Good Local Economics

The pragmatic localist

He’s championed localism from the outside, now James Morris has the chance to drive it from the centre. Clare Goff meets him

One of the first text messages James Morris received when he became a Member of Parliament during the last election came from a fellow MP. It read simply: ‘Congratulations! Another localist at the centre.’ As new MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis, James Morris would not be exaggerating if he claimed to have localism running through his veins.

Communities Economic Development Good Local Economics Local Government

The hybrid cooperative

Communities Good Local Economics Regeneration

Big Society can give our green lungs breathing space, but they still need funds

Communities Economic Development Finance Good Local Economics Local Government

Trading upwards

Communities Economic Development Good Local Economics Local Government Regeneration

A wealth of difference

Communities Economic Development Good Local Economics Local Government

It’ll take a lot more than a nudge to improve the nation’s health

Communities Good Local Economics

Making work pay isn’t as simple as it sounds

Communities Economic Development Finance Good Local Economics Local Government Regeneration

Job well done?

Communities Economic Development Finance Good Local Economics Local Government Regeneration

Power to the people

The People’s Budget is a new campaign to help community groups get a much bigger say on the money decisions of councils and other local statutory organisations.

Some cities in Brazil and Europe have involved thousands of local residents in the direct decisions about how public budgets are allocated. This involvement leads to more effective spending decisions and a whole host of community cohesion benefits. So far the use of Participatory Budgeting in Britain has been relatively small scale, and crucially, on the terms of the local politicians and officers.