Efficiency, economic growth and development
45 Articles
Ministers urged to roll-out City Deals [False, May 22, 2012]
Local government experts have called on ministers to rapdily implement 'City Deals' across a wider range of authorities under plans to boost economic growth. In a letter to cities minister, Greg Clark, the chair of the Local Government Association (LGA), Sir Merrick Cockell, this week calls for disc
Local economies: an opportunity for councils or risking stagnation? [False, Mar 30, 2012]
Local councils are being told to step up and take responsibility for economic growth in their areas. But while councils are keen to exert greater control over their local economies, many feel they are being told to do so with "one hand tied behind their backs" – thanks to funding cuts, disparities i
Left and right should unite to support the creation of a National Infrastructure Bank [False, Mar 16, 2012]
“Britain’s dilemma,’ as Lord Skidelsky writes regarding Localis’s newly launched report Credit Where Credit’s Due, “is that its economy craves investment but its politics mandates fiscal retrenchment”.
TFI-News Interviews Localis' Alex Thomson [False, Mar 12, 2012]
TFI-News Interviews Localis Chief Executive Alex Thomson about 'Credit Where Credit's Due'.
The bank that would deliver real rewards on all sides [False, Mar 9, 2012]
The Government has made clear its commitment to driving £250 billion of infrastructure investment over the next few years. As we await George Osborne’s third Budget, the question on many people’s lips is how can we meet this ambitious goal whilst continuing to cut the budgetary deficit? How do we ac
How can local authorities fund new infrastructure? [False, Mar 9, 2012]
Infrastructure, and ways to fund it, have been subject to much debate of late – particularly since the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement prioritised greater investment in this area.
Capital ideas for the LGPS [False, Mar 8, 2012]
The Local Government Pension Scheme should be investing in infrastructure programmes across the county. It would be good for fund members and for the economy.
Town halls 'must plan' infrastructure finance [False, Mar 7, 2012]
Councils should start preparing the ground for the next Spending Review and not ‘sit back waiting for ready-made solutions’ to drive local economic growth, communities secretary Eric Pickles has warned.
Create infrastructure bank to drive economic growth says Localis [False, Mar 7, 2012]
A new report calls for the establishment of a National Infrastructure Bank (NIB) to spur economic growth in infrastructure projects.
Pickles urges councils to prepare for next Spending Review [False, Mar 7, 2012]
Communities secretary Eric Pickles has urged councils to start preparing the ground for the next Spending Review.
The Independent View: how Liberal Democrats can provide Clegg's "gear shift" in infrastructure spending [False, Mar 7, 2012]
As Nick Clegg has recently noted, there needs to be a ‘gear shift’ in infrastructure spending. Whilst George Osborne dots the i’s and crosses the t’s on his third budget, it is worth considering how such a ‘gear shift’ may be enacted.
Council pension funds urged to invest in waste [False, Mar 7, 2012]
Local government pension funds should plough money into waste and other infrastructure investments to boost their returns and support essential projects, an influential think-tank has said.
The Guardian, Local Government Network: Pick of the Web [False, Mar 6, 2012]
The Guardian's Local Government Network has named Localis' 'Credit Where Credit's Due' report as their Pick of the Web.
Council pension funds 'should invest in infrastructure' [False, Mar 6, 2012]
Local government pension funds should plough money into infrastructure investment both to boost their own returns and to support essential projects, a think-tank has said.
Incentive payments should help first-time buyers [False, Mar 6, 2012]
Councils should consider using new homes bonus funding to set up schemes to help first-time buyers get on the housing ladder, according to an influential think tank.
Think tank calls for infrastructure bank part-funded by council pension schemes [False, Mar 5, 2012]
A leading think tank has called for the creation of a £30bn National Infrastructure Bank part funded by local government pension schemes.
Council pension schemes ‘should fund infrastructure bank’ [False, Mar 5, 2012]
Funds from local government pension schemes should be used to help set up a £30bn national infrastructure bank, a local government think-tank said today.
Why should pension funds back an infrastructure bank? [False, Mar 5, 2012]
It is , on the face of it, a difficult trick to pull off. As this month's Budget will testify, the Government has pinned its growth agenda on securing £250bn of public and private sector investment in Britain's creaking infrastructure over the next five years.
Let QE fund a new infrastructure bank [False, Mar 5, 2012]
The study from local government think tank Localis and Lloyds Banking Group makes the new bank a key recommendation among proposals to kickstart the Coalition's planned £250bn of infrastructure spending over the next five years.
We need to use the LEPs to generate funding [False, Feb 28, 2012]
Local Enterprise Partnerships need greater powers to unlock infrastructure funding says Alex Thomson, Chief Executive, Localis.
How can we find the funding for infrastructure in 2012? [, Jan 9, 2012]
Councils may look to local asset backed vehicles to solve the problem of funding infrastructure in a downturn
Delivering infrastructure through a new public-private partnership [, Dec 20, 2011]
Richard Carr, Research Fellow, Localis discusses the Private Finance initiative (PFI) and how local authorities can deliver short-term growth without incurring long-term public debt.
LEPs to share £500m for infrastructure development [, Nov 8, 2011]
The government has today announced how it plans to share out a £500m funding pot for infrastructure projects that will encourage economic growth.
The Growing Places Fund will be made available to the 38 Local Enterprise Partnerships, which bring councils and businesses together to collaborate on ec
Localis welcomes Growing Places Fund prospectus [, Nov 7, 2011]
Alex Thomson, Chief Executive of Localis, welcomes the Government's Growing Places Fund prospectus.
Roundtable: Building the Future [False, Oct 4, 2011]
Building the Future: Funding infrastructure in an age of localism (in association with Lloyds Banking Group)
Roundtable: Building the Future [False, Sep 27, 2011]
Building the Future: Funding infrastructure in an age of localism (in association with Lloyds Banking Group)
What does efficiency mean? [, Sep 22, 2011]
What do we mean by efficiency? It seems like a straightforward question, but as we found at a recent Localis and Capita Symonds roundtable discussion, the answer is not as obvious as one might think.
Roundtable: Building the Future [False, Sep 19, 2011]
Building the Future: Funding infrastructure in an age of localism (in association with Lloyds Banking Group)
Discussion Note - Is Efficiency Enough? [, Aug 31, 2011]
Localis, in partnership with Capita Symonds hosted a policy roundtable at this year's LGA conference entitled 'Is efficiency enough? Or is a more fundamental rethink needed?
Localis welcomes Government announcement on Social Impact Bond pilots [, Aug 26, 2011]
Chief Executive Alex Thomson reponds to the Government's announcement today that four local authorities will pilot a Social Impact Bonds scheme.
75% Of Council FDs Looking To Implement Shared Services Or Outsource [, Dec 10, 2010]
75% of Council financial heads are exploring options to merge services with other local authorities or outsource service delivery to external organisations, according to a survey of local governmnent Finance Directors conducted by Localis, the localism thinktank.
Scale of local government cuts took FDs by surprise [, Dec 10, 2010]
The severity of local government cuts announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review came as a shock to half of council finance directors, while almost all have denounced the front-loading, a survey shows.
Facing the Future [, Dec 10, 2010]
A new report and survey by Localis says that councils will have to deliver better services for less money, and that a salami-slicing, business as usual approach will not suffice. Councils must think radically about how they support and empower their residents and introduce new service delivery model
Guardian Event: Driving efficiencies in public sector IT [, Sep 17, 2010]
Don’t miss this essential conference for IT professionals preparing for the difficulty years ahead. Re-think how to plan, manage, design and deliver essential public services though technology and address the fundamental changes needed in IT.
Budget Hints at Greater Local Autonomy, But the Detail is Still to Be Revealed [, Jul 2, 2010]
Offload ‘non-vital’ services, sector told [, Nov 9, 2009]
Councils must privatise ‘non-vital’ local services – such as libraries and leisure centres – if they are to thrive beyond the fiscal tightening, a radical new report has suggested.
The future role of local government [, Nov 2, 2009]
Tom spoke on Monday 2nd November at the CIPFA Local Government Conference at Holiday Inn, Regents Street. His speech focussed on looking into the 'The future role of local government in strengthening local economies'
Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council [, Oct 2, 2009]
Introduced in June 2009, “Free After Three” allows shoppers in Rochdale and Middleton to be able to park for free in the town centre if they arrive after three on weekdays and Saturdays. The move is aimed at helping local retailers hit by the recession.
More for Your Money [, Jun 23, 2009]
Some recommendations around the need to fundamentally reconnect local government investments with the creation of a civil society, a sustainable environment, and linked to these, a strong local economy.
Incubation and Innovation Support for Businesses [, May 29, 2009]
Incubation and innovation support for businesses delivered through a newly developed Innovation Centre
Home Based Business Development [, May 29, 2009]
This is summary of a project on home based business development and mobile working facilitation which has Increased performance outputs of ‘total economic activity’ to 13.5%
The Hull Deal [, May 28, 2009]
A raange of measures aimed at providing businesses with more information, with improved outcomes and more business start ups.
Case Study - Banking on Essex [, May 19, 2009]
Localis launches a new way of sharing innovative ideas or projects between Councils through their website. Click through to find out more
The Starter for Ten Programme [, May 7, 2009]
The Starter for Ten project will provide temporary workspace for creative businesses.
Banking on Essex [, Apr 14, 2009]
This is phase one of a banking scheme to provide financial products and business improvement services to Essex SMEs
Related Local Government News Articles
32 Related Local Government News Articles
London councils in pension shake-up [False, Apr 9, 2012]
London’s councils are in talks to establish a pooled pension fund for the capital in an attempt to reduce administrative costs and divert more than £2bn towards local infrastructure projects.
Social housing investment vehicle consultation launched [False, Apr 5, 2012]
A consultation on whether a tax efficient vehicle for property investment - widely used in the commercial property market - could be used to encourage more investment in the social housing sector has been published by the government.
Discount rate to begin in January [False, Apr 5, 2012]
A new discounted rate on loans from the government is set to be introduced early next year, according to officials.
Budget 2012: Enterprise zones get added tax relief [False, Mar 21, 2012]
Enterprise zones in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and London will benefit from enhanced tax reliefs, the chancellor George Osborne has confirmed in his budget speech.
Budget 2012: The key facts [False, Mar 21, 2012]
Chancellor George Osborne has delivered a primarily tax-focused Budget for 2012, through which low-paid town hall staff will benefit from higher personal allowances and the highest-paid council employees will see a reduction in income tax payments.
Budget 2012: Broadband and rail head infrastructure list [False, Mar 21, 2012]
Ultrafast broadband will come to 60 cities, chancellor George Osborne said in a series of Budget announcements on infrastructure investment.
Budget 2012: First 'city deal' gives Manchester tax back [False, Mar 21, 2012]
Greater Manchester councils will be able to keep a share of the extra national tax revenues generated in the conurbation under the first city deal to be struck by the government.
Budget 2012: Cheaper borrowing for select councils [False, Mar 21, 2012]
Chancellor George Osborne has unveiled plans to lower the costs of borrowing for councils that lay out in advance their long-term spending plans.
Nine councils establish joint procurement body [False, Mar 12, 2012]
Nine councils in West London, serving more than two million residents, have formed a joint procurement board with the aim of achieving £16m of savings by 2015.
LGA publishes Budget 'wish list' [False, Mar 12, 2012]
Council chiefs have asked chancellor George Osborne to announce measures making it easier for town halls to issue bonds for investment in local infrastructure schemes.
Broadband planning stage complete [False, Mar 9, 2012]
All but two councils have put plans to culture secretary Jeremy Hunt on how they will bring superfast broadband to their areas.
32 cities bid to host Green Investment Bank (GIB) [False, Feb 1, 2012]
Some 32 bids have been sent by councils and businesses across the UK expressing interest in housing the Green Investment Bank (GIB).
Business urges more economic development powers for councils [False, Jan 16, 2012]
Business leaders have challenged local government’s commitment to investment and compared it poorly to civic leadership in the rest of Europe, LGA chair Sir Merrick Cockell has said.
Local Government Finance Bill promotes TIF and local business rate retention [, Dec 19, 2011]
A bill that will introduce an infrastructure funding mechanism that is intended to allow English local authorities to unlock stalled regeneration schemes will be launched today, communities secretary Eric Pickles has announced.
Boost for £500m transport projects [, Dec 13, 2011]
More than 20 local transport projects with an overall value of £500m will receive fresh funding from the government as it tries to boost infrastructure spending, the Financial Times has learnt.
Treasury could reopen council funding plans [, Nov 30, 2011]
Ministers have refused to rule out further reductions in local government funding before 2015 as a result of George Osborne’s plans for fresh public sector wage caps.
Infrastructure gets boost in chancellor's Statement [, Nov 30, 2011]
Despite bleak economic forecasts, chancellor, George Osborne, was able to announce additional investment in local authorities as part of his Autumn Statement – including new schools, housing and infrastructure projects.
Treasury offers councils chance of cheap loans [, Nov 29, 2011]
Local authorities have been offered a narrow window during which to apply for cheap loans designed to establish their housing ‘self-financing’ system – to ensure the Government can borrow the cash at the best-possible rates.
David Cameron vows to 'get Britain building' [, Nov 21, 2011]
Buyers of new homes will be able to borrow up to 95% of their value as part of plans the government says will help get "Britain building again".
The mortgage indemnity scheme, in which the government will underwrite part of the risk to lenders, could help up to 100,000 people in England.
It is pa
Ministers hand £500m pot to LEPs [, Nov 8, 2011]
Ministers have bowed to pressure and made funding available directly to the government’s flagship local enterprise partnerships.
Government property to drive local growth [, Oct 25, 2011]
Francis Maude has vowed departments would try to create development opportunities boosting local growth when vacating offices in regional city centres.
Outlining central government's property strategy today, the Minister for the Cabinet Office said cost-cutting efforts to consolidate the civil esta
Budget 2011: Osborne announces 21 enterprise zones [, Mar 23, 2011]
Twenty-one new enterprise zones - with significant planning, tax and business rate powers - will be established to help kick-start sub-national economic growth, chancellor George Osborne’s Budget has revealed.
Eleven urban enterprise zones [, Mar 23, 2011]
Eleven urban areas around the country, including London, have been named as enterprise zones with a further ten to be created following a competitive bidding process, the chancellor has announced.
London boroughs to share a chief [, Sep 9, 2010]
Islington and Camden LBCs are set to become the first upper-tier councils to share a chief executive.
A 3 minute guide to 'easyCouncil' [, Nov 7, 2009]
The BBC's Giles Dilnot talks to the leader of Barnet Council, Mike Freer, about a 'no frills' model of council services where the council provides every local resident a core set of services but where residents get a discount for not using certain services or pay extra for additional services.
Councils surpass efficiency targets [, Sep 29, 2009]
Local government has surpassed its efficiency savings targets after recording £1.76bn worth of value for money savings for 2008-09, communities secretary John Denham has announced.
Local action is crucial to efficiency [, Sep 25, 2009]
Total Place is a key plank in the Treasury’s strategy for increasing efficiency and realising significant savings across the public sector. Under the initiative, which is being piloted in 13 places in England, the flow of public spending in a local area is calculated and mapped in an effort to ident
Council outsources all recruitment [, Aug 7, 2009]
Buckinghamshire council has become the first local authority to outsource all its recruitment to the private sector in a move that is likely to be followed throughout the country
Big efficiency savings planned in Barnet [, Aug 6, 2009]
Cllr Michael Freer, the Conservative leader of Barnet Council, says his Council already has the second lowest back office costs in London - but big further admin savings are planned by sharing costs with public services.
LGC Efficiency Survey [, Jul 23, 2009]
The LGC and iMPOWER held a joint survey assessing the current economic climate and the approach that they have taken. The survey also looks into efficiency savings and service delivery.
Let's not be afraid of cuts [, Jul 5, 2009]
The British problem, so the aphorism has it, is that we want Swedish levels of public service with US levels of tax. So do the Swedes. That's why, during a fiscal crisis with many parallels to our own - when the Swedish Social Democratic Party, then in opposition, promised spending cuts to eliminate
Council to launch 'Bank of Essex' [, Dec 1, 2008]
A "Bank of Essex" is to be set up to help small businesses struggling to win investment because of the credit crunch, under plans being examined by the county council.
Related Pages
Improving the system for planning and development
Reform of the social housing system
News
Publications
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Ministers urged to roll-out City Deals
by By Jonathan Werran, The MJ
Regeneration in practice: lessons from across the pond
by By Alex Thomson, The Guardian - Local Government Network
Breathing new life into regeneration
by Alex Thomson, The MJ
Let the local authority clamour for more devolved power begin
by Steven Howell (in the Guardian, Public Leaders Network)
Crossing the border
Posted in Structures, Collaborations and Working Across Borders
What can elected mayors do for our cities?
Posted in Local Government Management and Organisation
Credit Where Credit's Due
Posted in Local Government Finance
A New Era for Council Housing?
Posted in Planning, Housing and Economic Development
Pensions: Infrastructure Investment Conference
[Jun 26, 2012]
Report Launch: Grow Your Own Way
[May 23, 2012]
Report Launch: Credit Where Credit's Due
[Mar 5, 2012]
Blue Labour and the Politics of Place
[Feb 9, 2012]
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