion this financial year and delivering many of the services that we rely on every day.

There’s 13 statements; how many apply to you?

The Greater Manchester authority has been in no overall control since the local elections in May.

Notes on Local Government is brought to you by Groundwork Research, a non-partisan, mission-driven research consultancy committed to exploring the knottiest policy challenges. Written by Jack Shaw.

The new Prime Minister is expected to turbocharge devolution.  But to fulfil its promise, strategic authorities — led by mayors across England — must operate at scale. In this blog, Jack Shaw argues t...

Devolution is moving into a new phase — but its institutional, practical and political implications are only beginning to emerge.

Devolution is moving into a new phase — but its institutional, practical and political implications are only beginning to emerge.

Click to read Notes on Local Government, by Jack Shaw, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.