Local economies
Transforming Glasgow into a world-class smart city
Cllr Angus Millar explains how a new single-supplier contract for a full fibre network marks a huge step forward in delivering significant benefits to Glasgow – giving the council cutting-edge technological capability.
Place is the crucial lens
Dr Jonathan Carr-West looks at how we might make levelling up and devolution work together.
Finding local solutions to the challenges ahead
Councils are uniquely placed to convene and work with local and national partners to address the jobs and skills challenge as the economy opens up, says Sir Richard Leese.
Can local authorities still drive town and city centre regeneration?
Incentives such as the Levelling Up funding, combined with the long-term risk of falling business rates means that the potential, and need, for bold change cannot be ignored, says Jonathan Allen of Browne Jacobson.
LGiU report calls for a local government-led Building Back Better commission
A local government-led Building Back Better commission should be part of a new place settlement after the pandemic, a new report from the LGiU think-tank has urged.
The levelling up White Paper must have proposals to match counties' ambitions
CCN’s member councils are putting in train ambitious place-based economic recovery plans, 'but they remain stunted by a lack of devolved powers available to metro mayors as well as significantly less funding', says Simon Edwards.
Government must get education right to 'level up'
How the Government manages school catch-up policy is closely linked to the levelling up agenda, says Andrew Carter of Centre for Cities. And it needs to ensure it gets education right for both children and adults, he adds.
Why women lose out in the workforce
Women were already off to an unequal start before the pandemic. Now the clock could be turned back even further, says the Centre for Progressive Policy. Ann McGauran investigates.
Buckinghamshire’s break for success
Martin Tett looks at how Buckinghamshire Council’s unitary status removed some barriers to successfully responding to the COVID crisis and how it is now tackling residents’ mental health and wellbeing as it moves towards a greener future.
A roadmap to support devolution
Dr Arianna Giovannini explains why the latest report of the Industrial Strategy Council might not be well received in Whitehall.
Paint your town a rainbow
Helen Power and Tom Lloyd Goodwin look at what can be learned from a new book telling the story of CLES’s collaborative work in Preston on a bespoke approach to community wealth building.
Five success factors for delivering a fair recovery
PwC has identified five success factors it believes are crucial to levelling up the UK, say Jonathan House and Ben Pykett. It’s time to take a broader approach to growth, they believe.
LEP Network: Don't muck around with boundaries
The chair of the organisation representing local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) has warned the Government ‘not to muck around’ with the areas they represent.
The UK has a real opportunity to improve on the EU’s state aid rules
Without a change in the Government’s approach, the new Subsidy Control Bill to replace EU state aid rules in the UK will cause greater uncertainty for local authorities, says Eleanor Shearer.
Welsh Government 'ditched as partner'
The Welsh Government has been ‘ditched as a partner’ in the rollout of two new funds, a former secretary of state for Wales has said.
Pension funds urged to play levelling up role
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds could provide a £16bn boost to levelling up the country, according to a new report.
A fresh challenge
The new president of ADEPT Paula Hewitt outlines her hopes and plans as the sector slowly recovers from the COVID pandemic – and says ‘real’ collaboration is vital to a successful future for places and communities.
A new vision for Nuneaton
Mark Ryder and Dawn Dawson explain how a joined-up approach between authorities will transform Nuneaton town centre, bringing essential redevelopment and address regeneration in one of the most deprived areas in Warwickshire.
Government has no time to waste wondering what councils are for
Whether cock-up or conspiracy, the apparent failure of the Government to let a number of councils know their areas were subject to restrictions guidance is yet another example of the blatant disregard for local government, says Heather Jameson.
Income gap widest in deprived areas
The Office for National Statistics found the most deprived council areas have the biggest disparity between the wealthiest and poorest neighbourhoods.
