Economic growth
Levelling Up Fund to feature rapid bid process
The £4bn cross-departmental Levelling Up Fund will feature a rapid bid process, with all projects having to be completed before the next General Election, The MJ understands.
Put climate change at the heart of building back, say MPs
Climate change needs to be at the heart of the government’s plans to build back the economy after COVID-19, MPs have declared.
Think-tank launches levelling up Big Bang theory
The Government should launch a Northern Big Bang to ‘unleash a torrent of investment into the Northern economy’ says a report from a Conservative think-tank.
Rural economic growth deal secured
A £70m rural economic growth deal has been agreed between the Scottish and UK governments and Argyll and Bute Council.
Ambitions for Glasgow City Region undimmed by COVID
COVID may have brought delays to Glasgow’s £1bn City Deal infrastructure programme, but the region remains committed to all 21 projects, says Kevin Rush.
Councils' role is vital to a fulsome recovery
Some loved ones will not be around to experience the renaissance when it comes. But for those who are, 'the critical role of local authorities needs to be recognised and underpinned' if the recovery is to be swift, says Abdool Kara.
Government to overhaul council procurement rules
New powers to take social and environmental factors into account when awarding contracts have been put forward by the Government today.
Ministers urged to turbo-charge levelling up agenda
Ministers have been urged to turbo-charge their ‘levelling up’ agenda after latest figures show the North of England economically slipping further behind the rest of the country.
More cash, but not enough
With its £5.5bn extra funding for local government next year the Spending Review may have delivered more than expected – though this won’t be enough to reverse the cuts since 2010. Heather Jameson reports.
Spending review: The road ahead is still paved with uncertainty
The efforts of local government during the pandemic have been astounding, which makes the public sector pay freeze much harder to swallow, says Cllr Sharon Taylor.
Remove 'adversarial' funding to level up regions
Removing competition from local authority funding is needed to level up the country, a think-tank has concluded in a new report.
Sunak's cash pledge to head off revolt
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has pledged extra cash in a bid to head off a revolt by a new northern group of Conservative MPs.
Seven areas across England set to receive nearly £180m investment
Communities in seven areas across England are set to benefit from up to £178.7m in new Town Deals, communities secretary Robert Jenrick has announced.
Blue wall rebels call for economic kickstart
Northern Tory MPs led by the former Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry have urged their government to kickstart its promised ‘levelling up’ agenda with a Northern Economic Recovery Plan.
Coronavirus leads to scrapping of three-year Spending Review
Plans to create a three-year settlement for public spending have been abandoned as latest figures show the havoc coronavirus is wreaking on the public finances.
An online lifeline for Watford's high street
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor has announced a new partnership pilot that will see Watford become the UK’s first-ever WhatsApp High Street.
Trust districts to do what’s needed
A lower PWLB borrowing rate would make a significant difference to the viability and deliverability of regeneration schemes, argues Simone Hines.
LEPs promise £100bn return on investment
Local enterprise partnerships (LEP) can secure a return on investment of £100bn in additional economic benefit, the Government has been told.
EXCLUSIVE: 'Ridiculous constraints' mar high street fund
Councils may be left out of pocket after spending thousands of pounds on safety measures they cannot claim back from an economic recovery fund, it has emerged.
Levelling up would add £242bn to economy each year, research finds
Successfully delivering on the levelling up agenda would boost the economy by £242bn a year, new research has found.
