Smart cities, LGPS opt-outs, Small councils’ days numbered, Worcester energy, Stroud reserves

‘Smart cities’ get funding
Glasgow has won £24m in funding to help turn it into a ‘smart city’. The money, from the Department of Energy and Climate Change was part of a local authority competition, which closed last November. It will be spent on technology including traffic information, an app for reporting issues such as potholes or missing bin collections and linking CCTV cameras with traffic management. The DECC has awarded £46m in total with other recipients including Birmingham, Sunderland and London. Meanwhile Glasgow has also gained planning permission for a £154m recycling and renewable energy centre which should save 90,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Pension opt-outs up
The National Association of Pension Funds has found that more people are opting out of paying into the Local Government Pension Scheme. The NAPF’s 2012 annual survey found that a quarter of LGPS respondents said their opt-out rate had increased in the year: it blamed pay freezes and the reforms to local authority pensions. Investments were on average 63% in equties, 10% in ‘other’ including property, private equity and infrastructure and the rest in fixed income.

Small councils’ days “numbered” – Lewis
Minister for local government Brandon Lewis has told district councils that they have to look at different ways of working. Lewis told the Western Morning News in a briefing: “Having standalone silos of small councils with their own management team; those days are numbered, if not already history … The money they have got should be spent on services and keeping council tax down for residents.”

Worcester saves on energy
Worcestershire County Council has saved £1m on energy and fuel costs and cut its CO2 levels by 12%. The council is using less energy in buildings, encouraging staff to drive less and operating fewer vehicles for council business. Plans to dim street lights have been shelved due to high start up costs though. The council found that installing energy efficient bulbs would cost £3.4m up-front for a £600,000 per year saving.

Two million investment for Stroud
Stroud District Council has voted to invest £2m into its economy, housing and renewable energy despite freezing council tax. Of the sum, £1.25m will be used to support business, create jobs and promote growth over two years; £700,000 will be used to explore economic regeneration opportunities; £100,000 to attract employers to the district; and £60,000 for employment initiatives and apprenticeships.

Lincoln draws on reserves
Lincolnshire County Council is going to use cash reserves of £25m over the next two years to cover funding cuts. Of its total £95m pot the council will use £13m in 2013/14 and £12m in 14/14. It is facing £25m and £42.5m less in grant for the two years.