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Latest Stories
DCLG receives 56 bids to set up local enterprise partnerships
08/09/10: A total of 56 proposals for local enterprise partnerships were submitted in time for yesterday’s deadline, the Department for Communities and Local Government has revealed.
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Council set to absorb development corporation
08/09/10: Thurrock Borough Council will absorb the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation in 2012, it has been revealed. The previous government planned to transfer it to the Homes and Communities Agency.
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Only elected officials should represent councils on LEPs, says IoD
06/09/10: All local authority positions on local enterprise partnerships should be occupied by elected officials and there must be no third party representation on the LEP board, the Institute of Directors has demanded.
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 Investing in the future
There is increasing interest in the scope for a local authority to invest its pension fund in regeneration schemes for the good of the local area, write Sarah Morley and Julie Muscroft.
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 Same difference?
As councils up and down the country begin the process of setting up Local Enterprise Partnerships, Nicholas Dobson highlights the key differences with the RDAs that they are intended to replace and the issues they create.
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The first cut
The announcement about cuts to the BSF programme could be the first of a series of statements withdrawing funding for capital projects. Bethan Evans outlines the key questions and answers on the impact of these cuts on procurement.
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Energy Secretary calls on councils to lead local power revolution
The ban on local authorities selling renewable energy will end next week (18 August), the Energy Secretary has said. Chris Huhne called on councils to “assume their rightful place” in leading a local power revolution.
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LEP into the unknown
The coalition government has announced its intention to abolish RDAs and replace them with local enterprise partnerships. Whether the change of approach will be successful remains to be seen, writes Steven Smith.
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NAO demands reviews of future PFI projects, with stricter criteria adopted
The National Audit Office has called for a project-by-project review of future PFI contracts, with stricter criteria being employed than in the last two years. It warned that PFI was less likely to be a value for money option going forwards.
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Down to the wire
With developers having difficulty funding the work to implement planning permissions before they expire, the previous government introduced changes to the planning system including replacement planning permissions. Christian Silk explains.
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LGA revises estimate of money spent on cancelled BSF projects to £200m+
The Local Government Association has revised significantly upwards the estimated amount spent by local authorities on preparatory work for cancelled Building Schools for the Future projects.
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Leeds City Region agrees to become local enterprise partnership
The Leeds City Region has become one of the first areas to announce its intention to form a Local Enterprise Partnership. The move follows a vote in favour by leaders of 11 local authorities in the area.
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Government outlines vision for self-funded local enterprise partnerships
The coalition government has fleshed out more detail of how local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) – the planned replacements for regional development agencies – will work in practice.
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Mixed messages
What is the contractual position of those schools projects which find themselves “stopped” or “subject to review” following the curtailment of the BSF programme? Jon Hart looks at the implications of the government's announcement.
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Life after BSF
Following the government's announcement that the Building Schools for the Future programme is to be curtailed, local authorities will turn their minds to the obvious question: what do we do now? Adrian Turner considers the options.
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A timely boost
Lesley-Anne Avis examines the options open to councils looking to kickstart regeneration projects, which include deferred purchase prices, geared leases and underage as well as overage.
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Penfold Review calls for radical shake-up of non-planning consents
A government review of the “complex and fragmented landscape” of non-planning consents has made a series of recommendations, aimed at encouraging development and growth.
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Spending watchdog expresses concern over housing PFI value for money
The use of PFI by local authorities to improve housing has had “a measure of success” but nearly all of the projects have been hit by lengthy delays and substantial cost increases, the National Audit Office has said.
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Where now for BSF?
The capital expenditure review has significant implications for the BSF programme. Frank Suttie looks at what this means for authorities and examines how they might respond.
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Look back in anger
The EC is taking an increasingly robust approach to ensuring that schemes comply with the restrictions on state aid - even after they have been approved, writes Bridget Wilcox.
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Infrastructure projects escape worst of axe as Budget delivers 25%+ cuts
The Chancellor has announced that infrastructure projects will be spared the worst of government spending cuts in a Budget that otherwise promised deep reductions in council revenues and grants and a one-year freeze in council tax.
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RDAs launch robust defence of their record in face of abolition
Regional Development Agencies have defended their record in the face of government plans to scrap them, claiming that research showed they were among the top 25% of all departments and agencies when it came to efficiency.
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Mayor of London calls for chance to use tax increment funding
The Mayor of London has called on the Chancellor to commit to the principle of tax increment funding (TIF) in the Emergency Budget on 22 June. Boris Johnson believes TIF could help keep major projects on track.
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Going online
The requirements for public consultation in relation to planning applications are set to change to keep in line with new forms of social media now available, write Karen Cooksley and Colette McCormack.
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DfT suspends guidance on transport schemes, warns councils off investing
The future of many local authority major transport projects has been thrown into doubt after the Transport Secretary suspended the government’s guidance on the schemes and associated approval processes until further notice.
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NAO calls for mandatory assurance system for central government projects
The National Audit Office has called for a mandatory system of assurance for central government projects. The new system should be built on a more exacting evidence base and trigger further interventions where necessary, it said.
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All change
Local authorities are increasingly looking at how they can achieve value for money by varying contracts. Elizabeth Cooper considers the procurement implications.
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Public property?
The ECJ's ruling in the Helmut Muller case has provided some welcome clarification of the impact of EU procurement rules on development projects, writes Nathan Holden.
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Self sufficiency
A new self-financing system for council housing to unlock investment in social housing is on the cards. Alan Aisbett looks at the plans to replace Housing Revenue Accounts.
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Venture forth
The Treasury has issued new guidance on joint ventures. Stephen Matthew explains the contribution this document will make to collaboration between local authorities and private sector partners.
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In the thick of it
Angus Walker looks at the responsibilities of local authorities under the Planning Act 2008 in the light of guidance recently published by the DCLG and the Infrastructure Commission.
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Rights and wrongs
The Supreme Court ruling against Redcar and Cleveland BC over a village green registration raises important issues for local authority landowners, write Charles George QC, Jeremy Pike and Cain Ormondroyd.
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Tackling tiers
New Partnerships for Schools guidance issued to help the implemention of Facilities Management solutions to Design & Build schools is welcome, but schools could remain wary, writes Andrea Squires.
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Mixed blessings
Kevin Barrett looks at whether the introduction of adjudication for construction-related disputes has proved to be a burden or a boon for local authorities.
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Staying alive
The credit crunch has led many important development projects to grind to a halt. Steve Manson and Judith Barnes look at whether prudential borrowing can come to the rescue.
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Core Cities demand greater devolved powers to avoid "decade of jobless growth"
The Core Cities group has called for greater devolved powers and a new partnership with government to counteract the “real risk of a decade of jobless growth”.
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Still in the running
Despite a slow start, the use of Local Housing Company vehicles is set to grow as the alternatives become less attractive, writes Susan McKenna.
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Towards the holy grail
Standardisation of waste PFI contracts has been frustratingly elusive, but there are now clear signs that progress is being made, writes Ralph Wilkinson.
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Sweating the Assets
The government is pressing local authorities to make more effective use of their valuable asset base. Celia Cullen looks at the investment and development models available to councils.
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A barrier to progress
The planning regime is a major impediment to successful recycling projects according to a new survey of waste management professionals, writes Nigel Hewitson.
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Going it alone
Leeds and Manchester have become the first 'city-regions' to gain devolved powers from central government. Neasa MacErlean looks at what this might mean in practice.
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Use local development orders to boost regeneration, says IDeA
The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) has called on local authorities to consider using local development orders in a bid to kick-start local regeneration programmes.
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Projecting the future
Mark Johnson considers the outlook for local authority projects against the backdrop of spending cuts and financing dfficulties.
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School's out?
Building Schools for the Future is the government’s flagship programme for investing in schools infrastructure, but its future could be in doubt writes Helen Mooney.
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Public property
While the judgment that forced Veolia to disclose sensitive contract information has caused disquiet, it is important not to overreact writes John Sharland.
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Supply and demand
The Government has demonstrated its desire to fast-track major energy infrastructure projects, but there are a significant number of steps to go through if the projects are to be designated before the general election writes John Qualtrough.
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Ensuring fair is fair
Local authorities can find themselves on the receiving end of anti-competitive activity. Simon Chamberlain looks at what actions they can take in response and how they can prevent themselves from being affected in the future.
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