CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Scrap proposed infrastructure levy, council leaders say

Council leaders and developers have written to local government secretary Michael Gove criticising the Government’s proposed infrastructure levy.

Council leaders and developers have written to local government secretary Michael Gove criticising the Government's proposed infrastructure levy.

They said the proposed reform, which would allow councils to impose a levy on developers based on the estimated final value of a scheme, could mean fewer affordable homes being built, and less money for roads, health centres and schools.

In the letter, the County Councils' Network, District Councils' Network (DCN) and 28 other organisations called instead for reform of the developer contributions system.

The DCN described the Government's existing plan as 'unworkable'.

It warned the levy, which is intended to increase the number of affordable houses built and the amount of infrastructure supplied for new developments, was likely to have the opposite effect and would 'heap financial risk on local government'.

DCN's Barry Wood said: 'While we support the principle of local planning authorities being allowed to borrow against the proceeds from the infrastructure levy what has been proposed would [place] significant financial risk on councils.'

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Re-setting and re-shaping our regions

By Laura Hughes | 10 July 2024

More devolution is one of the key legacies of the Conservative government, but how will a Labour majority shape the policy’s future, asks Laura Hughes

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Beyond local audit's backlog

By Neil Harris | 10 July 2024

A new government brings an opportunity to implement longer-term reforms to local audit and help shape a resilient system capable of withstanding future chall...

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Councils' concerns over planning overhaul

By Martin Ford | 10 July 2024

Councils have expressed reservations over the return of compulsory housebuilding targets announced by the Labour Government.

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Time for a Duty of Public Value

By Mo Baines | 09 July 2024

An expansive ‘Duty of Public Value', as opposed to Best Value would allow decisions to be made through the prism of the longer-term benefits of both the publ...

Popular articles by Mark Whitehead