First magazine
firstonline is the online version of the LGA's membership magazine first. It carries some stories up to two days before they are published in the magazine, and has a new blogs section featuring opinion and comment from across local government. Other improvements are planned to firstonline, so watch this space – and let us know what content you would find useful by emailing first@local.gov.uk
Gender gap
13 May 2013
One interesting aspect to emerge from this year's local elections is the proportion of women candidates fielded by each party, write Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher.
The Queen's Speech
16 May 2013
The Government has set out its legislative programme for the next parliamentary session.
Big Lunch, big impact
16 May 2013
The Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) has recently released a report which analyses the social
impact of the Big Lunch since its launch in 2009, writes Sir Tim Smit, Co-founder of the Big Lunch and the Eden Project.
Cuts risk 'failing communities'
16 May 2013
Councils will start failing their communities if the Government continues to cut funding for local services in the next spending round, the LGA has warned.
Local elections analysis
07 May 2013
Although UKIP's performance dominated the local elections' headlines, it was the more traditional exchange of seats from the governing parties to the Labour opposition that will have the greatest immediate resonance in local government, write Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher.
News
Councils help save on energy bills
16 May 2013
More than 100,000 households have signed up to council-run collective switching schemes in the last year, saving a massive £10 million on their gas and electricity bills, according to new analysis by the LGA.
Features
Spending Round 2013
16 May 2013
The only way of maintaining public services in the
face of long-term cuts is by undertaking a radical
transformation of how they are provided and
paid for, writes Sir Merrick Cockell
Opinion
Firstonline – cultural capital
16 May 2013
Establishing itself as the cultural capital of Lincolnshire has helped strengthen the tourism economy in the coastal district of East Lindsey, writes Councillor Doreen Stephenson.
