All articles by Dr Nicholas Dobson – Page 2

  • News

    Localism Bill

    2011-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Some time ago, Paul McCartney sang about a long and winding road that led to his loved-one’s door. Many years later (in a slightly less romantic context) the Localism Bill is also ­travelling a very long and winding road that will no doubt lead to royal assent, probably in late ...

  • News

    Local government: council of war

    2010-05-13T00:00:00Z

    ‘Phoney War’ was the term used to describe the early months of World War II. Between the formal start of ­hostilities in September 1939 and Spring 1940, things seemed ­relatively quiet – at least in Western Europe. After that, of course, the dogs of war were let slip, furious and ...

  • News

    Local government: standards appraisal – what are the options?

    2010-04-09T00:00:00Z

    In the acclaimed BBC comedy The Office, David Brent had rather a hard time trying to conduct an appraisal with Keith from accounts, who came across as a less-than-helpful appraisee. However, Standards for England (SFE) appeared to have less trouble with its appraisal of the local government standards framework, for ...