Jack Shaw
Expanding Oflog’s vision
Jack Shaw says the Office for Local Government needs to go further than its current long-term vision, and moving to a statutory footing would mean it could set up a more robust performance regime.
Councils need an unconditional cash injection
Jack Shaw looks at what the sector needs from next month’s Autumn Statement to avoid more section 114 notices and what it should expect the chancellor to deliver.
Funding atomisation must be fixed
Jack Shaw says that by atomising the funding for tackling inequalities, Whitehall have a partial image of the challenges facing local authorities. Fixing this is essential and devolution must be part of the vision, he believes.
Managing spending centrally is the flaw
At a minimum, the ban on Michael Gove’s department spending cash on new capital projects without Treasury approval worsens the policy uncertainty afflicting the Government’s funding programmes, says Jack Shaw.
It’s not just about the money
As we look toward the next decade councils need to ask themselves what purpose they wish to serve, and wellbeing and civic pride are examples of priorities they can pursue, says Jack Shaw.
Setting out an ambition for local growth funding
Jack Shaw says it may have become harder to imagine a brighter future for council finances, but it’s time for local government to ask itself what it envisions for the future of local growth
Simplifying local growth’s funding maze
Jack Shaw says local government is not to blame for the failure so far to deliver most of the 477 Community Renewal Fund projects, and the real factor getting in the way is Whitehall.
More delays to levelling up White Paper could hinder outcomes
Jack Shaw says further delays to the the levelling up White Paper will make the decisions the Government will need to take even more difficult - and politically time is not on its side.