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From media reports painting a gloom and doom picture of public spending, you could be forgiven for thinking that the regeneration sector is about to breathe its last.
Reports by the BBC of an estimated 25,000 job cuts in town halls up and down the country (said …
Posted on Tuesday, 16th March 2010 | This entry has 0 comment(s)
In the post-financial crisis world, we’ve all become experts in economics, as terms such as mortgage-backed securities, quantatative easing and sub-prime lending have permeated everyday life.
Or perhaps, even if we’re not experts, then the gap between so-called ‘experts’ and everyday folk has diminished, as knowing all about …
Posted on Monday, 15th March 2010 | This entry has 0 comment(s)
Since my job is to show clients how to use words effectively in press releases, reports and on websites, anything which suggests councils are using the power of the written word on social media platforms will grab my attention.
I recently spotted two reports by the …
Posted on Monday, 15th March 2010 | This entry has 2 comment(s)
The words we use can reveal more than we intend.
Coming into the co-operative movement, I was interested to have a look at how co-operative our leaders in society are and chose a simple and playful test. Do they talk in speeches about 'I' or …
Posted on Monday, 15th March 2010 | This entry has 0 comment(s)
Aspley in Nottingham is typical of hundreds of other housing estates – run-down, disconnected, deprived and depressed. Years of regeneration programmes have produced some gains, but it still represents over a quarter of all Nottingham’s benefit dependent households and one tenth of all lone parent income support claimants, while …
Posted on Friday, 12th March 2010 | This entry has 0 comment(s)
There are times when you read something, or hear somebody talk about inequality and wonder why you bother. Listening to Professor John Hills, Professor Kate Pickett and Frances O’Grady at the Smith Institute talk about ‘A New Deal for a fairer society’ was very nearly one of those times.
Posted on Thursday, 11th March 2010 | This entry has 1 comment(s)
Tom Riordan, the chief executive of Yorkshire Forward, delivered a predictably enthusiastic defence of his organisation in the face of serious threats to its future existence after the general election (New Start, February 2010). But it is a deeply flawed one that raises more questions than answers about …
Posted on Thursday, 11th March 2010 | This entry has 1 comment(s)
Hands up, who wants to take responsibility for co-delivery?
I've been reading a recent, welcome but slightly underwhelming paper on co-production from ippr, Capable communities. It includes this statistic: eighty-two per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the following statement:
…
Posted on Wednesday, 10th March 2010 | This entry has 0 comment(s)
It is my sad duty to report the closure of the West Rhyl Community Company (WRCC) due to financial difficulties and lack of funding.
WRCC has, for the past eight years, worked very positively for the community of Wales’s most deprived ward, providing the local community with a …
Posted on Tuesday, 9th March 2010 | This entry has 3 comment(s)
I’ve been involved in the replication of social enterprises and co-operatives since 1998: as a member of a worker co-op that was licensed from another successful original worker co-op (which led to my being asked by some to comment on the failure of the Whole food Planet …
Posted on Monday, 8th March 2010 | This entry has 0 comment(s)Entry options
Just like local democratic accountability significantly improved the performance of London Development Agency? I think not.
Let’s not confuse accountability with performance. Where’s the evidence of the link?
Rod McGill on 16th March 2010:
What's the point of Yorkshire Forward?
Thanks Vicky. I’ll take a look at the community you suggested soon.
Mike
Mike Towers on 16th March 2010:
Local authorities and social media – what’s next?
Glad you liked the reports. Socitm’s work on social media stems from our work on council websites (the annual Better connected report on the usefulness and usability of council websites, and our Website takeup service which monitors usage of and satisfaction with them). Digital engagement with local communities by providing …
vicky sargent on 16th March 2010:
Local authorities and social media – what’s next?
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