Dan Peters 06 December 2013

Think tank: Autumn Statement was curate's egg for cities

George Osborne’s Autumn Statement was a 'curate's egg' for cities, a think tank has concluded.

Centre for Cities, which is dedicated to independent research and policy analysis on UK urban economies, welcomed the city deals for Greater Cambridge and Glasgow, as well as the measures to boost housing and growth.

But chief executive Alexandra Jones said many of the policies announced were ‘likely to fall short as they don’t take into account local variation or enable local areas to adapt policy according to their particular needs’.

Ms Jones said: ‘Reducing the deficit, building more homes and boosting business are all vital to national economic growth but unless we radically rethink how we empower places to tailor policies to their own needs these initiatives are unlikely to have the intended impact.

‘Local government may have been protected from further cuts and not be expected to contribute to a £3bn savings target over the next three years, but that’s on the basis that they are expected to freeze council tax.

‘Some places will struggle to afford this: a number of councils I’ve spoken to are currently planning to increase council tax because, although in the short-term they lose the government grant available for authorities that comply, over the medium to long-term they cannot afford to lose out on the additional revenue.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Executive Director Adult Services & Housing

Somerset Council
to £150k
There’s a distinctive, energising sense of excitement and possibility Somerset
Recuriter: Somerset Council

Service Director - Children’s Commissioning & Performance

Somerset Council
to £121k
Our new Children & Young People’s plan was co-produced with the energetic input of over 6,000 children across Somerset. Somerset
Recuriter: Somerset Council

Assistant Director - Regulatory

South Norfolk and Broadland District Councils
£80,161- £92,306
We offer flexible working hours for most office-based roles, allowing for a healthy work-life balance. Norfolk
Recuriter: South Norfolk and Broadland District Councils

Assistant Director Culture and Community

Medway Council
£Competitive
Do you have a passion to create a sense of community for everyone? Chatham, Kent
Recuriter: Medway Council

Head of Finance

Tamworth Borough Council
£55,800 - £58,517 pa Home working contract
Finance is central to the Council’s transformational agenda Tamworth, Staffordshire
Recuriter: Tamworth Borough Council
Linkedin Banner