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Discussion Paper: Latest Publications

Devolution and Good Mayoral Governance White Paper- by Ed Hammond, in partnership with Trowers and Hamlins

Directly-Elected Mayors (DEMs) have been a feature of executive governance in England for more than two decades but their work …

Local public accounts committees- Dealing with the governance of complexity at a local level

Local policy-making is now defined by partnerships – some formal, some informal – between public sector bodies and between the …

Briefing Note: Financial Scrutiny Webinar with CfGS and Guy Clifton

Here you can find a summary briefing of the Financial Scrutiny Webinar with CfGS and Guy Clifton, which took place …

Council size changes: learning lessons from submissions and implementation

This paper, the product of research commissioned by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and carried out by the …

Health and Care Act: discussion paper

This is a paper produced to support ongoing discussion about the content of Regulations and statutory guidance relating to health …

Call-in guidance: discussion paper

In autumn 2022 CfGS plans the publication of new guidance on the operation of call-in for English local authorities. To …

Learning from the pandemic

The immediate, operational impacts of the pandemic are receding. Government has removed the final legal restrictions associated with COVID self-isolation. …

Local politics, local campaigns. Understanding how councils work and getting your voice heard.

This guide has been produced using funds from the JRSST Charitable Trust. It is part of a project being delivered …

“Docking in”: changing the way we act on local democracy

This paper has been funded by a grant from JRSST Charitable Trust, as part of a project on post pandemic …

Considerations for improving citizen participation in the Scrutiny of Combined Authorities in England

This publication is a collaboration between the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny and the Democratic Society and was authored by …

Health and Care Act 2022

This briefing focuses on accountability, specifically the local accountability of NHS bodies to local authorities’ overview and scrutiny arrangements. In …

Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill Briefing

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 17th May 2022. This briefing provides …

Levelling-up White Paper: briefing on governance

A briefing setting out the key governance considerations for local and combined authorities arising from the Government’s Levelling-up White Paper.  …

Possible legislative provisions on scrutiny in the health Bill

CfGS has produced a draft of possible provisions, either for the Health and Care Bill or subsequent Regulations, to support …

Position paper and explainer: the Government’s health White Paper

This document explains some of the key features of the new White Paper, with a focus on the role of …

Consultation response: LGA consultation on the Model Code of Conduct for local authorities

The LGA has (in late spring 2020) consulted on a draft of the revised Model Code of Conduct for councils …

Scrutiny and COVID-19: practitioners’ voices

Complementing the revised 2nd edition of our guide to scrutiny and COVID-19, this publication sets out the views of practitioners …

Transport governance in combined authorities

This paper is intended to support those involved in strategic, member-led transport governance in a (mayoral) combined authority, specifically those …

Combined authorities’ governance relationship with Local Enterprise Partnerships

This is a short research report commissioned by the Combined Authorities Governance Network (CAGN) to explore the governance relationship with …

Management of freedom of information by combined authorities

This is a short research report commissioned by the Combined Authorities Governance Network (CAGN) to explore the management of freedom …