Property
Brum proposes £300m cuts
Cash-strapped Birmingham City Council will cut spending on services by £300m to balance its books.
Local Government – no fat anymore
Only the 'bare bones' are left within local authorities and the property sector is already feeling the effects of underfunding such as reduced resources for planning, says Ian Fletcher.
Call for council tax overhaul
Work should begin now on the ‘long-overdue’ revaluation of all domestic properties in England to bolster local government finance, a think-tank has argued.
Council looks to address £100m ‘black hole’
Somerset Council is considering measures, including reducing staffing and cutting services to statutory levels, to cover a £100m funding gap.
Cash-strapped councils forced to sell £15bn of assets
About 75,000 assets worth £15bn have been sold by cash-strapped English councils since 2010, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) think-tank.
Unlocking financial value through partnership
Senior director of Norse Consulting Daniella Barrow believes that joint ventures offer a model for greater commercialism.
Progress on devolution 'too slow' - LGA vice-president
A Local Government Association vice-president has expressed ‘serious concerns about the Government’s increasing desire to centralise local service delivery across England out of Whitehall’.
Council temporarily closes county hall over spiralling energy costs
Wakefield Council will temporarily close its county hall building in a bid to save on rising energy costs.
Former Haringey leader takes legal action against Ombudsman
Former leader of Haringey LBC, Joseph Ejiofor, has issued legal proceedings to challenge the Local Government Ombudsman’s decision to name him in a report.
Maximising the potential of vacant municipal property stock
With so many vacant properties post-pandemic, installing property guardians ca cut the costs of security and even bring in council tax for local authorities, says Stuart Woolgar
Estate retrofit is not too big a challenge for the public sector
Daniel Easthope looks at how the public sector can best retrofit its estates to minimise emissions and maximise potential cost savings.
New interim chief to look at council property decisions
Haringey LBC’s new interim chief executive will review how the council makes decisions on property and acquisitions amid a police probe.
Housing scandals ‘embarrassment to sector’
Poor living conditions uncovered by the media at councils such as Croydon LBC throughout last year prompted action across local government, the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee heard yesterday.
Eastleigh's Tustian announces retirement
The chief executive of Eastleigh BC, Nick Tustian, has announced he will be retiring in May.
LGA members accuse CIPFA of 'mission overreach'
Proposed changes to finance rules have provoked anger from the Local Government Association (LGA).
Chief executive departs Croydon's property firm
Colm Lacey, who has headed Brick By Brick since its inception in 2016, will leave in the coming months as it prepares to be wound down.
Why the Local Land Charges Register is a crucial step forward
The Local Land Charges Register is creating the conditions for data to become a valuable standardised and accessible asset rather than a burden on councils, says Scott Goodwin.
Councils ‘resistant’ to repurposing empty commercial space
A think-tank has accused local authorities of being ‘resistant’ to measures that could see empty retail spaces repurposed for housing.
Croydon to keep hold of loss-making property development firm
Croydon LBC is expected to keep hold of its property development firm Brick by Brick after rejecting an offer from a ‘credible bidder’.
Welsh council to end property joint venture
Powys CC has decided to end its joint venture with Kier, and bring housing and building maintenance services back in-house.