Local economies
Delicate decisions
Three myths are holding back Labour’s growth plans, but there are ways to increase investment without wrecking the balance sheet, says Cllr Graham Chapman.
41st time lucky?
After four decades of different initiatives which have failed to boost growth, Professor Martin Jones considers what needs to change to bring success.
Call for evidence boosted in local economic policy
Centre for Cities has called for more evidence to be at the heart of local economic policy making.
Clear objectives needed for levelling up
Central Government needs to set clear objectives for national programmes like levelling up, says chief executive of the Centre for Cities think-tank, Andrew Carter.
How to build a healthy economy
Social care, often seen as a millstone for councils facing financial challenges, has been turned into an opportunity by Stockton-on-Tees BC to create inclusive growth and tackle health inequalities all at once, writes Heather Jameson.
Labour’s local vision for growth
Adam Fineberg says Labour’s new localist Industrial Strategy is a manifesto aimed at reaping the benefits of more widely distributed growth across the country.
Powering up the North
Richard Stubbs and Michael Wood say the opportunity to strengthen both the health and economy of northern England is immense – and that is why deeper devolution is needed.
Left and behind: women at work
Building gender equality and diversity into plans for economic growth has benefits for everyone, writes Sarah Longlands.
Ready for a bright new dawn?
Rachel Reeves’ Mais lecture represented a clear shift away from New Labour towards an active state, a muscular industrial strategy and ambitious regional policy, say Mike Emmerich and Ben Lucas.
Future Forum: Poor energy planning 'causing barriers to green growth'
A lack of co-ordination in how the energy system is planned is causing barriers ‘not only to decarbonisation and retrofit, but to green economic growth’, The MJ Future Forum has heard.
Can the Liverpool city region seize its golden moment?
A Manifesto for Liverpool City Region addresses the economic, social, environmental and political challenges facing the next UK Government, say Dr Tom Arnold and Dr James Hickson.
Desperately seeking a long-term diagnosis
A successful economy needs to be built around world-class infrastructure - and skilled, healthy people and public services are essential to the delivery of both, says Iain Murray.
We need fairer funding of local government, and we need it now
Cllr John Merry says that while the chancellor stressed the need for more efficiency in this week's Budget, he would highlight the importance of fixing what is, in Key Cities’ view, councils' broken funding model’.
Offices for good?
With office occupancy averaging around 30%, Martin Forbes of Local Partnerships reports on a campaign with ACES to explore the implications for the local government office workplace and to consider wider concerns.
The new mayors will need the support of Westminster to be successful
'We need to give more attention to the powers and resources mayors have, and those they need – notably more control over fiscal matters – to do the job the country needs them to do', says Andrew Carter.
Connecting up the best in the West
Rebecca Davies highlights the launch of a new campaign in the West Midlands to connect passionate people with careers in local government that bring real value to communities
The threat from bank and building society closures
More than half of all bank and building society branches have closed since 2015 – nearly 6,000 in total. This has significant implications both for financial inclusion and our high streets.
Local government needs a 10 year plan for renewal
Jessica Studdert says: 'Whether or not future growth enables overall spending to rise, Treasury calculations should recognise the value of the local safety net as foundational for all other services to function effectively and less reactively.'
A call for prioritising local economic growth
In the case of councils in financial distress income-generation through a commitment to economic development must be explored, says Nigel Wilcock.
The power of two
As Devon and Torbay sign up for a groundbreaking devolution deal, Cllr John Hart explains what it will mean for local people, and how it changes the relationship with central government.
