Economic growth
Transport key to post-COVID recovery
Improving transport links between towns and cities is key to the post-COVID recovery and could save the UK’s ailing high streets, local leaders argued yesterday.
Getting a grip
The Government is riven with confusion and incoherence, says Dan Corry. Here, he puts forward the three qualities that are fundamental to getting back on track.
Copeland in 'Section 114 territory'
Copeland BC is ‘heading rapidly towards its minimum level of reserves and an expectation internally of issuing a Section 114 notice,’ an external assurance review of the council’s financial position has found.
Realising a joint vision for South Essex
A desire to push boundaries and do whatever is possible to accelerate interventions for sustainable economic growth has driven forward a partnership of seven councils in South Essex. Cllr Chris Hossack tells the story.
Time for a change (again)?
Levelling up secretary Michael Gove’s hints that local enterprise partnerships are ‘under review’ reminds Michael Burton of how governments cannot resist the temptation to reorganise
EXCLUSIVE: Districts in county deals warning
District council leaders have warned county deals will fail unless local government secretary Michael Gove gives them an equal role in devolution.
Osborne urges ministers to 'double' devolution efforts
Former chancellor George Osborne has urged ministers to ‘double’ efforts to drive forward devolution and local taxation.
Rates revenue shoots up
Business rates revenue shot up by more than 40% last month compared to the previous year as the economy improved, according to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Ministry in rebrand to put levelling up centre stage
New secretary of state Michael Gove will preside over a beefed up new department with a firm focus on levelling up, it has been revealed.
The art of preventing a brain drain
Paul Shevlin suggests arts and culture have a part to play in attracting young residents to come to rural areas
Put education at the heart of levelling up, say CPP and NRG
Education should be at the heart of the levelling up agenda, according to the influential Northern Research Group (NRG) and think tank the Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP).
Levelling up too focused on infrastructure, claims report
Ministers’ ‘levelling up’ agenda is too focused on new infrastructure projects at the expense of improving key public services, councils representing English towns and cities have warned.
Why we’re being levelled down
Levelling up should be about quality sustainable public services supporting those most in need, according to Sir Stephen Houghton. But, he points out, the deficit faced by SIGOMA member councils is more than £350m in this financial year.
A discussion not to be missed
Cratus has announced the third Chamberlain lecture, delivered by Bristol Mayor, Marvin Rees, in celebration of local government.
Tourist hotspots see biggest boost from 'freedom day'
Northern towns and tourist hotspots have seen the biggest rise in footfall since ‘freedom day’, while London is lagging behind, data has revealed.
Councils urged to prepare digital skills pipeline
Councils should prepare for a surge in the digital skills sector, according to new research by the Local Government Association (LGA).
Levelling up should focus on wellbeing, says report
The levelling up agenda should focus on improving economic and social wellbeing rather than infrastructure according to new research from the UK Prosperity Index 2021.
Cheltenham chooses developer for landmark cyber park
Cheltenham BC has chosen its preferred development partner for the £1bn first phase of The Golden Valley Development, part of the council’s Cyber Central project.
Advantage Stroud
As the country - and the tennis - restarts after CIVID, Stroud DC chief executive Kathy O'Leary says every council should play up to its strengths when it comes to rebuilding the economy
Two decades of economic interventions have failed to help poorest communities, report warns
The last 20 years of local economic interventions have consistently failed to address the inequalities across the UK’s most deprived communities, a new report has warned today.
