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Articles by Sid Hayward
Learning from outstanding work in Ireland: report on the NOAC Good Practice in Local Government Seminar
In February, I attended the seventh annual Good Practice in Local Government seminar, organised by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC). The event, held in Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, showcased six outstanding local government projects from Ireland, and brought together chief executives and senior local government professionals from across the country to a space solely dedicated to council innovation.
Interview with Cllr Katie Pragnell, East Renfrewshire Council
In this interview, we spoke to Cllr Katie Pragnell of East Renfrewshire Council about her experience as a councillor. Cllr Pragnell was elected in 2022 and has since worked with East Renfrewshire Council’s Education Department, notably the Learn Well service, to ensure that young people who find engaging with school challenging are supported. Cllr Pragnell is also chair of East Renfrewshire’s Integration Joint Board and has oversight of the work of the Health and Social Care Partnership.
Five examples of local government-led festive celebrations
In this article, we’ve curated five case studies of local governments leading holiday celebrations and events in their local area.
Disability inclusion and provisions: case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies and resources on disability inclusion and accessibility in councils and local areas, with featured examples from Belgium, Spain, and Australia. BELGIUM: First Belgian with Down syndrome voted into office will serve as councillor Belgium has elected its first citizen with Down syndrome.
Mental health: case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies on helping residents and council staff alike with their mental health, plus selections of policy reports, resources and relevant organisations. Examples this week come from the UK, Germany, Austria and Spain. UK: Hackney mental health scheme recognised with four national awards A scheme launched by City and Hackney NHS partnership last month received its fourth national award.
Design thinking: case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies on how councils are preparing and responding to emergencies and building local resilience, plus selections of policy reports, podcasts and interviews. Examples this week come from the USA and Australia. Australia: Mapping the death of a loved one to improve government services The death of a loved one is one of the most difficult events in people’s lives.
Emergency preparation and response: Resources for local government
Curated case studies on how councils are preparing and responding to emergencies and building local resilience, plus selections of policy reports, podcasts and interviews. Examples this week come from South Korea, Canada, Portugal and Australia. SOUTH KOREA: Intelligent disaster prevention system implemented in Seoul Last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government established an intelligent disaster prevention and safety system following the 2022 Seoul Halloween crowd rush.
Coastal issues: Resources for local government
Curated international case studies of ways councils are tackling the challenges of coastal areas head on. Examples this week come from Greece, Slovenia, Denmark and Estonia. GREECE: Greek island uses robots to clear seafront In 2022, the municipality of Alonissos launched a special cleaning operation of its surrounding ports, beaches and reefs. Teaming up with a local NGO, the council employed underwater robots to clean its coasts and remove abandoned fishing nets.
Cemeteries, history and heritage: Resources for local government
Curated case studies on innovative ways councils are preserving and making use of cemeteries and graveyards, plus resources on the management and importance of cemeteries. Examples this week come from Scotland, Canada, Spain and Lithuania.
Preventing youth violence: Resources for local government
Curated case studies and resources to help local governments tackle and reduce youth violence. Examples this week come from Australia, Germany, and the U.S. USA: National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention In the 2010s, 15 American cities partnered under the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, a network designed to help share information and build local capacity on reducing and preventing youth violence.
Faith communities: Resources for local government
Curated case studies and resources for local government to work with faith communities. Examples this week come from Scotland, England, Belgium and the U.S. SCOTLAND: Glasgow church converted into cinema for Easter film festival In 2023, a film festival was held in Glasgow in the Easter school holidays, with a twist. For the first time ever, the 19th-century Govan and Linthouse Parish Church was transformed into an independent cinema.
Fire safety and prevention: Resources for local government
Curated resources on fire regulation, safety and prevention from around the world. Urban fires: Here’s how to build safer cities This article published by the World Economic Forum explores how cities can build a path towards urban fire resilience, and in turn safer areas overall. It examines what’s requires from institutions, tools governments can use, was well as the risks and challenges posed not only by fire but by inadequate planning and regulation.
Cycle networks: Case studies and resources for local government
This week, we’re showcasing some of recent, impressive cycle network projects and developments, alongside resources to help you rethink and plan your own active travel infrastructure. Examples come from France, China and the U.S. FRANCE: New 170-mile cycle network links less visited parts of the country La Régalante is France’s newest cycle route, comprising freshly linked greenway trails and back roads across less-visited areas in Brittany and the Atlantic Loire.
Local government careers: Case studies and resources for local government
This week, we present inspirational examples of local government careers, plus curated LGIU resources on skills and support for all local government workers. “Local government is the best job that you can have” – Jane Stroud, CEO of Kiama Municipal CouncilEver wondered how a council CEO navigates the ever-changing local government landscape in Australia?
Digital inclusion and poverty: Case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies of innovative ways councils are improving digital access and tackling digital exclusion to prevent wider inequalities, plus reports and resources on digital poverty. Examples and research this week come from France, the US, Australia, and the UK.
Cross border collaboration: Case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies of ways governments are working together to pool resources and improve lives across local, regional or international borders. Examples and research this week come from the US, Australia, and the UK. AUSTRALIA: Queensland appoints Cross-Border Commissioner for border area councils Councils in Queensland have this week welcomed the appointment of a Cross-Border Commissioner, following lobbying from peak body LGAQ.
Storytelling: Case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies of ways governments can best use local storytelling to better understand and highlight the histories and perspectives of residents and generations. Examples and research this week come from the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. USA: Sharing experiences of a formative uprising in Detroit In 1967, Detroit saw one of the deadliest and most destructive uprisings in American history.
The wellbeing economy: Case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies of ways governments can adopt and promote local wellbeing economies. Examples this week come from Spain, New Zealand and the U.S. SPAIN: Using technology for wellbeing economy policy design Following the 2009 global recession, the City of Barcelona developed a technological platform to increase citizens input on economic recovery efforts.
Youth inequalities: Case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies of ways governments can tackle youth inequality and disadvantage. Examples this week come from Columbia, Japan and the U.S. USA: Groundbreaking program provides pre-education to all 4-year-olds in New York New York City’s early years program has acted as a model for several years for accessibility and addressing inequality. The Universal Pre-Kindergarten scheme provides free, full-day pre-K education to all of the city’s 4-year-olds.
Public sports: Case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies on new approaches to making local sport more accessible, fairer, more sustainable, and for the community. Examples this week come from the UK, Australia, Ireland and Finland. AUSTRALIA: Councils must prove gender equity of sports centres to qualify for funding Starting in July 2024, Victorian councils will need to demonstrate their sporting facilities are gender equal in order to qualify for infrastructure funding.
Sustainable asset management: Case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies on how local authorities around the globe are building more sustainable and climate resilient asset pools, plus resources on climate resilience at the local level. Examples this week come from the UK, Thailand and the U.S. USA: Solar “resilience hubs” launched by Minneapolis In a bid to safeguard the city from power outages and boost its environmental credentials, authorities in Minneapolis have launched new “resilience hubs” across three of its neighbourhoods.
Local events and activities: Case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies on some of our favourite local festivals and events from around the globe, plus resources on some of the issues the events sector faces in 2024. Examples this week come from Northern Ireland and Ireland, the US, and Australia.
AI and the council: Case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies and resources on how local governments are using the latest developments in artificial intelligence to streamline their processes and better support their residents. Examples this week come from Taiwan, Australia, Canada and England. AUSTRALIA: Sydney expedites application processes with AI The City of Sydney has this year pioneered an AI-based review process for Complying Development Certificates.
Climate action: Case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies and news from around the globe highlighting some of our favourite climate policies and approaches featured on SmartCitiesWorld this year, as well as some of the more major climate data and reports from recent months. Australia: Green light rail track trialled in Canberra The ACT Government in Canberra this year unveiled a new prototype for a green light rail track.
The role of a councillor: Resources for local government
Curated resources on the rewards and challenges of being a councillor in local government. Examples this week come from the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Resource: A Safety, Health & Wellbeing Guide for Councillors This Milton Keynes City Council guide offers advice and information for councillors to help them protect and promote their health, wellbeing and safety. Councillors are increasingly subject to abuse both online and in real life, alongside harassment, threats and even violence.
Improving life chances: Case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies and news from around the globe highlighting some of the innovative ways municipalities are improving life prospects, health outcomes, and life expectancy, plus the best and most practical reports on the topic.
The future of food safety: Case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies and resources on the topic of food safety and regulatory inspections applicable to local government. Case study: Fighting food poisoning with AI engine One in six Americans get food poisoning each year. And some take to social media to vent about it. In 2016, the Southern Nevada Health District partnered with the University of Rochester to implement the nEmesis app to improve Las Vegas’ health inspection protocols.
Community Wealth Building: Case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies and news from around the globe highlighting some of the innovative ways municipalities are adopting Community Wealth Building approaches, plus the best and most practical reports on the topic.
Depopulation: Case studies and resources for local government
Curated case studies and news from around the globe highlighting some of the innovative ways municipalities facing depopulation are fighting back, plus the best and most practical reports on the topic. Examples this week come from Finland, Italy and Japan, plus research from Europe, Australia and the U.S. Finland: Incentive schemes target young residents Rural municipalities across Finland have been piloting various schemes to convince their young residents to stay local.
Fathers in families and education: Case studies and resources for local government
Every week, we highlight inspiration and innovation from local government worldwide. In this article, we’re focusing on measures from Brazil, Northern Ireland, Timor-Leste and Belgium to improve and protect our electoral systems and campaigns, along with plenty of practical policy and resources on coordinating elections.
Sustainable and affordable housing: Case studies and resources for local government
Every week, we highlight inspiration and innovation from local government worldwide. In this article, we’re focusing on measures from Brazil, Northern Ireland, Timor-Leste and Belgium to improve and protect our electoral systems and campaigns, along with plenty of practical policy and resources on coordinating elections.
A garden town for the future - An interview with Cllr Jim Martin
Cllr Jim Martin, is the leader of Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Kent. Jim describes himself as an accidental politician – having been leader of a local campaign group prior to running for elected office. He is also the portfolio holder for Otterpool Park, a ‘garden town’ in the Kent countryside currently under development.
Electoral administration: Case studies and resources for local government
Every week, we highlight inspiration and innovation from local government worldwide. In this article, we’re focusing on measures from Brazil, Northern Ireland, Timor-Leste and Belgium to improve and protect our electoral systems and campaigns, along with plenty of practical policy and resources on coordinating elections.
Modern libraries: Case studies and resources for local government
Every week, we highlight inspiration and innovation from local government worldwide. In this article, we’re focusing some of our favourite innovative libraries from around the world. You’ll find best practice examples from Belgium, Japan, China, Canada and the US, along with plenty of practical policy and resources. Belgium: De Krook, the “city within a city” library More than 4,000 people walk through the doors of Ghent’s De Krook library each day.
Care ecosystem: Case studies and resources for local government
Every week, we highlight inspiration and innovation from local government worldwide. In this article, we’re focusing on how local government can help create and strengthen the care ecosystems in their communities. You’ll find best practice from Wales, England, and the USA, along with plenty of practical policy and resources.
Energy saving and greener homes: Case studies and resources for local government
Every week, we highlight inspiration and innovation from local government worldwide. In this article, we’re focusing on how we can help create greener homes, retrofit existing dwellings to be more sustainable, and be more efficient with household energy use. You’ll find best practice from Ireland, Spain, India and New Zealand, along with plenty of practical policy and resources for more insight and guidance on the topic.
Supporting local cinemas and the film industry : Case studies and resources for local government
Every week, we highlight inspiration and innovation from local government worldwide. In this article, we’re focusing on how we can help support local cinemas, local film culture, and the local movie and TV industry. You’ll find best practice from Croatia, Northern Ireland, Austria and more, along with plenty of practical policy and resources for more insight and guidance on the topic.
Gender policy: Case studies and resources for local government
Every week, we highlight inspiration and innovation from local government worldwide. In this article, we focus on we can rewild our local areas – from cities to wilderness. You’ll find best practice from Spain, Singapore, Australia and the UK along with plenty of practical policy and resources to for more insight and guidance on the topic.
Rewilding: Case studies and resources for local government
Every week, we highlight inspiration and innovation from local government worldwide. In this article, we focus on we can rewild our local areas – from cities to wilderness. You’ll find best practice from Spain, Singapore, Australia and the UK along with plenty of practical policy and resources to for more insight and guidance on the topic.
Care experienced people: Case studies and resources for local government
Every week, we highlight inspiration and innovation from local government worldwide. In this article, we focus on those who are supporting those who have experience of being in care. You’ll find best practice from England, Scotland and Australia, along with plenty of practical policy and resources to for more insight and guidance on the topic. England: Personalised support for young people leaving care The City of York has launched new efforts to support young people leaving care.
Markets: Case studies and resources for local government
Every week, we highlight inspiration and innovation from local government worldwide. In this article, we focus on the councils working to create markets that are a source of pride to their communities. You’ll find best practice from the UK, Sweden, the USA and the Netherlands, along with plenty of practical policy and resources to for more insight and guidance on the topic. UK: Borough Market in London has published its 2030 Strategy to explain its strategic direction over the next few years.
Calling time on takeaways?
Introduction In recent years, as childhood obesity rates have climbed, the debate surrounding the prevalence of fast-food outlets near schools has gained more traction. More and more local governments are implementing planning guidance to restrict the number of fast-food outlets in their council area. This approach aims to curb the opportunities young people can have with accessing fast food, and in turn help tackle childhood obesity.
What's happening in the world of local government this week?
We’ve compiled together some of the most interesting, newsworthy stories of the last week from the local government sector worldwide. We’re just trialling this service out for now, so let us know what you think in the comments below: New York City to launch sustainable delivery department New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced a new municipal agency for micromobility oversight.
Tackling obesity: Case studies and resources for local government
Every week, we highlight inspiration and innovation from local government worldwide. In this article, we focus on those who are tackling obesity and creating healthier communities. You’ll find best practice from Finland, the Philippines, Argentina and the Netherlands, along with plenty of practical policy and resources for more insight and guidance on the topic.
Misinformation: Case studies and resources to help tackle it
Every week, we highlight inspiration and innovation from local government worldwide. In this article, we focus on those who are fighting misinformation and disinformation locally. You’ll find best practice from Finland, the USA and the UK, along with plenty of practical policy and resources to help point you in the right direction.
Five examples of local government driving the EV transition forward
Every week, we highlight inspiration and innovation from local government worldwide as part of our Global Local newsletter. In this article, we’re focusing on those in the sector who are leading the transition to electric vehicles (EVs). You’ll find best practice examples from Germany, Belgium, Iceland, the USA and the UK, along with plenty of practical policy and resources to help point you in the right direction.
Play in everyday life: how can we reimagine the places we live to be more playful?
Introduction What comes to mind when we think of “play”? Is play something that only children engage in, or can adults play, and be playful, too? As there are a myriad of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social benefits of play for children, why don’t more adults engage in play? Should we consider it to be at the forefront of how we design and make the places we live? The benefits of play for all ages Play is, in essence, something that is fun and enjoyable for all ages.
Local governance among the EU’s only Indigenous nation - the Sami people
The Sami people, often also referred to as the Sami or Saami, are one of the world’s oldest Indigenous communities, residing in the Arctic regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia’s Kola Peninsula. With a rich cultural heritage deeply connected to their ancestral lands, the Sami have developed unique governance systems that reflect their values, traditions, and commitment to preserving their way of life.
Global Local: call for examples and case studies, September 2023
Our Global Local bulletin highlights local solutions to global challenges, with a different theme each week offering critical insights, policy suggestions and case studies. We love hearing what our subscribers are up to, and the successes and challenges they’ve experienced in policy or projects. As such, we’re looking for your insights on our upcoming editions. If you can tell us about these topics, please get in touch and we can help you craft an effective case study.
Global Local: call for examples and case studies, July 2023
Our Global Local bulletin highlights local solutions to global challenges, with a different theme each week offering critical insights, policy suggestions and case studies. We love hearing what our subscribers are up to, and the successes and challenges they’ve experienced in policy or projects. As such, we’re looking for your insights on our upcoming editions. If you can tell us about these topics, please get in touch and we can help you craft an effective case study.
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