Councils need to become drivers of growth, but leaders shouldn't wait to be told to make their move
Local government is facing a perfect storm: an economy in need of a boost; austerity, with reduced funding for public services and the councils that provide them; new reforms from government which cry out for local leadership.
When I was leader of the Conservative Party, I initiated the James Review which identified £35bn in savings across the public sector. It was controversial and some of the figures were hotly disputed by my political opponents. The siren claim of the time was that it was simply not possible to make such savings and improve services at the same time. More for less could not be done. How very old fashioned that sounds today.
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