End of year round-up

We asked six experts to give their verdicts on the events of 2012 and suggest ideas for progression in 2013.

LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Neil McInroy sums up the local economic development landscape and argues that an alternative narrative is needed.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Phil Baker assesses the impact of the crisis in public finances on local services and says that a spirit of ‘creative commerciality’ can help councils to thrive.

CIVIC SECTOR: Julian Dobson looks at how an emerging collaborative economy is boosting local economies and renewing civic life.

REGENERATION: John P. Houghton calls for neighbourhood resilience programmes to be combined with broader structural change

WELFARE AND POVERTY: Keren Suchecki says that refusal to implement practical, low risk-solutions simply puts political ideology before people.

VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SECTOR: Richard Caulfield calls on the sector to find its voice