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Topic: Welfare and equalities

Poverty and inequality are financial challenges for local authorities and threaten the cohesion of their communities.

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Punishment and Reform: MoJ consultations

This briefing covers two Ministry of Justice consultations: Punishment and Reform: Effective Community Sentences and Punishment and Reform: Effective Probation Services. The consultations, and this briefing, cover - Intensive community punishments - Restorative justice - Rehabilitation and reform - Competition in and commissioning of probation serves - Offender management - Strengthening local and diverse delivery…

England & Wales Briefing
Members

“Taking forward Community Budgets” Report from the Commons and Local Government Select Committee

'- The Communities and Local Government Select Committee has published its initial report on Community Budgets. - They believe that Community Budgets have the potential to bring significant benefits and transform the manner in which services are managed and provided. However, the Committee believes that it is too early to make firm conclusions. So it…

England & Wales Briefing

Welfare Reform Act 2012

The Welfare Reform Act 2012 has been highly controversial. While the broad thrust of Universal Credit has been welcomed – simplifying a complicated benefits system and easing the transition into work – many of the specifics of the new benefit, particularly in relation to Housing Benefit, have received a lot of criticism. It is worth…

England & Wales Blog Post Blog
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Welfare Reform Act 2012

*The Welfare Reform Act puts into law one of the government’s flagship bills, which ministers claim marks the biggest overhaul of the benefits system since the 1940s. * This briefing explains the key components of the Act, including the merging of several benefits into Universal Credit, significant changes to Housing Benefit and Employment Support Allowance,…

England & Wales Briefing
Members

Budget 2012

This briefing details the main announcements relevant to local government from the 2012 budget: * It covers everything from new money for local development through to the proposals for Tax Increment Finance 2 (TIF2). *It provides an overview of the government’s tax policy as well as economic and budget forecasts. *It will be relevant for…

England & Wales Briefing
Members

Budget Briefing 2012: Headline announcements

On Wednesday 21 March the Chancellor of the Exchequer presented his Budget for 2012, setting out the Government’s plans for the economy and public finances in the year ahead. This briefing sets out areas of specific relevance to local government.

England & Wales Briefing
Members

Communities and Local Government questions and topical debate. Monday 12th March 2012

The Department for Communities and Local Government parliamentary questions session came on the same day as two announcements were made; a rise to £75k in the maximum amount of discount that a tenant can claim when exercising the Right to Buy and a related announcement on the New Buy Scheme, which is a mortgage indemnity…

England & Wales Briefing

Brand identity and council pension funds

The failure of Icelandic banks shone a light on council’s investment policies as some local authorities lost money. Council spokespersons often responded; ‘we paid for this prestigious firm to advise us and they said.’ This is a key benefit of hiring expensive investment firms to provide advice. Decisions made after consulting prestigious financial firms are…

England & Wales Blog Post Blog
Members

Building safe, active communities: strong foundations by local people

• This is the third and final report from Baroness Newlove, the Government Champion for Active, Safer Communities • It reports on progress from the challenges set out in her first two reports and announces the launch of a £1million DCLG fund to tackle problem drinking • It will be useful for executive members/portfolio holders…

England & Wales Briefing
Members

Positive for Youth: cross-government policy for young people aged 13 to 19

The Government has published its final statement on its new approach to policy for young people. * This briefing provides a summary, highlighting the importance attached to the role of local councils. * The Government’s statement spans policy areas, proposing to put families first, help young people succeed, promote youth voice and strengthen communities. *…

England & Wales Briefing