Pressure on chancellor Alistair Darling to introduce US-style regeneration funding schemes intensified this week, when four major town halls called for the roll-out of tax increment financing (TIF).
Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle city councils all support Whitehall’s embryonic exploration of TIF-style funding regimes.
The councils have added their voices to those calling for new local government powers over regeneration schemes amid fears that the property downturn – and declining town hall revenues – could stymie city-centre development beyond the recession.
John Shipley, leader of Newcastle City Council, said he was ‘pushing the Government to agree’ to TIF regimes.
Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know
Councils and mayors are to be handed a central role in developing skills pipelines for local industries, as the Government unveils what it calls a ‘fundamental change’ to the education system aimed at tackling youth unemployment. Here's what council leaders and officers need to know.
