Philip Gregory: making sure ‘no-one is left behind’
Barking and Dagenham’s director of finance and investment talks to Karen Day about why the borough’s commercial approach is not simply a means to fill a revenue gap. “The council[…]
Development
Don’t expect an infrastructure levy any time soon
The government plans to axe section 106 agreements in favour of an infrastructure levy, but Richard Harbord warns that consultation paralysis, levelling-up concerns and developer opposition could block any progress.[…]
Cornwall’s housing crisis: planning and tax reforms ‘urgently required’
The section 151 officer at Cornwall Council has called on the government to implement reforms to planning and tax rules to help local authorities urgently respond to the housing crisis.[…]
Finding private sector solutions to the housing crisis
Omar Al-Hasso, managing director of Phi Capital Investments, talks to Mike Thatcher about how local authorities are working with private sector partners to deliver more affordable homes. Government statistics show[…]
Counting the infrastructure costs for county councils
Demand for greater housing means increased pressure on county councils to deliver the associated infrastructure, such as roads and schools. Now Brexit, Covid and the war in Ukraine are also[…]
Councils ‘becoming more involved in direct delivery of housing’
The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the involvement of local authorities in the direct delivery of housing according to a major piece of research launched last week. The research, from the[…]
The s151: a prefect in a post-pandemic world
Tony Travers discusses how the prefectorial role of the section 151 officer has become more significant as austerity has hit council budgets. He suggests that the s151 will become ever-more[…]
Mike Thatcher: constructing a new role for local government
In his first monthly viewpoint, Room151’s new editorial director reflects on what has changed and what remains the same for local government finance over an eventful seven years. Having spent[…]
Ten of the most innovative council-run housing projects
Reports of the death of local authority house building have been greatly exaggerated. Mark Smulian looks at the resurgence of council activity in constructing new homes – for both social[…]
Treasury looks forward to old issues with new challenges
David Green scans the treasury landscape for the coming year and finds codes of practice, levelling up, new accounting standards and interest rate rises looming. Happy New Year to Room[…]
