Breaking down England's fiscal devolution plans
David Phillips of the IFS tells LocalGov why England's regional finance reforms are modest by global comparison and what ministers still need to get right.
How local authority trading companies thrive through culture and purpose
13/03/2026 Anthony Lewis, Managing Director at Tile Hill, argues that purpose-driven culture and a strong employer value proposition are vital for LATCOs to attract talent and sustain long-term performance. |
Governing, not controlling: finding the right balance with council-owned companies
12/03/2026 The success of local authority-owned companies depends on councils striking the right balance between oversight and interference, says Julia Gregory, Non-Executive and Senior Independent Director, Chair, and Trustee. |
Sharpening the commercial edge
17/06/2021 The case for well-managed council commercial activity is one that needs to be defended if we want a mature and sustainable local state, argues Jonathan Werran. |
Councils need 'right culture, skills and systems' for commercial strategies
06/10/2020 Councils must have the right culture, skills and systems to unlock the benefits and mitigate the risks of commercialisation, a report has concluded today. |
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The LATCo model
03/09/2020 Mark Scott explains how local authorities can deliver profit with a purpose. |
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The media should start to trust councils on commercialism
17/02/2020 In light of the recent headlines on councils’ £6bn-plus property 'spending spree', and recent criticism of advertising on council websites, Lloyd Clark asks why councils are still criticised for trying to raise revenue. |
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Councils shouldn’t be chastised for acting commercially
04/03/2019 Any new measures to control council’s commercial investments must recognise it is now a necessity for local authorities under financial pressure, argues Weightmans’ Simon Goacher and Clive Bleasdale. |
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2018 - the year things began to change
21/12/2018 Geed up by a spirit of entrepreneurialism, councils up and down the land were busy exploring new ways to respond to their communities in 2018. |
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Local authorities turning to commercialisation to escape austerity
02/11/2017 Councils are increasingly turning to commercialisation to escape austerity, a business model that has brought added moral dilemmas, report finds. |
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PAC: Whitehall ‘complacent’ over council commercial ventures
18/11/2016 Central government ‘must do more’ to understand local authority finances and their impact on taxpayers, Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee has claimed. |
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Liverpool Council takes control of markets for £1
28/09/2016 Liverpool City Council has taken control of all market operations in the city for a pound. |
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Fear putting councils off commercialisation, report says
14/07/2016 Local authority leaders are open to commercialisation but are held back by fear and lack of experience, new report finds. |
