The MJ

Nigel Lawson asked voters to “Tell Sid”, in @LBHF I am asking FRED to help us run the council with ruthless financial efficiency. Our Fraud, Recovery and Error Detection programme has used AI to save over £1m already, with more savings to come. Read all about it in @themjcouk

Councils must have more power to control their own affairs - accountable not to Westminster in the first instance, but to their own local electorates, says chair of @CommonsHCLG Florence Eshalomi. themj.co.uk/central-govern… via @themjcouk

.@districtcouncil has joined with the Staff College to create a route map for councils considering the disaggregation of children’s services as part of reorganisation proposals. Cllr Hannah Dalton explains more. themj.co.uk/putting-childr… via @themjcouk

.@DPH_MAshton says Cheshire and Merseyside’s collaborative approach to addressing poverty and cutting health inequalities is not just good public health, it’s good policy too. themj.co.uk/championing-fi… via @themjcouk

.@Kent_cc's 'no-brainer' approach to utilising empty properties themj.co.uk/ano-brainer-ap… via @themjcouk

Local government reorganisation offers an opportunity to deliver better services – and it must be seized, writes @joncarrwest @LGiU themj.co.uk/politics-proce… via @themjcouk

If we want to create a more human, prevention-focused state which makes the best use of technology, then we need to stop and think about it a bit, says Catherine Howe @adurandworthing themj.co.uk/change-design-… via @themjcouk

Let's start with a housing-first approach to address the costs of welfare, says chief executive @apsenews Mo Baines. themj.co.uk/start-housing-… via @themjcouk

Reorganisation is a rare chance to realign governance with how economies actually function, says chief executive of @OxfordCity Caroline Green. themj.co.uk/economic-devel… via @themjcouk

The Government's reset and recovery strategy, along with associated backlog dates, have helped get audit onto a firmer footing, albeit with the cost of more limited assurance for many, says Rob Powell. themj.co.uk/getting-audit-… via @themjcouk

Blair McPherson offers an insight into the management of the relationship between leaders and chief executives, and gives an example of how tensions played out in public. themj.co.uk/uneasy-truce via @themjcouk

Plenty of senior jobs going at @sandwellcouncil #localgov

The new Devolution Bill entrenches the mayoral model, extends it powers to new areas and creates a framework for the transfer of more powers - including a new right to request and a parliamentary lock on the removal of powers. [1/2]

.@JP_Spencer_ @LabourTogether identifies the three key issues emerging from the English Devolution and Empowerment Bill, including the ambition from the Government to go much further in giving mayors the new powers they want. themj.co.uk/genuine-milest… via @themjcouk

ADASS Vice President, Phil Holmes gives his personal take on efficiency and productivity in adult social care, and how a wrong-headed approach risks increasing costs and missing opportunities. Read his blog: adass.org.uk/looking-throug…

Fantastic to see Dom Ford, Worthing Cllr, in @themjcouk this week, sharing how his council has pioneered a new model in which communities help shape their own futures. 🔗 edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/p… (page 18) #CommunityPoweredPolitics #Devolution

Councillors have voted to approve the appointment of Emma Alexander as the next chief executive of @TamesideCouncil, with Alexander, currently chief executive of @Derbyshirecc, expected to replace interim chief Harry Catherall in November - themj.co.uk/tameside-appoi… #localgov

.@cabinetofficeuk announces innovation squads to work with councils in 10 areas to redesign public services by testing new solutions and redesigning services as part of a £100m test, learn and grow programme - themj.co.uk/councils-set-r… #localgov

The president of @ADCStweets, Rachael Wardell, warns that #localgov reorganisation could put the delivery of better services for children and families at risk - themj.co.uk/lgr-service-im…

Five years on from the easing of Covid restrictions, Stephen Gaskell says the sector proved that without #localgov, the crisis would have hit places much harder and with unimaginable consequences. themj.co.uk/expecting-unex… via @themjcouk