In our ‘Resetting the South East’ research programme from 2022, Localis argued that as a net regional contributor to the Exchequer, the South East region was pivotal to national renewal. The study examined what was necessary for the South East’s constituent local authorities to deliver individually and collectively to ambitious economic, environmental and social transformations. […]
As a concept, the golden triangle of chief executive/monitoring officer/chief finance officer – who exercise their leadership responsibilities to own and champion good governance and effective financial management in local government is well-established. Beyond the functional corporate responsibilities, the culture for ensuring financial sustainability across local government will require the constant vigilance of strong governance […]
In autumn 2021, Localis published a groundbreaking report ‘Plain Dealing – building for flood resilience’. The study took for its context the sense that development on flood risk areas sits at the intersection of the housing and climate crises. Plain Dealing reviewed the then current policy landscape for flood resilience, measured the debate around the […]
Context and case for innovation of local strategic procurement In the context of an evolving public procurement landscape, local authorities in England are grappling with multiple challenges and opportunities. An increasing strategic turn in procurement is being reflected by legislative reforms, notably the pending Procurement Bill, which aims to simplify and modernise the system. Concurrently, […]
Driven by the dynamics of a new political cycle, we are on the edge of a major shift in how we shape our built environment, set our economic ambitions, create inclusive place ambitions and deliver local public services. This sea change will shift the paradigm of place-based provision for the next decade as all the […]
While not programmes for government in their own right, manifestos act as an indicator of how government will be used as a vehicle and what direction it will be travelling in. For local government, the party manifestos present an insight into the position the sector will occupy in the policy agenda of the next Parliament, […]
In the context of a national housing crisis, soaring global temperatures and sluggish productivity growth, the next political cycle is likely to be characterised by the vexing problem of improving the public realm in a situation of parlous public finances. Recent crises have left the state with very little fiscal headroom, yet the political and […]
As a word, consent derives ultimately from the Latin verb consentīre which means “to share or join in a sensation or feeling, be in unison or harmony. But when it comes to creating a sense of harmony in our localities, regions, and with an eye to the next general election, that sense of national unity, how, at […]
Over the last thirty years landfill policy has been among the most successful and singularly effective of government environmental policies. Since its introduction, the UK Landfill Tax has succeeded in drastically reducing mixed municipal waste to landfill by 90 percent. However, there is a principled, place-based case for future long term policy reform to address […]
Across Britain, pubs have long stood as familiar and welcoming landmarks. Their significance goes beyond mere watering holes; they have consistently played a pivotal role in knitting communities together and promoting social cohesion. Inn-valuable looks at the value of pubs – to society and to the economy – looking at both first-hand evidence and a […]