Northampton Carbon Savings, G-Cloud, Liverpool £1 Homes, Leicestershire Cuts
0Northampton makes carbon savings
The Environment Agency has ranked Northampton Borough Council one of the best organisations in the UK at reducing its carbon emissions. The council was 24th of 2097 bodies in the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme table which assesses all the large, non-energy intensive organisations in the UK.
Bore adds voice to North South divide complaint
Sir Albert Bore, the Leader of Birmingham City Council, has accused Eric Pickles of “cynical attacks” on local authorities. Bore also added to the complaints of the coalition government’s favouring rural constituencies in the South over large cities with high deprivation. Birmingham’s budget is to have strong focus on investment in jobs and enterprise including a £15m young people’s jobs fund and a City Centre Enterprise Zone.
IT procurement framework for councils
Councils are likely to be compulsorily mandated to use the government’s G-Cloud procurement framework, according to technology law specialist David Isaac. Government departments have been using the framework for the last year. It gives public sector bodies access to services being offered by listed suppliers during a set period. Isaac, of law firm Pinsent Masons, said that the standardized approach to IT procurement would save taxpayers money.
£1 homes aim to boost Liverpool suburbs
Liverpool City Council is to sell up to 20 empty houses for £1 each. The new owners will be required to refurbish and live in the homes for at least five years as part of an effort to bring 179 homes back into use in the areas of Granby, Kensington and Picton. Some homes will also be transferred to a social housing provider, which will renovate them and sell them for three quarters of market value.
Leicestershire cuts £48m
Leicester County Council has approved £48m of cuts over the next four years but still needs to find another £30m. The cuts include £2.5m from the children and young people’s department and £3m from management and admin costs.