PPN 04/20 – What’s changing and how can we plan for the future?
Lucy Woods explains what contracting authorities should do to prepare for new PPN 04/20 guidance.
Cost of academy conversion leaves councils in millions of debt
25/09/2015 Councils have been left in millions of pounds of debt from converting schools into academies, according to research conducted by the BBC. |
Edinburgh approves £126m savings measures
25/09/2015 The City of Edinburgh has approved a range of measures to meet a £126m funding shortfall, and will proceed with further discussions on compulsory redundancies, despite a previous pledge not to do so. |
Homelessness rises by 5% in a year
25/09/2015 Charities have hit out after new figures revealed homelessness increased by 5% between April and June compared to the same time last year. |
Local authorities must embrace devolution and digital access, warns CBI boss
25/09/2015 Local authorities should take a transformational approach to delivering public services, embracing devolution and digital access, according to the chief of the CBI. |
200,000 workers shortage for Northern Powerhouse plans
25/09/2015 The Government's plan for a Northern Powerhouse could be under threat due to a 200,000 worker shortage, according to new research. |
11,200 new primary school classrooms needed by 2024
25/09/2015 Local authorities will need to build the equivalent of 11,200 new primary school classrooms in the next nine years to meet rising demand, new research has revealed. |
Government ‘should be embarrassed’ by land disposal records, says watchdog
24/09/2015 The Government has been criticised for the way it has managed the sale of public land for new housing, in a damning report published by the public spending watchdog. |
Launch of £2m fund to address 'challenges of urban living'
24/09/2015 A new Urban Living Partnership has been launched bringing together researchers, businesses and local authorities to help build successful modern cities. |
Unite pledge to fight housing association privatisation
24/09/2015 Trade union Unite has pledged to fight the Government ‘tooth-and-claw’ over proposals to privatise housing associations. |
Council backs plans for Newcastle-under-Lyme regeneration
24/09/2015 Newcastle Council has given its support to two major regeneration proposals which will help to transform the heart of the town. |
Osborne opens £24bn 'Northern Pitchbook' in China
24/09/2015 Chancellor George Osborne has showcased a selection of £24bn worth of investment opportunities in the North of England with senior Chinese investors, joined by council representatives from all over the North of England. |
One-stop finance shop opened by Sheffield Council
10/08/2015 Sheffield City Council has become the first in the country to open a one-stop-money shop to help residents avoid payday and high interest lenders. |
Oldham consults on £30m budget cuts
07/08/2015 Oldham Council has launched a consultation on its proposals to save £30m during 2016/17. |
Academic review reveals local council tax challenges around the world
07/08/2015 An ‘unwillingness’ to reform the council tax system has created ‘greater problems’ for today’s policy makers, according to an academic review of local government funding. |
Devolution of powers to the Midlands underway
07/08/2015 Derbyshire and Nottingham met yesterday with the Government to discuss proposals to devolve more power and responsibilities to the Midlands. |
Council first to launch anti-fraud app
07/08/2015 Bromley Council are ahead of the curve as the first council to introduce an app so people can report suspected fraud directly to the council. |
Benefit cap moves tens of thousands back into work figures show
07/08/2015 The benefit cap is providing an incentive to work for over 25,000 people, according to official figures published by the Government. |
Kent social services struggling under 'strain' of child refugee numbers
31/07/2015 Kent County Council has warned its social services are at breaking point due to a huge rise in the number of children seeking asylum. |
Unite reiterates commitment to fight for pensions
31/07/2015 Trade union Unite has warned changes to pensions for social housing staff should not be used as an ‘excuse’ for bosses to provide inferior schemes. |
Councils urged to extend free parking to large towns
31/07/2015 Councils have been urged to provide free parking in town centres after new research revealed nearly three quarters of motorists say that parking charges influence whether they visit a town or not. |
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.
