Research for Action
@research-for-act.bsky.social
We produce research and organise around accountability, information rights & local democracy. Currently: democratic effects of #LocalGov financial crisis. A worker co-operative. Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/47xnyb37
Pinned
GUIDE: Local councils in crisis and how Westminster intervenes – Research for Action
researchforaction.uk
⁉️NEW: A guide to councils in crisis and Westminster interventions👀
Everything you ever wanted to know about councils getting taken over by the government. What’s a section 114? Who are commissioners & what do they do? What are different types of interventions? researchforaction.uk/guide-local-...
Everything you ever wanted to know about councils getting taken over by the government. What’s a section 114? Who are commissioners & what do they do? What are different types of interventions? researchforaction.uk/guide-local-...
'We are outraged at the manner in which the council has been conducting itself and in disbelief at the clear lack of respect...for the city’s community organisations that are attempting to engage with them' - passionate statement by Save #Birmingham to the council savebirmingham.org/news/save-bi...
Save Birmingham
Protect our community places
savebirmingham.org
November 12, 2025 at 4:53 PM
'We are outraged at the manner in which the council has been conducting itself and in disbelief at the clear lack of respect...for the city’s community organisations that are attempting to engage with them' - passionate statement by Save #Birmingham to the council savebirmingham.org/news/save-bi...
We'll be speaking at this (free!) conference at the London Assembly on 27th Nov, in association with @londonassembly.bsky.social and @cfgs.bsky.social www.cfgs.org.uk/holding-mayo...
Holding mayors to account: The future of scrutiny in devolved government - CfGS
27 November 2025 at City Hall, London. This is a free-to-attend-day conference on the future of mayoral scrutiny.
www.cfgs.org.uk
November 11, 2025 at 11:59 AM
We'll be speaking at this (free!) conference at the London Assembly on 27th Nov, in association with @londonassembly.bsky.social and @cfgs.bsky.social www.cfgs.org.uk/holding-mayo...
Reposted by Research for Action
What an inspiration! #Cooperatives 💪🏾❤️♀️
On the podcast! Hayley Postlethwaite joins us to talk about The Cleaning Coop and how the cooperative creates safe, fairly paid and equitable work with and for immigrant and racialized workers. tiny.cc/xctu001 @cooperatives.bsky.social @chf.bc.ca
Cooperative provides safe, equitable, fairly-paid work for cleaners
Podcast Episode · Redeye · 2025-11-08 · 12m
tiny.cc
November 10, 2025 at 1:23 PM
What an inspiration! #Cooperatives 💪🏾❤️♀️
Brand new worker cooperative offers help to organisers, charities, public sector etc with tech support and advice - see more at techcare.coop
Tech Care Co-op – Compassionate tech care for social good
techcare.coop
November 6, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Brand new worker cooperative offers help to organisers, charities, public sector etc with tech support and advice - see more at techcare.coop
This free online community organising course looks great - starts 10th Nov ! actionnetwork.org/forms/trust-...
Trust the People Course Autumn 2025
I just signed up to the next Trust the People community organising course.
It is free and starts on Monday 3rd November! It will run online for four weeks at 6pm-8.30pm each Monday.
If you are fed ...
actionnetwork.org
November 4, 2025 at 12:58 PM
This free online community organising course looks great - starts 10th Nov ! actionnetwork.org/forms/trust-...
Great studio/production manager job going with our pals @mediaco-op.bsky.social in Glasgow! mediaco-op.net/news/studio-... #workercoops #coops #ethicaljobs etc
Hiring: Studio and Production Manager - media co-op
Media co-op is a team of award-winning media professionals who create digital media and films for the third sector and broadcast television.
mediaco-op.net
November 4, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Great studio/production manager job going with our pals @mediaco-op.bsky.social in Glasgow! mediaco-op.net/news/studio-... #workercoops #coops #ethicaljobs etc
#Birmingham 's financial distress was grossly overstated; this and the decisions that followed - section 114, commissioners, cuts - should be the subject of far more criticism and comment. We signed on to the open letter mentioned here in @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/9045...
UK’s second city urged to justify ‘avalanche’ of cuts after bankruptcy
Birmingham city council under growing pressure to explain whether severe cost savings and asset sales were necessary
www.ft.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:30 AM
#Birmingham 's financial distress was grossly overstated; this and the decisions that followed - section 114, commissioners, cuts - should be the subject of far more criticism and comment. We signed on to the open letter mentioned here in @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/9045...
A year since we released 'Councillor Experiences of Scrutiny' - our first piece of research directly looking at #councillors, identifying structures, cultures & behaviours that impede good scrutiny & proposals for change researchforaction.uk/report-counc... #LocalGov #transparency #accountability
REPORT: Councillor Experiences of Scrutiny in Local Government – Research for Action
researchforaction.uk
October 30, 2025 at 10:29 AM
A year since we released 'Councillor Experiences of Scrutiny' - our first piece of research directly looking at #councillors, identifying structures, cultures & behaviours that impede good scrutiny & proposals for change researchforaction.uk/report-counc... #LocalGov #transparency #accountability
Reposted by Research for Action
It's been a wee while! We've been very busy with exciting new projects, which is exactly why we're now hiring for a new Studio and Production Manager!
Read the full job description and find out how to apply at mediaco-op.net/news/studio-...
Read the full job description and find out how to apply at mediaco-op.net/news/studio-...
October 29, 2025 at 11:27 AM
It's been a wee while! We've been very busy with exciting new projects, which is exactly why we're now hiring for a new Studio and Production Manager!
Read the full job description and find out how to apply at mediaco-op.net/news/studio-...
Read the full job description and find out how to apply at mediaco-op.net/news/studio-...
"We believe that greater openness will ultimately facilitate better public participation and healthier local democracies."
Our blog on @lgiu-local-gov.bsky.social based on recent report on how to make #localgov financial information more accessible, and why it matters:
lgiu.org/blog-article...
Our blog on @lgiu-local-gov.bsky.social based on recent report on how to make #localgov financial information more accessible, and why it matters:
lgiu.org/blog-article...
How to fix the accessibility of council finances – for the good of local democracies - LGiU
New research from the University of Sussex and Research for Action has explored barriers to the public understanding and scrutinising council financial information and made calls for improving transpa...
lgiu.org
October 28, 2025 at 2:59 PM
"We believe that greater openness will ultimately facilitate better public participation and healthier local democracies."
Our blog on @lgiu-local-gov.bsky.social based on recent report on how to make #localgov financial information more accessible, and why it matters:
lgiu.org/blog-article...
Our blog on @lgiu-local-gov.bsky.social based on recent report on how to make #localgov financial information more accessible, and why it matters:
lgiu.org/blog-article...
Our friends at Corporate Watch are putting on this campaign/activist research training 28th/29th Nov in London- free
corporatewatch.org/research-for...
corporatewatch.org/research-for...
Research for Resistance: skills, strategy and solidarity - Corporate Watch
Two days of skills, strategy and solidarity Join us on Friday 28th and Sat 29th of November 2025 for a hands-on event in London about how to use corporate research to boost campaigns and build power. ...
corporatewatch.org
October 23, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Our friends at Corporate Watch are putting on this campaign/activist research training 28th/29th Nov in London- free
corporatewatch.org/research-for...
corporatewatch.org/research-for...
@sammgreg.bsky.social hello Sam, could you follow us? Have a request! Thanks
October 22, 2025 at 4:16 PM
@sammgreg.bsky.social hello Sam, could you follow us? Have a request! Thanks
Always great to meet local independent news blogs - here's the Stray Ferret from Harrogate ! thestrayferret.co.uk
Harrogate news and around the district - The Stray Ferret
Harrogate news service for in and around the local district. We are a platform for people to ask questions, share views and opinions.
thestrayferret.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Always great to meet local independent news blogs - here's the Stray Ferret from Harrogate ! thestrayferret.co.uk
.@room151.co.uk [paywall] has exec director of finance at Birmingham Council describe Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) correctly as 'a pretty expensive loan' rather than simply additional money. www.room151.co.uk/funding/gove...
Government measures can have ‘catastrophic’ impact; EFS treating ‘symptoms, not cause’ - Room151
The potentially “catastrophic” impact on councils of being in ‘special measures’ has been highlighted in a section 151 officer discussion of government intervention at local authorities.
www.room151.co.uk
October 9, 2025 at 9:49 AM
.@room151.co.uk [paywall] has exec director of finance at Birmingham Council describe Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) correctly as 'a pretty expensive loan' rather than simply additional money. www.room151.co.uk/funding/gove...
Reposted by Research for Action
The biggest shake-up of local government since 1974 is underway in Norfolk, Suffolk & Essex, writes Stephen McNair.
New mayors. New unitary authorities. More accountability – or just more complexity?
New mayors. New unitary authorities. More accountability – or just more complexity?
Transforming local government: what next in the East?
Local government reorganisation in the East took a step forward in September, with nine proposals submitted to government. So what happens now? Local government reorganisation in the East took a step ...
eastangliabylines.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 10:39 AM
The biggest shake-up of local government since 1974 is underway in Norfolk, Suffolk & Essex, writes Stephen McNair.
New mayors. New unitary authorities. More accountability – or just more complexity?
New mayors. New unitary authorities. More accountability – or just more complexity?
Reposted by Research for Action
With the PM expected to announce regeneration funding for 300 areas today, our recent poll found...
-40% of Britons say their local area is in a bad state
-48% say it is worse than 10yrs ago
-32% expect it to get worse in a year's time
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
-40% of Britons say their local area is in a bad state
-48% say it is worse than 10yrs ago
-32% expect it to get worse in a year's time
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
September 25, 2025 at 9:32 AM
With the PM expected to announce regeneration funding for 300 areas today, our recent poll found...
-40% of Britons say their local area is in a bad state
-48% say it is worse than 10yrs ago
-32% expect it to get worse in a year's time
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
-40% of Britons say their local area is in a bad state
-48% say it is worse than 10yrs ago
-32% expect it to get worse in a year's time
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Reposted by Research for Action
Rentier economy.
61% of England local authority budgets spent on social care, mostly privatised.
Adult social care providers profit margin up to 42%. Children's care homes, 23%.
Money buys less. Front line services suffer.
Political paralysis: No major party plans to end to privatisation.
61% of England local authority budgets spent on social care, mostly privatised.
Adult social care providers profit margin up to 42%. Children's care homes, 23%.
Money buys less. Front line services suffer.
Political paralysis: No major party plans to end to privatisation.
How successive government have created a new rentier economy
Governments appease corporations and the super-rich by following the old policies which benefit a few.
leftfootforward.org
September 8, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Rentier economy.
61% of England local authority budgets spent on social care, mostly privatised.
Adult social care providers profit margin up to 42%. Children's care homes, 23%.
Money buys less. Front line services suffer.
Political paralysis: No major party plans to end to privatisation.
61% of England local authority budgets spent on social care, mostly privatised.
Adult social care providers profit margin up to 42%. Children's care homes, 23%.
Money buys less. Front line services suffer.
Political paralysis: No major party plans to end to privatisation.
Very interesting and well-argued opening from Unite the union on how the government could deal with Birmingham's debt:
A way forward for councils in debt crisis www.room151.co.uk/treasury/a-w...
A way forward for councils in debt crisis www.room151.co.uk/treasury/a-w...
A way forward for councils in debt crisis - Room151
Trade union Unite has developed three solutions in response to the debt crisis at some local authorities, says general secretary Sharon Graham
www.room151.co.uk
September 8, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Very interesting and well-argued opening from Unite the union on how the government could deal with Birmingham's debt:
A way forward for councils in debt crisis www.room151.co.uk/treasury/a-w...
A way forward for councils in debt crisis www.room151.co.uk/treasury/a-w...
What a thorough profile of the new secretary of state for housing, communities and local government Steve Reed in the @brixtonbuzz.bsky.social
This kind of detail about an ex council leader's record is what local media does best, and why we need it for democracy
www.brixtonbuzz.com/2025/09/stev...
This kind of detail about an ex council leader's record is what local media does best, and why we need it for democracy
www.brixtonbuzz.com/2025/09/stev...
Steve Reed appointed Labour Housing Minister: Can the former Lambeth Leader deliver on 1.5 million new homes?
Steve Reed, MP for Streatham and Croydon North, and former Leader of Lambeth Council, has been appointed Labour’s new Housing Minister. This promotion comes after 14 months as Environment Secretary…
www.brixtonbuzz.com
September 8, 2025 at 12:12 PM
What a thorough profile of the new secretary of state for housing, communities and local government Steve Reed in the @brixtonbuzz.bsky.social
This kind of detail about an ex council leader's record is what local media does best, and why we need it for democracy
www.brixtonbuzz.com/2025/09/stev...
This kind of detail about an ex council leader's record is what local media does best, and why we need it for democracy
www.brixtonbuzz.com/2025/09/stev...
Yesterday, we followed the 2nd reading of the English Devolution Bill in Parliament. Only 4 MPs spoke on local audit!
With only 4% of councils submitting audited accounts last year, this accountability crisis needs more attention.
Our take on the reforms here: researchforaction.uk/local-audit-...
With only 4% of councils submitting audited accounts last year, this accountability crisis needs more attention.
Our take on the reforms here: researchforaction.uk/local-audit-...
September 3, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Yesterday, we followed the 2nd reading of the English Devolution Bill in Parliament. Only 4 MPs spoke on local audit!
With only 4% of councils submitting audited accounts last year, this accountability crisis needs more attention.
Our take on the reforms here: researchforaction.uk/local-audit-...
With only 4% of councils submitting audited accounts last year, this accountability crisis needs more attention.
Our take on the reforms here: researchforaction.uk/local-audit-...
Reposted by Research for Action
📚 I've co-written this report for @research-for-act.bsky.social into how to urgently improve the poor accessibility of financial information from local councils, in collaboration with Sussex Uni researchforaction.uk/new-report-o...
New report on making councils’ financial information more accessible – Research for Action
researchforaction.uk
August 27, 2025 at 2:19 PM
📚 I've co-written this report for @research-for-act.bsky.social into how to urgently improve the poor accessibility of financial information from local councils, in collaboration with Sussex Uni researchforaction.uk/new-report-o...
Reposted by Research for Action
Will selling off community centres, sports clubs & nurseries fix the local authority funding crisis? No.
Will giving more councils the power to borrow in the short-term to fund everyday services fix the local government funding crisis? Also no.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Will giving more councils the power to borrow in the short-term to fund everyday services fix the local government funding crisis? Also no.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Council debt 2025: Scale of local authority deficits revealed
Hundreds of council-owned buildings being sold as local authorities seek to reduce debts of £122bn.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 26, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Will selling off community centres, sports clubs & nurseries fix the local authority funding crisis? No.
Will giving more councils the power to borrow in the short-term to fund everyday services fix the local government funding crisis? Also no.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Will giving more councils the power to borrow in the short-term to fund everyday services fix the local government funding crisis? Also no.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Research for Action
📈 Staggering new BBC report shows scale of community spaces being lost to pay council debt 🏫🏚️
£2.9bn of public assets have been sold in the last two years, from care homes to sports clubs to nurseries to youth centres to pubs.
1/ 🧵
£2.9bn of public assets have been sold in the last two years, from care homes to sports clubs to nurseries to youth centres to pubs.
1/ 🧵
Council debt 2025: Scale of local authority deficits revealed
Hundreds of council-owned buildings being sold as local authorities seek to reduce debts of £122bn.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 26, 2025 at 11:29 AM
📈 Staggering new BBC report shows scale of community spaces being lost to pay council debt 🏫🏚️
£2.9bn of public assets have been sold in the last two years, from care homes to sports clubs to nurseries to youth centres to pubs.
1/ 🧵
£2.9bn of public assets have been sold in the last two years, from care homes to sports clubs to nurseries to youth centres to pubs.
1/ 🧵
Next week, Parliament will debate the English Devolution Bill that suggests the biggest upheaval of #localgov in decades.
The bill also tries to fix the local audit crisis - welcome start but more is needed, we say:
👉👉 researchforaction.uk/local-audit-...
The bill also tries to fix the local audit crisis - welcome start but more is needed, we say:
👉👉 researchforaction.uk/local-audit-...
Local audit reforms don’t go far enough in preventing private sector chaos – Research for Action
researchforaction.uk
August 26, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Next week, Parliament will debate the English Devolution Bill that suggests the biggest upheaval of #localgov in decades.
The bill also tries to fix the local audit crisis - welcome start but more is needed, we say:
👉👉 researchforaction.uk/local-audit-...
The bill also tries to fix the local audit crisis - welcome start but more is needed, we say:
👉👉 researchforaction.uk/local-audit-...
"Financial reporting ‘hit by austerity and lack of standard requirements'"
Coverage of our & University of Sussex's recent report on Room 151: www.room151.co.uk/news-in-brie...
Read full report on our website: researchforaction.uk/new-report-o...
Coverage of our & University of Sussex's recent report on Room 151: www.room151.co.uk/news-in-brie...
Read full report on our website: researchforaction.uk/new-report-o...
News-in-Brief - Room151
www.room151.co.uk
August 26, 2025 at 10:29 AM
"Financial reporting ‘hit by austerity and lack of standard requirements'"
Coverage of our & University of Sussex's recent report on Room 151: www.room151.co.uk/news-in-brie...
Read full report on our website: researchforaction.uk/new-report-o...
Coverage of our & University of Sussex's recent report on Room 151: www.room151.co.uk/news-in-brie...
Read full report on our website: researchforaction.uk/new-report-o...