Manchester outsourcing plan, Core Cities devolution proposals, HRA bids, LEP strategies slammed…

Greater Manchester in massive outsourcing plan
Greater Manchester could outsource all of its bin collection, street cleaning, parks maintenance and other frontline services in a deal worth up to £5 billion, according to reports. Councils across the conurbation could opt into the arrangement, which is likely to cover Trafford and Manchester authorities initially.

Core cities call for focused devolution
The UK’s core cities have called on the government to devolve power to cities, rather than just regions, to drive UK growth and boost jobs. The Core Cities Cabinet comprises the leaders of the eight largest cities outside of London, and this week issued a joint declaration which said that devolving more power to cities would be a more radical constitutional agenda than establishing a border at Carlisle.

Government invites bids for HRA cash
The government this week released details of how councils can access £300m of additional Housing Revenue Account borrowing announced in the Budget. The cash will be made available on a competitive bidding basis as part of the Local Growth Fund, so bids must be approved by local enterprise partnerships. The government will look to support councils which bring forward their own land to reduce the costs of proposed housing, along with receipts generated through the disposal of existing stock and other sources of cross subsidy and funding.

Council unveils plans for new company
Cheshire West and Chester Council is consulting on plans for another standalone company – this time to run its regulatory services. Proposals under consideration would see a new company set up with a private sector partner. The council believes the move will save at least £460,000 over the next two years.

Relationship with spin-out company reviewed
Herefordshire Council is reviewing its relationship with a joint venture company it set up to deliver support services. The council is set to consider an approach to the future commissioning of services from the company, called Hoople, with which its contract is ending next March. In March, it was reported that Hoople was facing more than £1m in service cuts.

Think tank slams LEP strategies
Local enterprise partnerships are too focused on short-term economic goals, according to a new report published by think tank IPPR North. The report says that only two in five LEPs have plans explicitly addressing long-term unemployment. It added LEPs were bidding for cash based on the government’s simplified definition of growth.

Partnership guidance produced
The Treasury has published a cost benefit analysis tool to help councils argue for changes to improve services and efficiency. The guidance, aimed at encouraging local partnership working, was developed as part of the Greater Manchester “whole place” community budget pilot.

Norfolk expands solar park plans
Norfolk County Council is set to turn half of a 120ha former RAF base into a massive solar farm. The council bought the former air base at Coltishall for £4m in January last year and, proposed a small solar facility. But it now says that the cost of connecting the site to Norwich means that a much larger farm is now the only viable option to create a revenue stream.