£1bn for high streets ‘not the panacea’
Councils say they need more help from the government after its £1bn pledge of high street funding. The government announced 50 councils could bid for up to £1bn from the[…]
Funding
LGA calls for Right to Buy reform
The government faces a call to reform the Right to Buy programme amidst claims that local authority housebuilding cannot keep pace with the sale of council homes. The Local Government[…]
Javid brings forward Spending Review
Chancellor Sajid Javid has fuelled general election speculation by fast-tracking his spending review. He will deliver his one-year spending plans next week and signalled he would increase funding on voter-friendly[…]
Interview: Tim Atkins on investing in place
Cheltenham Borough Council’s managing director for place and growth, Tim Atkins talks to Room151 about how the authority has brought together its strategies for commercial investment and place-making. Room151: What[…]
MPs: Government must consider alternative to “risky” business rates retention
The system of business rates retention cannot survive in the long-term without significant reform and the consideration of alternatives due to changes in the economy, according to a report by[…]
Four authorities share £624m housing infrastructure boost
Three councils and the Greater London Authority have each been awarded funding ranging from £80m to £318m to deliver infrastructure projects in support of new homes. Chancellor Sajid Javid said[…]
Minister warned against meaningless local government finance review
The chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy has written to the new local government secretary not to review local government finance “unless you mean it”.[…]
Councils seek assurance from new government on local authority funding
The chairman of the Local Government Association has written to new prime minister Boris Johnson to request that he introduces a new local government finance act. Former London mayor Johnson[…]
Leveraging council land value: the joint venture approach
Last year, London Borough of Haringey made national newspaper headlines after scrapping controversial proposals to regenerate a major housing estate through a joint venture with developer LendLease. However, since then,[…]
Councils need cash and certainty, LGIU warns
The next prime minister should make an emergency finance settlement with councils to stave off crisis, a think tank has warned. Councils urgently need clarity from whoever replaces Theresa May[…]
