Localis
Making strategic spatial planning successful
In Localis’s new essay collection, Catriona Riddell looks at developing agreement on housing supply: aligning community engagement and strategic spatial planning.
Building consent
As Localis publishes an essay collection looking at how homes and developments may be built in harmony with existing communities, Jonathan Werran considers the history of housing and planning.
Think-tank's call for landfill tax devolution
A think-tank has called for a portion of the proceeds from landfill tax to be devolved to councils.
Governing the local AI revolution
A nuanced approach to governance is needed to successfully navigate the challenge of integrating AI within local authorities, say Amardeep Gill and Jonathan Werran.
Tacking the scourge of waste crime
Government should introduce an intermediate tax band to bridge the gap between standard and lower rates of landfill tax, reducing the incentive for misclassification of waste, says Jonathan Werran.
Where is fiscal devolution?
In the first of a series of articles on what the next government could learn from the Lyons Review, Jonathan Werran suggests fiscal freedom could unlock growth to bring in more cash for the Treasury.
London Councils eyes apprenticeship levy devolution
London Councils has named securing devolution of the apprenticeship levy to its boroughs to fund skills and employment activity as a key short-term priority.
Growth battlelines
Rishi Sunak has launched a towns plan, while a new report says bringing UK cities up to the productivity levels of their European peers could deliver a massive dividend. But is there a better way that helps all towns and cities? Heather Jameson reports.
Throw a lifeline – business rates reform and high streets renewal
A fringe panel event in Liverpool next week will focus thinking on what system of business taxation for local government a Labour Government could put in place, says Jonathan Werran.
Perfect place
Jonathan Werran reports from a policy event that teased out how lessons from the past could indicate what reform towards single placemaking budgets might offer.
LGA bids for tax hike control
The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for tax hikes on second homes to be locally controlled rather than mandated from Westminster.
Sector to step up anti-mayor lobbying
The sector is to step up its lobbying for the Government to use its King’s Speech to end its fixation on elected leaders, The MJ understands.
Placemaking budgets should combine capital pots with revenue, says report
Ministers should combine revenue and capital pots into a single placemaking budget to fund neighbourhood services, according to a new report.
Level measures
Localis’s research into the potential for public service integration to underpin the delivery of levelling up in neighbourhoods offers a modern policy route to future reform. Jonathan Werran explains.
'No progress' on devolution to London
The capital appears to have ‘taken a step backwards’ on devolution, a former chair of London Councils has said.
Neighbourhood services key to community cohesion
The next Government has been urged to fund councils to carry out basic neighbourhood services to boost community cohesion.
‘It’s all to play for’
Cornwall Council has seen the collapse of its level three devolution deal. Martin Ford talks to sector experts and those closest to the project about why it fell and what lies ahead.
Planning for resilience
Localis’s Sandy Forsyth outlines the case for a national plan to ensure place-based best practice approaches to climate adaptation become the norm across the country.
Taking tech to new realms
In his contribution to a new essay collection on the future of local government finance reform commissioned by Localis, Iain Murray says technology can help the public finance professional find solutions to some of our most pressing challenges.
Performance body planned, but no league table return
Whitehall officials have told the sector they do not intend to create league tables as they push ahead creating a new local government performance body.