Publications Publications
We produce a wide range of publications from research reports to policy briefings, as well as our members' magazine, Clearway, and a monthly Policy Round-Up. Our Handy Guides provide practical information covering topics such as LSPs, Planning and local government. All our publications are designed to provide accessible and relevant information to help you get to the heart of what matters.
Don't know your Handy Guide from your Briefing? Read our explanation of what our different publications are.
Read our Briefing on the government's propsals to provide a range of banking services through the Post Office Network.
Given a distinct lack of wriggle-room given the state of the public finance, the budget probably offered more for the third sector than we might have reasonably expected.
As ever with these things, the devil is in the detail and most of the measures that should be good news for civil society, could soon turn to dust with poor management. However that was always going to be the case and the alternative would have been fewer announcements that at least have real potential to be good!
Over the last few years there has been a steady decline in how far the public believe they have a say in decisions that affect them and their area.
A year ago the Government brought in a new law that local council's and public services must inform, consult and involve local people in decision making.
Now a major piece of research has been carried out by Urban Forum with Ipsos MORI and the University of Manchester into what makes people feel more or less likely to be able to influence decisions affecting them.
Their report, Citizens and Local decision Making: What Drives Feelings of Influence? is being launched on 17th March 2010.
citizens and local decision making full report 2010 03
There's a strange atmosphere in Whitehall at the moment - as the politicians gear up for the general election the policy-making seems to be winding down a bit. Civil servants are no less busy of course, but (somewhat ironically) there's lots of long-term planning and forward thinking going on. Whatever the outcome of the general election, there will be new Ministers arriving soon, keen crack on with their agenda and civil servants are pulling together the obligatory powerpoint slide packs full of the relevant facts and figures to advise their new bosses.
So we're turning our attention away from Whitehall to the Party HQs to see what may lie in store for us in the not too distant future . . .
Urban Forum has produced a response to the Department for Business Innovation & Skills' consultation on developing the banking and financial services available at the Post Office.
Urban Forum has produced a response to the Department of Communities and Local Government's consultation on draft statutory guidance on the duty to respond to petitions.
The latest edition of our online magazine, Clearway, looks at the issue of Social Finance. 