FINANCE

Fixed-cost political opportunities?

Local government, which is no stranger to fixed-term administrations, should take advantage of a likely minority government to innovate, collaborate, and drive a revolution in local public services provision, argue Sir Merrick Cockell and David Rees.

Fixed-term parliaments are alien to national politicians but entirely normal for those working at local level. Whether local government is elected by thirds or all-out every four years, everyone knows exactly when they will be up for election.

That predictability means they plan around the electoral cycle. Wise councils do not introduce revolutionary new ways to recycle in their final six months and developers do not aim to take a major planning application to committee in January of an election year.

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