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Laura Sharman

Articles by Laura Sharman

Jenrick outlines new proposals to reform planning process

By Laura Sharman | 12 March 2020

Developers will be able to demolish vacant buildings and turn them into new homes more quickly un...

Budget 2020: £1bn building safety fund to remove unsafe cladding

By Laura Sharman | 11 March 2020

A new £1bn fund to remove unsafe cladding from high-rise buildings has been unveiled today by the...

Council tax to rise by 3.7% on average

By Laura Sharman | 06 March 2020

The average council tax bill is expected to increase by 3.7% in 2020/21, new analysis has revealed.

Life expectancy stalls for the first time in a century

By Laura Sharman | 25 February 2020

Life expectancy has stopped improving for the first time in more than 100 years and has declined ...

Public backs tourism tax

By Laura Sharman | 24 February 2020

More than half of people think councils should have the power to levy a tourism tax, a new survey...

Burnham calls for English Barnett Formula

By Laura Sharman | 21 February 2020

The Government should create an English version of the Barnett Formula to deliver fair funding ou...

A 10% council pay rise is 'affordable' insists Unison

By Laura Sharman | 12 February 2020

A 10% pay rise for council staff is 'affordable' and would boost local economies, new research fr...

Councils threat to Grenfell firms

By Laura Sharman | 07 February 2020

Councils would be unlikely to use products from any company that fails to cooperate fully with th...

Building a new housing approach

By Laura Sharman | 07 February 2020

A new document explores why we are seeing the rise of local authority-led housing delivery, and t...

Unions reject 'disappointing' 2% council pay offer

By Laura Sharman | 05 February 2020

Trade unions have rejected a 2% pay increase for council staff and called on employers to ‘come u...