Sharpening the commercial edge
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 could lose millions in utilities repayments after court ruling
04/12/2019 Local authorities could be facing repayments worth millions of pounds to council tenants in excess water charges, after a High Court ruling last week. |
Unchaining social value
31/05/2019 A new report reveals some councils are building social value into their procurement – but that senior council decision makers must take more interest in securing broader benefits when commissioning services. |
Spending Review should put aside £3bn for children's services say MPs
30/04/2019 The Government needs to release at least £3bn of non-ring-fenced funding to local authorities to save children’s services from the ‘crisis’ they are in, MPs have said. |
Voter ID plans slammed as 'undemocratic'
30/04/2019 Mandatory voter ID requirements will seriously damage democracy, the Electoral Reform Society has warned again ahead of the local elections this week. |
LGA urges chiefs to challenge children's services directors
03/04/2019 Chief executives should confront directors to ensure children’s services are well delivered, fresh guidance published by the Local Government Association (LGA) has suggested. |
Commissioner appointed to oversee Blackpool's children's services
26/03/2019 Essex CC has been appointed to take over Blackpool Council’s children’s services after an Ofsted report last year found it was ‘inadequate’. |
South Yorkshire devolution deadlock broken
25/03/2019 The years-long devolution stalemate in south Yorkshire has finally been resolved. |
Councils warn £1bn is at risk of being returned to EU
15/10/2018 Nearly £1bn earmarked for local investment will be lost if the Government does not act soon, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned. |
Welsh councils warn of £344m funding gap for social care by 2022
19/04/2018 The funding gap in Welsh social services will jump by a whopping three-and-a half times by 2020-2021, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has warned. |
York terminates £9m Interserve contract
10/04/2018 York City Council has terminated a £9m contract with Interserve to redevelop the historic Guildhall after it judged the firm’s cost estimates to be too high. |
Government oversight of LEPs not good enough, MPs say
16/03/2018 The Public Accounts Committee has stressed its lack of faith in the Government’s oversight of local enterprise partnerships in a critical report published today. |
Havering selects Wates for £1bn scheme
13/03/2018 Havering LBC has announced construction firm Wates as its joint venture partner in a regeneration project being touted as London’s ‘biggest social housing regeneration’ scheme. |
Javid backs single unitary council in Buckinghamshire
12/03/2018 Local government secretary Sajid Javid has backed a single unitary council for Buckinghamshire. |
Councils deplore Government guidance after Grenfell
21/02/2018 The Government’s guidance on fire safety after the Grenfell Tower fire has been ‘mediocre,’ ‘contradictory,’ ‘disjointed’ or non-existent, councils have said in response to a Labour survey. |
Unison calls for windfall tax on PFI corporations
19/02/2018 Trade union Unison has backed a Labour MP’s call for a windfall tax on private companies delivering public services. |
£10m for Welsh councils to manage social care pressures
14/02/2018 Councils in Wales will be given £10m to manage social care winter pressures, the Welsh Government has confirmed. |
Welsh Government moves ahead with vacant land tax
13/02/2018 The Welsh Government has decided to move forward with proposals for a vacant land tax to encourage regeneration and tackle the housing crisis. |
Government fostering report calls for councils to work with agencies
07/02/2018 Collaboration between local authorities and the private sector would improve foster care for children, a new Government report has suggested. |
Seven south Essex councils form 'association'
05/02/2018 Seven councils in south Essex have taken the ‘momentous’ decision to form an association to give the region a national voice. |
Councils urged to form joint ventures with housing associations
02/02/2018 Local authorities should ‘seriously consider’ entering into joint venture partnerships with housing associations, a think-tank has urged. |
This issue of Public Property examines how how flexible workspaces can lead the way in regeneration for local authorities, Why local authority intervention is key to successful urban regeneration schemes and if the Government’s challenge of embracing beauty is an opportunity for communities.
The March issue also takes a closer look at Blackburn with Darwen Council's first digital health hub to help people gain control over health and care services.
