• Home
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Conference
  • Events Calendar
  • Webcast151
  • MOTB
  • Log In
  • Register

Room 151

  • Treasury
  • Technical
  • Funding
  • Resources
  • LGPS
  • Development
  • 151 News
  • Blogs
    • David Green
    • Agent 151
    • Dan Bates
    • Richard Harbord
    • Stephen Sheen
    • James Bevan
    • Steve Bishop
    • Cllr John Clancy
    • David Crum
    • Graham Liddell
    • Ian O’Donnell
    • Jackie Shute
  • Interviews

Commission says Brexit could mean reform and a boost for local government

1
  • by Colin Marrs
  • in 151 News · Funding
  • — 18 May, 2017

Photo: Elionas2/Pixabay,CC0

A committee of heavyweight economists and public sector leaders says that Brexit could lead to more resources for local authorities.

The Brexit Advisory Commission on Public Services, formed by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), this week released five key demands to ensure Brexit creates opportunities for public finance.

The commission will be chaired by former MP and former Treasury special adviser Julia Goldsworthy, it has been announced.

Goldsworthy said: “Brexit’s impact will be felt across the sector, from Whitehall to town hall, affecting everything from staffing and funding, to procurement and taxation.

“It is truly a transformative moment that will not only pose challenges to the sector, but also has the potential to be a catalyst for much-needed public service reform.”

The commission, which also boasts Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said that powers and resources repatriated from the EU to the UK should not simply be relocated in central government.

Julia Goldsworthy. Photo: Liberal Democrats, Flickr

It said: “There is an opportunity to shift power and resources out into devolved nations and regions with each country to boost local economies and promote inclusive growth. Any new government must examine how this can be achieved by consulting local services.”

The commission added that Brexit could present opportunities to pursue public service reform.

It said: “Any new government should commit to scrutinising European Union public service regulations and policies that are known to be inefficient and readapt them to be more effective.

“By doing this, Brexit will be a catalyst for reform rather than an obstacle.”

The commission also called for the creation of a dedicated sub-committee of the Exiting the European Union cabinet committee to examine the implications for public services of any Brexit deal, which would feed into the work of UK officials negotiating with Brussels.

The next government should also introduce short-term measures to help public services suffering from uncertainty during the talks, the commission recommended.

It said: “For instance, uncertainty over the rights of EU citizens and the fall in the value of the pound may lead to a change in migration flows into the UK which could cause unfilled vacancies in the sector to increase.”

Rob Whiteman, chief executive of CIPFA, said: “There will be no second chances at making Brexit work for public services and the communities that depend on them.

“To ensure the impact on the sector is of high political importance, the commission will draw views from a variety of experts, policy bodies and professional organisations.”

Meanwhile, borrowing money from the European Investment Bank could get harder for UK local authorities, according to a report in the Guardian newspaper.

The paper said that the EIB board had agreed to seek greater assurances than at present when funding UK projects. This will include whether projects conform to EU environmental protection standards.

An EIB source told the paper: “The decision that was taken by the management board was to continue engagement in the UK, but look carefully to make sure of our long-term investments both on the infrastructure side and equity side, where lending agreed now will continue after the withdrawal date.”

Share

You may also like...

  • Liverpool hails recovery of £3.5m debt as ‘right course of action’ for a commercial council Liverpool hails recovery of £3.5m debt as ‘right course of action’ for a commercial council 3 Aug, 2017
  • Councils lodge LOBO ‘fraud’ claims with High Court Councils lodge LOBO ‘fraud’ claims with High Court 5 Feb, 2019
  • Devolution: The structural and economic challenges 19 Aug, 2020
  • Tracie Langley: Shifting revenue budgets from individuals to place 21 Oct, 2020

1 Comment

  1. Huskisson says:
    2017/05/22 at 10:27

    I notice that the Union Jack in your picture is flying upside down. The broad white stripe should be at the top in the quadrants nearest the pole (whichever way the wind is blowing), whereas here it is shown on the “fly”. So, is this an error or some kind of cryptic comment on Britain’s strategy in the Brexit process, I wonder?

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Register to become a Room151 user

  • Latest tweets

    Room151 1 day ago

    The vaccine may help settle cash flows but inflation remains a risk: Sponsored article: Lauren Sewell examines the prospects for long-term borrowing as Brexit settles and vaccines are deployed against Covid-19. On the 9th October 2019 Whitehall sent… dlvr.it/RqZXCr pic.twitter.com/PzgOZOGQ0k

    Room151 1 day ago

    ESG in liquidity: Sponsored article: Gavin Haywood looks at the integration of ESG in Federated Hermes’ money market funds. Federated Hermes has over 300 public sector clients invested in our AAA rated money[...] dlvr.it/RqZX5f pic.twitter.com/E87sBXsay8

    Room151 2 days ago

    New realities of investing cash and liquidity: “What to do now?”: Sponsored article: Brian Buck looks at the “unique challenge” for cash management strategies. As investors assess the ongoing impact of the pandemic on their business, levels of cash and… dlvr.it/RqVbk9 pic.twitter.com/ZElVASmEUV

    Room151 2 days ago

    Extra finance promised by the government receives a broad welcome: Sponsored article: The financial pressures facing local authorities this year continue to pose challenges for council treasurers. While the launch of the UK’s Covid-19 vaccination… dlvr.it/RqTzTF pic.twitter.com/HCjH0pyHR5

    Room151 2 days ago

    A savvy approach to managing your cash: Sponsored article: Caroline Hedges examines the need for active cash management to achieve a higher than average return. Last year saw the already mountainous pile of negative-yielding debt around the[...] dlvr.it/RqTzMK pic.twitter.com/uP0RQYTJLt

    Room151 3 days ago

    Putting alternatives at the heart of multi-asset portfolios: Sponsored article: Nick Edwardson looks at the assets that provide the “most attractive opportunities”. We believe that asset allocation is the primary driver of investment returns and that the… dlvr.it/RqQ2Qt pic.twitter.com/WLBzvRRRUQ

    Room151 3 days ago

    Thriving in the pandemic: Avoiding the stragglers: Sponsored article: George Crowdy looks at the sectors providing opportunities for sustainable investment. Throughout much of 2020, we talked about why sustainable investing has thrived in the pandemic,… dlvr.it/RqQ2NQ pic.twitter.com/dxiPWKFsPl

    Room151 3 days ago

    The development of CCLA’s mental health benchmark: Sponsored article: Amy Browne examines the importance of investing in mental health in the workplace. We are living through a public health emergency in more ways than one. Physical health[...] dlvr.it/RqQ2Jx pic.twitter.com/o6yRSCX3oF

    Room151 4 days ago

    Brexit: What the EU trade deal means for the UK economy: Sponsored article: Hetal Mehta looks at the impact of Brexit on economic prospects. Four and a half years after voting to leave the EU, on Christmas Eve the UK finally[...] dlvr.it/RqLBDt pic.twitter.com/No62srfE8h

    Room151 4 days ago

    Cash dethroned: The quest for liquid yield: Sponsored article: Peter Hunt and George Carne ask how treasury departments can balance the need for yield and liquidity. The massive stimulus and waves of liquidity provided by central banks[...] dlvr.it/RqLBDj pic.twitter.com/05g6Zhu1kU

    Room151 4 days ago

    Richard Harbord: Delayed “capital determinations” make section 25 opinions a new crunch point: The severe pressure on local government budgets now means section 151 officers confront a tricky call on  whether they can make a judgement on the robustness… dlvr.it/RqLBDV pic.twitter.com/vTAbDKFzkI

    Room151 1 month ago

    PWLB Consultation: Analysis straight from Dickens: Helen Radall and Paul McDermott present a legal examination of the new PWLB borrowing rules as Charles Dickens might have imagined it. Free and easy PWLB (“Marley” to his friends)[...] dlvr.it/RnmwLq pic.twitter.com/yFxcPrQqEG

    Room151 1 month ago

    Room151’s top stories from a momentous year: 2020 was the year in which local government grappled with Covid-19, funding strains, controversy over borrowing rules and the threat of financial collapse. It has been an exhausting and historic[...] dlvr.it/RnlpZg pic.twitter.com/g3myNyox6J

    Room151 1 month ago

    Tracy Bingham: 2020, a year best forgotten but also one of learning: Many will rush to erase 2020 from their memories but, writes Tracy Bingham, there were also many lessons about finance teams, strategic planning and leadership. 2020: A year we’d… dlvr.it/RnlpY2 pic.twitter.com/m7G1krrtCu

    Room151 1 month ago

    Settlement must address ‘precarious’ local government finances: Dan Bates crosses his fingers for “no nasty surprises” in this week’s funding settlement but argues the “bigger prize” is post-Covid financial certainty. Thursday (17 December) should be the… dlvr.it/Rnj9dG pic.twitter.com/KLKjjuBqJE

    Room151 1 month ago

    PWLB consultation: Big change on the way but there are ‘grey areas’ and opportunities: The consultation on PWLB borrowing has concluded creating a new landscape for funding property acquisition. Our experts look at the implications. Tracie Langley The… dlvr.it/RndRvJ pic.twitter.com/KEqXEBmEfq

    Room151 1 month ago

    2021: Better income outcomes?: Sponsored article: Investors should be mindful of structural challenges posed to income generation as a result of rapid thematic change. Jon Bell looks at the prospects for the coming year.[...] dlvr.it/RndRsw pic.twitter.com/TxVk8aXkMq

  • Categories

    • 151 News
    • Agent 151
    • Blogs
    • Chris Buss
    • Cllr John Clancy
    • Dan Bates
    • David Crum
    • David Green
    • Development
    • Forum
    • Funding
    • Graham Liddell
    • Ian O'Donnell
    • Interviews
    • Jackie Shute
    • James Bevan
    • Jobs
    • LGPSi
    • Mark Finnegan
    • Recent Posts
    • Resources
    • Richard Harbord
    • Stephen Fitzgerald
    • Stephen Sheen
    • Steve Bishop
    • Technical
    • Treasury
    • Uncategorized
  • Archives

    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
  • Previous story Peter Worth: Investment management costs bite less on LGPS
  • Next story Manifestos pledge more reform for business rates

© Copyright 2021 Room 151. Typegrid Theme by WPBandit.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies from this website.OK