Investment
Let's put investment into our school buildings
Schools capital allocations have been skewed by political priorities, says Gary Fielding As a result, North Yorkshire CC 'find ourselves with swathes of the country having insufficient places to meet demand and/or poor building conditions'.
A landmark year for Waltham Forest
In 2019 Waltham Forest LBC became the first Mayor of London Borough of Culture - and won The MJ’s Local Authority of the Year category in the annual awards. Cllr Clare Coghill and Martin Esom talk to Michael Burton about the council's achievement.
Building thriving towns
Adur DC and Worthing BC are taking a stake in their local economies to catalyse investment in their places, based on establishing firm foundations to help local communities thrive, writes Martin Randall.
2020: Time for a new era in local and central government collaboration
Chair of Key Cities Cllr John Merry welcomes both devolution and the Government’s stated ambition to prioritise investment in infrastructure ‘as this is something that our regions are crying out for especially beyond London and the Home Counties’.
Council on course to meet investment target
South Cambridgeshire DC has revealed it is on course to generate a quarter of cash spent on services through its own investments.
Doubts cast over council's £100m investment plan
West Berkshire Council is to review its property investment strategy.
Council welcomes new Sky studios plan
Hertsmere BC has welcomed news that Sky plans to build a major new film and TV complex at Elstree alongside its own studios.
The private sector needs to stand alongside councils against the PWLB rate rise
Greg Hill argues that the private sector needs to join council leaders in calling for the omission of housebuilding and regeneration projects from the ‘125% interest rate rise on loans from the Public Works Loan Board’.
Future Forum North: IFS boss praises 'sensible' Labour tax proposals
The director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies has urged whoever is elected next week to look at ‘sensible’ dividend and capital gains tax proposals.
Don't seek to frustrate legitimate use of powers by the back door
Councils must have regard to the MHCLG guidance on investments, says Ian Miller. But a power to give guidance 'is not a power to limit councils' statutory powers by diktat', he adds.
Sunderland receives £100m ‘vote of confidence'
Sunderland City Council’s city centre masterplan has received a massive boost from a £100m deal with Legal & General.
Council spending powers to be restored to 2010 levels under Labour
Labour would ‘reverse the Tory decade of austerity for local government’ and aim to restore council spending powers to 2010 levels by 2024 if elected.
Health leaders in fresh social care warning
Health leaders have warned that the persistent neglect of social care is damaging patient care across the NHS.
Labour proposes BT public ownership plan
BT would be partly taken back into public ownership under Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s plan to nationalise the UK’s broadband network.
Councils have become dependent on the PWLB as ‘first resort’ lender
June Matte says borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) is ‘easy’ – but that it’s time councils seek financial independence and take advantage of the opportunities the market offers.
Leeds secures agreements for TV and film studios
Leeds City Council has intervened to help get new TV and film studios up and running.
The thoroughly modern approach to public finance
Geoff Mulgan says the public sector needs innovation and experimentation in money every bit as much as in other functions – and he outlines some of the important ideas for bringing it up to date.
Don’t push us off the precipice
The sudden increase in the PWLB lending rate has the potential to cripple local authorities’ ability to deliver affordable homes in an already financially challenging environment, explains Cllr Sharon Taylor.
Time to change the direction of travel
Core Cities UK's Vision for Global Success and Local Prosperity report sets out some clear, practical steps that 'will set our cities free to achieve their full potential, both for themselves and surrounding areas', says Cllr Judith Blake.
Norfolk to invest £29m in care market as homes close
The scale of the challenges facing the adult social care market will be laid bare for senior councillors in Norfolk.