EU
Government sign-off required to 'unlock' UKSPF
Councils will have to draw up investment plans to access the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF), the Government has revealed.
Spending Review is another missed chance on ‘levelling up’
While we still await detail behind the Spending Review headlines, what we do know raises serious questions about the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda, says Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton.
EXCLUSIVE: Questions over taskforce purpose
Local government associations have called for ministers to define the purpose of a new taskforce ahead of April’s launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), The MJ understands.
Committee calls for urgent consultation on UK Shared Prosperity Fund
Local authorities in Scotland should be consulted on how much funding they will receive under the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), MPs have said.
New subsidy rules unveiled
New rules on the awarding of subsidies by local authorities to businesses have been unveiled to MPs following Brexit.
Staying local but going global for investment
Just because we are no longer in the EU does not mean European investors have lost interest in the UK, says Michael Burton - and there is a strong argument to saying the UK's regions should be scaling up their lobbying presence there, and elsewhere.
Brussels bases to remain open despite Cornwall closure
Local authorities with a post-Brexit Brussels base have re-committed to the idea despite Cornwall Council starting the process of closing down its European office.
'Thousands' at risk as EU settlement deadline looms
Birmingham City Council has urged the Government to extend the deadline for the EU Settlement Scheme as thousands of people in the city are thought to remain undocumented.
AstraZeneca jab 'safe and effective,' council chiefs insist
Council chiefs have urged residents to have the ‘safe and effective’ AstraZeneca jab amid an investigation into the possibility of a link with blood clots.
BUDGET 2021: New freeport sites confirmed
Chancellor Rishi Sunak closed his Budget speech today with a commitment to eight new freeport sites - international gateways that will enjoy a raft of tax breaks from later this year.
Spending Review: UKSPF to reach £1.5bn a year
The value of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will reach around £1.5bn a year on average, chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced.
Care home occupancy down over Grim Reaper fears
People are reluctant to put their relatives into care homes because they think the ‘Grim Reaper is waiting at the gate,’ a senior councillor has warned.
Think-tank issues warning on Brexit readiness
Local authorities and the devolved nations risk being overwhelmed by Brexit as they are trying to deal with the COVID-19 crisis, a think tank has claimed.
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.
Frustration bubbles over wait for Brexit bonanza
The Government runs the risk of ‘levelling up everywhere at rock bottom’ as uncertainty continues to reign over funding for the regions months after Brexit.
EXCLUSIVE: Stretched LRFs in cash plea
Stretched local resilience forums (LRF) have pleaded for cash amid warnings a lack of funding is hindering their planning for the next crisis.
Councils issue warning over £730m of unspent EU funding
Nearly a quarter of the European Social Fund is at risk of being sent back to Brussels, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.
Councils in fresh Brexit warning
Scotland’s council leaders today warned that the lack of progress on Brexit talks posed a ‘significant risk’ to local government services.
Call for growth deal to cover funding gap
A £3bn growth deal is needed to avoid a gap in the delivery of capital projects while the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is introduced, the organisation representing local enterprise partnerships (LEP) has said.
Government must confront social care staffing crisis 'head on'
The Government should confront the social care staffing crisis head on if they are to pursue immigration reform, the director of research and economics at The Health Foundation charity has said.