The Bay – a pivot to purpose
Tim Pope and Sam Plum explain why local government reorganisation can be used as a catalyst for a new generation of councils that reflect their local economies and can lead the recovery.
Universal Credit £20 uplift ‘blunt policy instrument’, says think tank
25/01/2021 A think tank has described the £20 uplift to UC as a poorly targeted ‘blunt policy instrument’ and proposed its replacement with a ‘hardship payment’. |
Councils report nearly 5% dip in parking profits
25/01/2021 Local authorities in England have reported a slight dip in parking profits, which they warn could impact their ability to fix potholes and tackle congestion. |
Inquiry launched into role of local authority pension funds in fighting climate change
20/01/2021 A parliamentary group has launched an inquiry into how institutional investors such as local authority pension funds can help drive a ‘just transition’ to a net zero economy. |
New regulator established to ensure building materials are ‘fit for purpose’
20/01/2021 The Government has announced the establishment of a national regulator which aims to ensure materials used to build homes will be made safer. |
Council pays mother £8,000 after failing to protect her from violent son
19/01/2021 Three young children were left without any protection from their violent older brother after Somerset County Council failed to help their family, Ombudsman finds. |
Campaigners call on councils to help reduce car use
19/01/2021 Environmental campaigners have called on local authorities to cancel spending on road building and to redirect funds to boost public transport and active travel. |
Government should use tax system to ‘level up’, think tank says
18/01/2021 Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda must use the tax system to spread opportunity and growth to less prosperous places, think tank says. |
COVID-19 living standards hit ‘ahead, rather than behind us’, think tank warns
18/01/2021 The coming year is set to mark the peak of the pandemic-induced living standards downturn for households, especially those on lower incomes, think tank warns. |
‘Right to Regenerate’ to free up public land, Jenrick says
18/01/2021 The public will be able to convert vacant plots of land and derelict buildings into new homes or community spaces under ‘Right to Regenerate’ proposals. |
Controversial statues to require planning permission before removal
18/01/2021 Individuals who want to remove any historic statue will now require listed building consent or planning permission, Robert Jenrick has announced. |
Ten new COVID-19 mass vaccination centres opened
18/01/2021 Ten new mass vaccination centres are due to open in England this week with a million over-80s invited to receive the vaccine. |
Council chiefs welcome £120m boost to social care workforce
18/01/2021 Local authority leaders have welcomed a multi-million-pound funding boost from the Government which is aimed at supporting the social care workforce. |
COVID-19 reveals scale of rough sleeping ‘far exceeds’ previous estimates
14/01/2021 The scale of the rough sleeping population in England ‘far exceeds’ the Government’s previous estimates and has been made clear during the pandemic. |
Auditors call for more collaboration to drive digital transformation
14/01/2021 Auditors have called for greater collaboration between Scottish local authorities when it comes to the use of digital technology. |
Council chiefs call for mental health services funding
13/01/2021 Local authority leaders have urged the Government to ensure that councils’ mental health services receive the funding they require to meet ‘unmet demand’ in response to a landmark reform of mental health laws. |
Council chiefs call for restoration of local welfare funding
13/01/2021 Local authority leaders have called on the Government to restore local welfare funding as a study warns of the impact the pandemic is having on people who were already struggling with poverty. |
Nearly 130,000 children in temporary accommodation during lockdown
13/01/2021 Around 450 primary schools’ worth of homeless children are spending lockdown in temporary accommodation amid a chronic shortage of affordable housing, council chiefs have warned. |
Lockdown piles extra financial pressures on low income families
12/01/2021 The extra cost of food, energy, and entertaining and home-schooling children has meant that low-income families with children are twice as likely to have increased their spending during the pandemic, according to a new study. |
Council chiefs welcome ‘largest vaccination programme in British history’
12/01/2021 Local authority leaders have welcomed the Government’s announcement of the COVID-19 vaccination plan, but argue councils need more information to ensure everyone receives their jab promptly. |
Expansion of Dormant Assets Scheme to potentially raise £800m
11/01/2021 The Government has announced that dormant assets are set to be unlocked, with the potential for more than £800m to be made available to support the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. |
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.
