Despite bleak economic forecasts, chancellor, George Osborne, was able to announce additional investment in local authorities as part of his Autumn Statement ? including new schools, housing and infrastructure projects.
Ministers have refused to rule out further reductions in local government funding before 2015 as a result of George Osborne’s plans for fresh public sector wage caps.
A London council is calling on the public to take greater responsibility for the waste and litter they generate using principles behind the Government’s Big Society plan.
Local government think-tank Localis, in partnership with Westminster City Council, today launched ‘The Big Green Society’, the latest pamphlet in their Big Society Series. The pamphlet sets out a number of recommendations for councils to both help encourage residents and local businesses contribute to improving their local environments, and change attitudes towards waste and recycling.
Buyers of new homes will be able to borrow up to 95% of their value as part of plans the government says will help get “Britain building again”.
The mortgage indemnity scheme, in which the government will underwrite part of the risk to lenders, could help up to 100,000 people in England.
It is part of a wider strategy to build more homes and boost home ownership.
Ministers have bowed to pressure and made funding available directly to the government’s flagship local enterprise partnerships.
Whilst national media coverage has focused on the National Planning Policy Framework, the local government community has due cause to cast its eyes to the lowest, rather than highest, rung of our future planning system.
The communities that are piloting the government’s flagship neighbourhood planning policy are getting stuck into their work. Colin Marrs reports on how three very different initiatives are progressing.
Alex Thomson, Chief Executive of Localis, welcomes the Government’s Growing Places Fund prospectus.
Chief Executive Alex Thomson comments on the publication of the prospectus for the Government’s forthcoming Growing Places Fund.