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Originally published in LGC This time last year saw much of the sector on tenterhooks, awaiting delivery of the English Devolution White Paper and the new government’s vision for reshaping local economic destiny. A year on, we now see that the command for local government reorganisation (LGR) in 21 county-district areas, the Treasury’s pound of flesh for funding the economic growth baubles of […]
Originally published in the MJ England’s next wave of local government reorganisation (LGR) is usually narrated through deals, maps, and timelines: new unitaries, inaugural mayors and streamlined processes. Beneath that sits a more fragile question: can we feasibly integrate the digital systems that will enable new strategic authorities to function from day one and beyond? Connected […]
Originally published in LGC The timing of this autumn’s Budget was designed to buy the Treasury and its advisers as much time and space as possible to address a most complex set of challenges for a UK state which is now spending upwards of £1.28tn annually. In our general wilful amnesia about the lasting impact of the pandemic, it must be noted that public […]
Originally published by Core Cities UK In the spirit of the season, it is surely a useful exercise to explore the deepest and darkest of the issues afflicting the local investment landscape. This week, with the clocks gone back, days gone dark, and Halloween approaching, Localis’ new report Ride the Wave approaches the most chilling of policy questions – one which sends shivers down the spine […]
Originally published in LGC It can’t have passed anyone’s attention that this week marked the centenary of Margaret Thatcher’s birth. Love her or loathe her, as the first female prime minister she broke the mould of the post-war consensus and the UK economy and society in many significant ways. A YouGov poll conducted on Monday puts her head and shoulders above all other holders of the highest […]
Originally published in the MJ Localis head of research Joe Fyans trails a new report examining the framework for urban reneal and local growth and how councils can navigate investment risks and opportunities from leveraging private finance in a changing landscape marked with an emphasis on city regions and empowered mayoral authorities. Speaking at last year’s CBI Conference, held against the backdrop of the business world’s dissatisfaction with Rachel Reeves’ first budget with its hike in employers’ National Insurance contributions, Jurgen Maier […]
Originally published in the MJ Big numbers are often a good way to get the thinking juices running. Ahead of the November 26 Budget, the estimated annual expenditure of the UK state weighs in at a stonking £1.28 trillion, bloated by extra spending commitments of around £150bn a year that piled on during the pandemic and haven’t been shed. Set against this figure, […]
One of the most salient concepts floated by The Good Economy (TGE)’s white paper on the Local Govermment Pension Scheme (LGPS) is the necessity of defining what local can and should mean to administering authorities and their pools in the context of meeting allocation goals for local investment. As a framework, this is where […]
Tuesday this week saw the second reading debate of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment bill in Parliament, with Angela Rayner and Jim McMahon dispatched to defend the bill’s provisions against the official opposition’s charge of a “power grab” aimed at increasing costs and reducing local democracy. The debate was expansive, ranging from specific policy […]
While the first year of this government has been far from without its challenges and missteps, no one can accuse them of inertia. This spending review represents the latest step on a journey of state transformation that still at times seems lacking in an overarching vision that can be clearly articulated to voters, businesses and […]