Ed Hammond
@se13ed.bsky.social
Local government governance person, supporting English councils on stuff relating to decision-making, oversight, transparency, etc. Views my own.
Mastermind Your Language, The Onedin Line of Duty #twoshowsinone
November 16, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Mastermind Your Language, The Onedin Line of Duty #twoshowsinone
Will and Grace and Favour #twoshowsinone
November 16, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Will and Grace and Favour #twoshowsinone
This description in the main body of the article is different (and I'll bet more accurate) than the standfirst, which will have been written by a sub
November 15, 2025 at 1:40 PM
This description in the main body of the article is different (and I'll bet more accurate) than the standfirst, which will have been written by a sub
My reading of this (and I think absent the report itself it's impossible to be definitive) is that IfG are looking at the Government's own targets - meant to demonstrate progress towards better productivity - and concluding that they aren't where they should be
November 15, 2025 at 1:40 PM
My reading of this (and I think absent the report itself it's impossible to be definitive) is that IfG are looking at the Government's own targets - meant to demonstrate progress towards better productivity - and concluding that they aren't where they should be
I remember the days of crawling slowly through Herne Hill
November 14, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I remember the days of crawling slowly through Herne Hill
think it was even later, actually, probably when it was UK City of Culture and people were introduced to the idea of "Derry-Londonderry"
November 14, 2025 at 3:37 PM
think it was even later, actually, probably when it was UK City of Culture and people were introduced to the idea of "Derry-Londonderry"
15% interest rates! My father in law still mutters curses about Nigel Lawson
November 13, 2025 at 6:43 PM
15% interest rates! My father in law still mutters curses about Nigel Lawson
and also, the inflation rate in 1985, after six years of Conservative government, was 6%! There were 3 million unemployed!
November 13, 2025 at 6:37 PM
and also, the inflation rate in 1985, after six years of Conservative government, was 6%! There were 3 million unemployed!
could be seen as part of the wider public sector reform agenda - align boundaries of all public sector bodies to strategic authority areas (in a way that may, slowly and messily, be happening with the NHS as well) and give control of all of it to Mayors by way of integrated settlements
November 13, 2025 at 12:27 PM
could be seen as part of the wider public sector reform agenda - align boundaries of all public sector bodies to strategic authority areas (in a way that may, slowly and messily, be happening with the NHS as well) and give control of all of it to Mayors by way of integrated settlements
In this sense it's a bit reminiscent of the Healthwatch abolition - appearing to come out of nowhere, not a huge amount of detail behind the headline, a lot of legislative and design work needed to understand what the impact might be and how it's workable (8/ends)
November 13, 2025 at 12:24 PM
In this sense it's a bit reminiscent of the Healthwatch abolition - appearing to come out of nowhere, not a huge amount of detail behind the headline, a lot of legislative and design work needed to understand what the impact might be and how it's workable (8/ends)
The central question of course is "will this lead to greater policing effectiveness and/or greater policing accountability" to which the answer is that it depends on what the actual proposal is when it emerges (7/)
November 13, 2025 at 12:24 PM
The central question of course is "will this lead to greater policing effectiveness and/or greater policing accountability" to which the answer is that it depends on what the actual proposal is when it emerges (7/)
In Wales, where elected mayors are not in place and not in prospect, some of the job of leadership and scrutiny might be done by corporate joint committees or CJC scrutiny committees but with policing boundaries being as they are, this too feels awkward and unwieldy (6/)
November 13, 2025 at 12:24 PM
In Wales, where elected mayors are not in place and not in prospect, some of the job of leadership and scrutiny might be done by corporate joint committees or CJC scrutiny committees but with policing boundaries being as they are, this too feels awkward and unwieldy (6/)
It's difficult to immediately understand how a single council leader might take leadership of policing in their area. It makes some sense from a public policy perspective but it feels technically challenging, suggesting a return to the establishment of watch committees, which would be odd (5/)
November 13, 2025 at 12:24 PM
It's difficult to immediately understand how a single council leader might take leadership of policing in their area. It makes some sense from a public policy perspective but it feels technically challenging, suggesting a return to the establishment of watch committees, which would be odd (5/)
Presumably where PCC duties will fall to new and existing elected Mayors, as happens now a police and crime oversight committee will be established as part of the combined authority which that Mayor leads. There'll need to be a new legislative framework for this (4/)
November 13, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Presumably where PCC duties will fall to new and existing elected Mayors, as happens now a police and crime oversight committee will be established as part of the combined authority which that Mayor leads. There'll need to be a new legislative framework for this (4/)
The Home Office provides a desultory amount of funding to each PCP by way of direct grant, basically designed to support the employment of a single scrutiny officer. It also pays a small amount to PCP members as allowances. (3/)
November 13, 2025 at 12:24 PM
The Home Office provides a desultory amount of funding to each PCP by way of direct grant, basically designed to support the employment of a single scrutiny officer. It also pays a small amount to PCP members as allowances. (3/)
Police and Crime Panels were set up in 2011/12 to hold PCCs to account. They're basically (but not legally) joint committees of all the local authorities across the police area. They have some formal powers of scrutiny over the police and crime plan, senior appointments etc (2/)
November 13, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Police and Crime Panels were set up in 2011/12 to hold PCCs to account. They're basically (but not legally) joint committees of all the local authorities across the police area. They have some formal powers of scrutiny over the police and crime plan, senior appointments etc (2/)
is that Derek Jacobi?
November 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM
is that Derek Jacobi?
don't demand better things or the bogeyman will get you!
November 12, 2025 at 9:59 PM
don't demand better things or the bogeyman will get you!
He was DPP (as in, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Crown Prosecution Service) for about five years (which is the standard term for the role) - he was v politically active in earlier life though of course
November 12, 2025 at 12:02 PM
He was DPP (as in, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Crown Prosecution Service) for about five years (which is the standard term for the role) - he was v politically active in earlier life though of course
yeah this is what worries me, alongside the suggestion that ALBs / quangos attract leaders of modest capability who are insulated from the wider strategic elements of decision-making. Fair to say I've also seen CEOs dump duties they dislike on deputies / COOs
November 12, 2025 at 11:54 AM
yeah this is what worries me, alongside the suggestion that ALBs / quangos attract leaders of modest capability who are insulated from the wider strategic elements of decision-making. Fair to say I've also seen CEOs dump duties they dislike on deputies / COOs
I find this fascinating. Uniquely amongst recent PMs he has a background as a senior leader - he cannot have been this hopeless at management as DPP unless he simply delegated away everything he found uncomfortable, which seems unlikely
November 12, 2025 at 10:42 AM
I find this fascinating. Uniquely amongst recent PMs he has a background as a senior leader - he cannot have been this hopeless at management as DPP unless he simply delegated away everything he found uncomfortable, which seems unlikely