How can local government support thriving and prosperous communities?
2020 was a tumultuous year for local government. It also one that clearly showed the importance of its community leadership role. We’ve had a look back through some of our most impactful work this year, providing support, looking ahead and shining a light on the work of councils and local government leaders.
This briefing looks at the benefits and challenges around fast-tracking active travel and public realm investments in response to government investment and provides examples of some local councils’ responses, particularly into major city centres.
Could the Local Electricity Bill (2020) transform the current electricity regime? The Bill would introduce powers to issue licences to smaller providers of electricity. This would enable local generators of electricity to become local suppliers both to residents and businesses.
Our parks, public gardens, and town squares are designed primarily for enjoyment in spring, summer and autumn. But as the Covid-19 pandemic is set to continue throughout the cold season, how can we learn from countries used to spending time outside in winter?
The Spending Review represents something of a mixed bag for English councils. The continuation of support for Covid-19 measures and the increase in core spending power will be welcomed, but the further delays to long-awaited reviews mean that inequalities in funding will continue.
This briefing summarises and assesses the Chancellor’s spending announcements made in Spending Review 2020; also summarised is the economic and fiscal assessment conducted by the Office For Budget Responsibility (OBR).
At the end of June 2020, over 900,000 businesses across Australia were receiving income support from JobKeeper. This briefing explores what might happen to small businesses when JobKeeper ends, and what local governments could do to stimulate their local economies.
This briefing summarises the College of the Future Commission – Final Report.
In this briefing, Bethanie Finney – economist with SGS Economics and Planning – looks at what the latest data tells us about the potential short- and medium-term impacts of COVID-19 on local economies, amid global uncertainty
Today the Chancellor laid out his much-anticipated one-year Spending Review, in place of the Comprehensive Spending Review and three-year plan he had hoped to produce before the pandemic disrupted the economic backdrop. This on-the-day briefing brings you the highlights.
