Economic growth


HS2 proposals could bring £1.4bn of benefits, Midlands transport body says 09/09/2019 New plans submitted to the review of the controversial HS2 scheme propose directly connecting the city centres of Birmingham and Nottingham and Leicester and Leeds with high speed trains.
100 places chosen to develop new town deals 06/09/2019 Towns across England have been invited to develop proposals for new multi-million pound Town Deals.
Council leaders calls for green light on HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail 03/09/2019 Council leaders have joined a new campaign to ensure the Government goes ahead with HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).
Tackle racial inequalities to promote growth in the North, think tanks says 16/08/2019 A new policy briefing has called for racial inequalities to be tackled as part of an inclusive economic growth agenda for the North.
Free-trade zones to ‘turbocharge’ investment, Whitehall claims 02/08/2019 The Government has invited ports and airports across the UK to bid to become one of 10 new free trade areas in a move it argues will boost post-Brexit trade.
PM announces £300m for devolved nations 29/07/2019 The prime minister has announced £300m of new funding to support the expansion of Growth Deals across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as he reassures the UK that Brexit will not threaten the union.
How cities can use the circular economy to benefit their citizens 17/07/2019 Joke Dufourmont outlines the three key ways local authorities can attract jobs, investment and social capital in their local circular economy.
Council welcomes £65m Growth Deal 12/07/2019 Moray Council has said that its area’s economy is ‘set to be transformed’ by a £65m Growth Deal, announced yesterday by the UK and Scottish governments.
LEPs ‘lack transparency’ despite receiving £12bn of Government funding 05/07/2019 The Government has ‘no real understanding’ of the impact which the Local Growth Fund has had on local economic growth despite investing £12bn of taxpayers’ money, MPs say.
Northern Powerhouse: The first five years 01/07/2019 The Northern Powerhouse has celebrated its fifth birthday. But what is it, and what has it achieved? Mark Whitehead investigates.
Rebalancing the economy: our time is now 27/06/2019 Nigel Wilcock calls for a different approach to tackle regional imbalances in economic growth.
Post-Brexit free trade zones could ‘rebalance the economy’, think tank claims 25/06/2019 Whitehall should establish free trade zones in most deprived areas after Brexit in order to incentivise growth and rebalance the economy, think tank argues.
Innovation is the new regeneration 24/06/2019 Rachel Dickie explains how a new joint venture will help cities across the country to create new ‘innovation districts’.
Measuring success is more than just boosting GDP 20/06/2019 The past decade in local government has been dominated by pushing forward local economies, with subtle shifts in focus, but tirelessly chasing GDP, says Heather Jameson. But is there a new way?
MPs to investigate UK's regional imbalances 14/06/2019 A new inquiry into regional imbalances in the UK economy has been launched by the Treasury Committee.
Protecting town centres 10/06/2019 Debenhams CVA: Josh Myerson and Andrew Haughey explain what councils and local authorities can do to protect their town centres.
Mayor calls for creation of 'free trade zones' in city centres 05/06/2019 West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has called for a 'wholesale review' of the business rates system to save struggling high streets.
Khan launches £100m SME investment fund 31/05/2019 The mayor of London yesterday launched the largest ever fund for small and medium enterprises, which includes £14m to support the transition to a circular economy.
Devolution necessary for ‘rebalancing’ economy, report says 30/05/2019 Power must be devolved to a ‘comprehensive framework’ of mayoral and combined authorities and rural counties in order to rebalance the economy, report says.
Harnessing the power of place can lead to better pay 17/05/2019 Douglas White explains why the Living Wage Places movement is gaining traction across the country.
Think tank calls for creation of a British Investment Bank 15/05/2019 An investment bank should be set up to 'kick start a productivity revolution' after Brexit, according to a local government think tank.
Whitehall announces £105m boost for Northern Ireland 14/05/2019 The Government has announced a £105m package to help boost the ‘economic potential’ of the Derry-Londonderry region.
Council to launch UK's first city-wide digital currency 10/05/2019 Belfast City Council has announced plans to launch the UK's first incentive-based digital currency.
Whitehall ‘unwilling’ to help the high street, committee says 08/05/2019 The Government is ‘unwilling’ to give high streets a ‘fighting chance’ in the battle with online retailers, a select committee has concluded.
How digitalisation is transforming Belfast into a leading economy 17/04/2019 Martin McFadyen explores how technical innovation and improved connectivity has helped Belfast and NI transform into a leading knowledge economy with global investment appeal.
The second coming 29/03/2019 Paul Brown explains the grand compromise seeking to make Greater Manchester a top global city region.
Five areas chosen for Future Places scheme 13/03/2019 Five areas have been announced to take part in a programme to recognise and support 'high quality placemaking'.
Holyrood passes £42.5bn budget but warns of Brexit recession 22/02/2019 Holyrood has approved the 2019-20 budget which will see billions invested into public services — but warned Brexit could push Scotland into recession.
Local authority business provision ‘lacks transparency’, MSPs say 20/02/2019 Scottish MSPs have criticised a local authority provision that helps businesses grow for lacking ‘transparency, accountability and alignment’.
British cities bear the brunt of austerity, think tank reveals 28/01/2019 A think tank has called for an end to local government austerity as it reveals that Whitehall cuts have hit cities twice as hard as the rest of Britain.
Mayor Khan calls for withdrawal of Article 50 10/12/2018 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has called on the Government to withdraw Article 50 to protect the capital’s economy from the effects of Brexit.
Brexit will not halt economic growth, says Walkley 29/11/2018 Economic growth will not grind to a halt when we leave the European Union, chief executive of Homes England Nick Walkley has predicted.
Councils could generate £320bn with new housing powers 29/10/2018 Local authorities would be able to generate £320bn for the wider economy if they had the powers to build a ‘new generation’ of high-quality council housing.
Reform Apprenticeship Levy ahead of Brexit, CBI says 09/10/2018 Business leaders have urged the Government to reform the Apprenticeship Levy in order to help solve some of the economy’s challenges ahead of Brexit.
Whitehall 'neglecting' smaller cities and towns, report warns 03/10/2018 The Government’s focus on major cities ‘neglects’ the contribution that smaller cities, towns and communities can make to economic growth, according to study.
Perfect partners for community growth 26/09/2018 Michelle Ovens explains how partnerships between local government and small businesses can dive more social impact at a low cost.
Brexit towns to be 'hardest hit' by impact, researchers warn 19/09/2018 Towns that voted in favour of Brexit will be hardest hit by its effects for the next 10 years, researchers have warned.
Ministers to 'super charge' LEP performance 24/07/2018 Ministers have published plans to ‘super charge’ the performance and accountability of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) following a review.
Building an inclusive economy in Kirklees 12/07/2018 Neil McInroy and Cllr Shabir Pandor explain how Kirklees’ new approach to economic development in the borough is informing the council’s inclusive growth agenda.
Whitehall launches new ‘Council for the North’ 09/07/2018 The Government will launch a modern day ‘Council for the North’ in an effort to overcome the historic North-South divide.
Support cities for a £200bn boost to the economy, says Key Cities 27/06/2018 Key cities could add a further £214bn to the economy over the next decade if the Government supports them to raise productivity to the national average, the Key Cities Group has said.
Think tank warns struggling high streets are 'too reliant on retail' 26/06/2018 City centres must swap shops for offices, housing and public space if they are to prosper, according to a leading think tank.
LEPs 'failing' rural communities, says campaign group 25/06/2018 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) have been accused of having a negative effect on the countryside.
Councils warn about ‘damaging’ economic development funding cuts 18/06/2018 One in seven local authorities have had their funding for economic development cut over the past five years, according to new research.
Cities must embrace technological change to prosper in future 18/06/2018 As we stand on the cusp of another age of automation, Andrew Carter says cities need to prepare and adapt to the coming changes to prosper in the future.
From ghost town to go-to town 21/05/2018 What can local authorities learn from Altrincham to help regenerate Britain's town centres? Conor Leyden reports.
Four East Midlands authorities explore devolution options 02/05/2018 Four county council leaders in the East Midlands have taken the first step towards a ‘future devolution deal.’
Inequality holding back growth potential of places warns report 19/04/2018 Inequality is holding back the full growth potential of places, according to the results of the annual Vibrant Economy Index.
Councils must have more say in transport planning, report says 18/04/2018 Local authorities must be involved in transport planning in the north of England to ensure increased connectivity delivers sustainable growth, planners say.
Tough decisions needed to protect commercial heart of cities 11/04/2018 As urban centres change transform, the priority should be on protecting and expanding the commercial space in city centres, rather than encouraging more residential development, argues Andrew Carter.
Belfast appoints resilience commissioner 10/04/2018 Belfast City Council has appointed a new commissioner to help the city prepare for any scenario that might prevent it from functioning properly.
Council chiefs have 'low confidence' in delivering statutory services 28/03/2018 Council bosses have warned they do not have the adequate powers and resources to deliver statutory services in a new survey.
Planning laws should be reformed to protect commercial space, think tank says 21/03/2018 Major cities in the North and Midlands are growing rapidly, but the Government needs to take action to protect the commercial space driving this growth, think tank says.
Chorley Council outlines ambitious digital hub plan 15/03/2018 A £8.4m scheme is set to put Chorley Council at the centre of the digital sector in Lancashire.
Council chiefs 'pessimistic' about Brexit 06/03/2018 More than six out of ten council chief executives and leaders believe Brexit will be damaging to their local economy, a new survey has revealed.
Edinburgh most attractive city for inward investment says report 20/02/2018 Investment potential shifts away from the South East as structural weaknesses around housing and infrastructure threaten UK’s most established centres, report says.
Can local government lead the world? 20/02/2018 Liz Zeidler explains why a new system has been launched to measure 'true' progress and prosperity.
Key factors for making local area ‘thrive’ revealed 19/02/2018 A Bristol-based charity launched a new report today into the key factors that make up a ‘thriving’ local area - and it goes beyond a narrow focus on gross domestic product.
'Rise of the robots' could put one in five jobs at risk by 2030 29/01/2018 Automation and globalisation may help boost jobs across the country but they will also compound the North/South divide, a report has warned today.
Devolution - have the wheels fallen off the wagon? 17/01/2018 With the news that no new devolution deals were agreed last year, Mark Whitehead explores why the policy seems to have come to a grinding halt.
The top 10 things local government can expect in 2018 10/01/2018 Tiffany Cloynes outlines her predictions for the top 10 issues for local government in 2018.
MSPs warn ‘significant’ issues with City Region Deals must be addressed 08/01/2018 A number of concerns about Scotland’s City Region Deals have been raised today by a Holyrood Committee.
A seaside success story 04/01/2018 Duncan Johnston explores how Bournemouth Borough Council is using a joint venture to help reinvigorate and change the perception of the town.
Think tank urges every city to set up a local Inclusive Growth Investment Commission 13/12/2017 Cities should establish new bodies to coordinate and finance attempts to extend prosperity more widely, according to a think tank report.
Councils urged to unlock £7bn of untapped assets 12/12/2017 Councils should assess the 'social value' of community businesses to help keep local areas strong and vibrant, according to a new report.
Coventry named UK City of Culture 2021 08/12/2017 Coventry has been chosen to be the UK's City of Culture for 2021.
Whitehall infrastructure plans could save £15bn 06/12/2017 The Government estimates new plans published today to improve the country’s infrastructure and boost the construction sector’s productivity could save up to £15bn.
Industrial Strategy snubs councils 27/11/2017 Business secretary Greg Clark has snubbed councils and empowered local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) in the Government’s long-awaited Industrial Strategy.
Lord Adonis calls for 'ground-breaking' deal for economic growth 17/11/2017 Council leaders have welcomed plans for a major development in the area between Oxford and Cambridge which is estimated could add hundreds of billions of pounds to the national economy.
Think tank warns of huge disparities in productivity across the country 16/11/2017 Cities in the South East of England are nearly twice as productive as other places in Britain, according to new research.
UK cities ‘need housing and transport strategies’ 07/11/2017 UK cities are becoming more prosperous but success comes with a price tag of less affordable housing and longer commutes, according to research by PwC and Demos.
Putting the Our Manchester strategy into practice 07/11/2017 After six-months as Manchester’s new chief executive, Joanne Roney talks to William Eichler about her 'brutal' introduction to the job.
Launch of grass-roots project to tackle local inequality 26/10/2017 Seven areas have been chosen to share £8m to create a network of new community businesses in their areas.
Report highlights growth in Greater Thames Valley region 20/10/2017 Nearly 37,000 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) were launched in the Greater Thames Valley in one year, a new report into the economic impact of the GTV has revealed.
Combined authority bids for £200m government investment 17/10/2017 The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has bid for more than £200m of government investment in its Autumn Budget submission.
Northern Powerhouse gets £400m funding boost 02/10/2017 Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to announce an extra £400m for the north of England at the Conservative Party conference today.
Mayor warns about 'reputational damage' caused by LEP 29/09/2017 The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in Cambridgeshire is causing the area ‘reputational damage’ the combined authority’s mayor has warned.
Bolton publishes £1bn masterplan 22/09/2017 A £1bn blueprint to create 1,800 new homes, 7,400 new jobs and generate £412m economic activity in Bolton has been published by the council.
Bookmakers: a boost for the high street 22/09/2017 High streets risk losing another full rate paying high street retailer as betting shops come under pressure.
Time to support our ‘non-statutory’ economic development practitioners 15/09/2017 Economic development practitioners should be provided with the right skills in order to ensure success of interventions, argues Suzanne Malcolm.
Place-based policy could provide £90bn year boost to economy, says green paper 12/09/2017 Giving the UK’s biggest cities more power and freedom over service provision could boost the country’s economy by up to £90m a year, a new report has argued.
Coastal communities ‘worst performing areas’, according to new study 05/09/2017 Britain’s coastal communities are among the worst ranked parts of the country across a range of economic and social indicators, new report finds.
'Devolution deadlock' putting growth at risk warns councils 04/09/2017 Council leaders have called on the Government to reignite its ‘stalled’ devolution plans.
Coastal towns get £40m funding boost 04/09/2017 The Government is injecting more cash into holiday resorts in England, which it says will help boost their economies and create jobs.
Scottish public services must be ready for post-Brexit shock, experts warn 21/08/2017 Holyrood must start preparing plans to help Scotland’s public services survive the post-Brexit shock, financial experts say.
Edinburgh and South East Scotland agrees £1.1bn City Deal 21/07/2017 A £1.1bn city deal for Edinburgh and South East Scotland was signed yesterday.
Counties call for 'new deal' from Government 19/07/2017 County councils in England have called for a ‘new deal’ during the current Parliament, including devolved powers akin to those held by Britain’s major cities.
Regional cities must attract investment to rebalance economy, report says 19/07/2017 Regional cities must take the lead in rebalancing the London-centric investment market, think tank says as figures reveal London captures half of the country’s commercial property investment.
Fiscal devolution could help counties create one million jobs, report says 04/07/2017 England’s counties have called on the Government to institute a ‘radical programme of fiscal devolution’ in order to create one million jobs and prepare the country for Brexit.
Transport for the North publishes plan for economic growth 20/06/2017 Transport for the North (TfN) has set out how it will develop both a major road network for the region and an integrated rail plan that includes Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Haringey's £2bn regeneration plans 16/05/2017 The privatisation of £2bn of council assets or an opportunity to deliver thousands of new homes and regenerate ailing estates? William Eichler investigates Haringey’s new Development Vehicle.
New mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough sets out 100-day vision 12/05/2017 A string of new transport and infrastructure proposals have been unveiled by the new mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough in his 100-day manifesto.
New mayors urged to prioritise inclusive growth 12/05/2017 One of the greatest challenges facing the newly elected metro mayors is achieving inclusive growth, new research has revealed.
Raising regional productivity could boost economy by £175bn finds research 20/04/2017 Improvements in regional infrastructure could add £175bn to the economy by 2024, according to new research by the CBI.
Coastal communities given £40m cash boost 03/04/2017 Coastal and fishing communities are set to share £40m in new funding to help create new jobs and boost local economies.
A winning strategy? 23/03/2017 The industrial strategy has dominated the agenda over the past month, but a new Localis report says it is time to move the debate forward. Sam Clayden reports.
Landmark £1.3bn Swansea Bay city deal signed 20/03/2017 The Welsh government today announced a landmark £1.3bn city deal for the Swansea Bay region in a move expected to create nearly 10,000 new jobs.
East Midlands devolution deal announced 17/03/2017 The communities secretary yesterday announced a new devolution deal for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough which will see millions of pounds worth of investment in the region.
New Tees Valley mayor granted powers to ‘drive’ economic development 14/03/2017 Tees Valley Combined Authority has become the first authority outside of London to be granted the power to create locally-accountable Mayoral Development Corporations.
Midlands to get £400m in strategy to promote ‘enormous potential’ 09/03/2017 The Government today announced plans to invest nearly £400m in the Midlands as part of its new strategy to drive the region’s ‘enormous economic potential’.

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Local Government News

This issue of Local Government News explores how councils can tackle modern slavery and trafficking in their supply chains, finds out more about Cambridge's first cohousing scheme and the launch of a new project to build a shared service pattern library for local government.

This issue also contains a special focus on children's services and how councils are protecting children following local safeguarding children boards being abolished.