Economic growth
Exploring new methods to bridge the funding gap
How can councils develop the right commercial skills across their organisation and broker successful partnerships that make financial sense, asks Paul Bradbury.
Time for the medicine
Malcolm Morley analyses the commecial strategy of a major company and draws some key lessons for local authorities looking to generate some income.
S106 is 'pricing developers out of the market'
Costly Section 106 agreements are pricing some developers out of the market, according to the peer-to-peer lending website Lendy.
Why counties can deliver the cash
Don’t overlook counties as purveyors of productivity and growth, writes Philip Atkins.
When it comes to commercialisation, we can't afford to do nothing
As councils rush to buy up commercial property, questions are being asked about the capacity and capability of the councils taking on these ventures. Hiba Mahamadi asks whether the risks are worth the financial reward.
The Industrial Strategy is cancelled out by Brexit
Michael Burton looks at the findings of a recent Centre for Cities report and calls on business ministers to speak up about the impacts of Brexit on their own Government's Industrial Strategy.
Shaping Oldham’s economic future
Oldham has a long-term masterplan which will act as a catalyst for regeneration across five town centres. The partnership between private and public sectors will be worth an additional £50m a year to the town’s economy, as Tom Stannard explains.
Navigating the skills and local economic growth quandary
The recent launch of the SOLACE paper, Skills and Local Economic Growth, had one clear message: only by maximising skills outcomes can we successfully grow local economies, writes Martin Swales.
Let’s not kill the goose that lays the golden egg
Councils must provide moderation and balance in their commercial endeavours, warns Pete Moore.
Markets can be fickle beasts. How can councils mitigate risk?
The jury is still out on whether councils are as good as they need to be for their latest commercialisation initiatives, writes Malcolm Morley.
Where are district councils left under a minority Government?
Ian Miller demands early clarity on local government finance reform.
Districts are ready and able to deliver the Industrial Strategy
District councils have an unrivalled understanding of what is required to shape local industrial strategies and deliver local economic growth across England, says Mark Pawsey MP.
Part and parcel of politics
Haringey LBC has just signed a new joint venture to push much-needed development in the borough amid public protests and opposition from local MPs. Cllr Claire Kober tells Heather Jameson why
All part of the plan
Doing the rounds of neighbouring councils is vital - if painful - when it comes to completing the local plan, says Louise Round
Partnerships to power local economies
Nigel Hudson and Gary Woodman explain how collaborative co-operation is ensuring Worcestershire has the fastest-growing productivity in the country
A chance for us to rebuild
The region’s cities look to be at the forefront of Northern Ireland’s future following the recent DUP/Tory agreement, as Mark Morrin explains.
Tools of the trade
Local authority trading companies are increasingly popular. Sam Clayden reports on a recent Penna/The MJ event, hearing advice from those authorities leading the charge in the private sector.
Local government has failed to offer a stirring vision of the future
Imagination is needed more than ever in local government, writes Ed Cox.
Local government must fill any vacuum in Westminster
The uncertainty which lies ahead on the national political stage will not prevent local leaders from driving growth, writes Andrew Carter.
Dawn Baxendale: Chiefs have lost their public service raison d’être
Dawn Baxendale speaks to Sam Clayden about how Southampton City Council – and local government as a whole – will be grappling with an increasingly uncertain future