The absolute bloody vandalism of austerity in one chart. Good analysis of the overall picture here.

As we rethink and reimagine how local government is shaped for future generations, @steve1skelton.bsky.social looks at the evolution of strategic authorities. buff.ly/PSFIRAa #EnglishDevolutionBill

Lovely to share thoughts with our friends @wearenewlocal.bsky.social As ever with QF this is practice driven insight that works in the real world. If you're developing an MCA, trying to make one work or want to drive your established authority even further, get in touch www.questionfactory.co.uk

Sodium-iron batteries at grid scale: 200MW/400MWh, enough to "regulate up to 580 GWh annually." "The facility supports more than 30 local wind and solar power stations, alleviating the impact of intermittent supply and facilitating the integration of high shares of renewables into the grid." 😍

Some thoughts on the 10 year Infrastructure Strategy being developed alongside the CSR. Includes the role MCAs could play to develop pipelines of social and public service infrastructure investments, and maybe even hold #totalplace style capital budgets. www.linkedin.com/posts/steve-...

Seems to be some genuine interest in DOGE from UK public service reform types. I can see no chance of genuine efficiencies coming from any organisation that runs its internal governance in this way.

Anyone else had this? Wierd bot account reposted all my posts. When I click on the handle its a clone of my account? Very odd...

Lovely to be introduced to @72prufrocks.bsky.social and to talk about ideas for #notwestminster discussion sessions. Planning to get deep into the question of how we reduce the barriers to participatory policy making, and how we take it mainstream. notinwestminster.wordpress.com

Today's #devo WP heralds a new leadership craft that can weave together the previously distinct cultures and practices of: ☆ Govt Departments ☆ Local Government ☆ RDAs, and ☆ Government Offices More here 👇 www.linkedin.com/posts/steve-...

Friend of mine worked on this. Been waiting for it to be broadcast since I read your post. Panorama, The Truth about Smart Meters: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0024yyc via @bbciplayer

Surely Bluesky is *all about* the niche

Strong agree. The answer is to invest in the democratic centre that can amplify citizen voice, and has the legitimacy to challenge silo professions. Otherwise it's just a bunch of managers in a room guarding their version of the truth.

I like this idea. I've thought the same about noting team meetings and I also thought it should be built once by practitioners and shared. Feels like that's the only way it would actually *work*.

Re-posting for recent-influx followers. Some thoughts on what it means as the design impetus for combined authorities shifts from local to central government.

Consensus on the value of mayoral devolution heralds a 2nd age of Combined Authorities An innovation designed by councils to make sense of national govt... ...is increasingly being used by national govt to make sense of councils Some thoughts on what this means here - medium.com/@QuestionFy/...

"We can't deliver growth if we don't reform public services" That's what you get when you have a ministerial team from Oldham and Tameside. 👊

A reminder that spending money to put data in the hands of front line practitioners, instead / as well as central analysts, is a legit strategy.

I know it's a festival, but I still think £6 for a can of AF beer is a notable socio-economic moment 👇

This is why finding a way that combined authority CEOs can be Accounting Officers is necessary to make devolution real, and sustain it. The work arounds to make single settlements work in the absence of AO status are not designed to scale.

Back from a no-phones family holiday to find 600+ followers here. Presumably not a result of the, er, single post I'd made in the two months previous. Thanks to @jesstud.bsky.social @mysociety.bsky.social and anyone else that added me to a starter pack 🙏 Follower analysis suggests 3 groups 👇

Calling all folk with an interest in UK public policy: I’ve created a starter pack of think tankers, policy analysts & commentators active on @bsky.app go.bsky.app/LtNiL1o

Be more @mysociety.bsky.social 👇