Creating Autonomous financial control for local areas
This project is about giving local government and local areas far reaching control over how money is raised and spent in the vicinity, connecting taxpayers more closely to the services they receive and improving the accountability of local government.
30 Articles
Retaining Business Rates [, Aug 9, 2011]
Sometimes, being a minister at the DCLG must feel like looking over the tennis net to see [this year’s Wimbledon champion] Novak Djokovic grinning back at you... a sinking feeling as you realise you just can’t win.
Business rates reform will help kickstart growth [, Aug 1, 2011]
Alex Thomson of Localis says Government plans are a big step in the right direction
Poor areas 'hit by business rate plan' [, Aug 1, 2011]
The government’s system for repatriating business rates could put public services in poorer areas at further risk, while richer local authorities may lack the necessary incentives for growth, Public Finance has been told.
Councils Would Get To Retain Business Rates Income Above A Certain Threshold Confirms Communities Secretary Pickles [, Jul 20, 2011]
English councils would be allowed to retain a chunk of their £19 Billion of their Business Rate income the Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has confirmed.
Business rates announcement a ‘big step in the right direction’ says Localis Chief Executive [, Jul 18, 2011]
PluggedIN, Trading Councils [, Jun 23, 2011]
It is an oft-repeated truism that, in a time of austerity, local authorities must be innovative.
Alex Thomson is chief executive of Localis.
But, in a ‘policy platform’, published by Localis this week, a distinguished group of local government experts argue that a golden opportunity – in the fo
Trading Councils [, Jun 15, 2011]
This edition of Policy Platform – with contributions from senior local government figures - explores how councils can innovatively use their trading powers in the current economic climate
Local authorities square up over business rate sharing [, May 26, 2011]
A fresh dispute is emerging over the way business rates should be distributed among councils ahead of the shake-up of the local government finance system.
Councils hopeful Hanham can accelerate progress [, May 6, 2011]
Council chiefs are pinning their hopes on Baroness Hanham’s ministerial group to revive the community budgets programme, after its slow progress sparked strong criticism from a senior council figure last week
Soap Box [, Apr 13, 2011]
Perhaps Localis will be the Prince Charming that the reform of local government finance has been waiting for!
Plan to devolve business rates to councils [, Apr 1, 2011]
Councils almost unanimously want more financial autonomy from central government, according to a think-tank survey of 200 local authority leaders.
Wide support for rates retention [, Apr 1, 2011]
Councils should be allowed to ‘buy’ themselves out of the national business rates system and retain local tax revenues, to encourage them to stimulate economic growth, a thinktank said this week.
A model for greater financial autonomy [, Apr 1, 2011]
Challenging times demand radical responses – and for the local government finance system inaction is no longer an option.
Business rate devolution supported by nearly all councils [, Mar 31, 2011]
More than 95% of local authorities want more control over business rates, according to a survey by local government think-tank, Localis.
Almost All Councils Want More Financial Autonomy While Vast Majority Welcomes New Business Rate Retention Powers - Survey [, Mar 29, 2011]
Almost all councils in England (99.5%) want more fiscal autonomy, according to their chief executives and council leaders a new survey from the localism focused think Localis has revealed.
Give us more financial autonomy, say council chiefs [, Mar 29, 2011]
Local authority leaders and chief executives almost unanimously want greater financial autonomy for their councils, according to a survey carried out for think-tank Localis.
Pragmatic ideas that could add to the 'mosaic of change' [, Mar 28, 2011]
After debate stretching at least 35 years, it can only be the most optimistic who are confident that we are at last ready to seriously address the nagging issues of how we fund local services; incentivise good government and clarify just which set of elected representatives is responsible for what.
Local business rates model unveiled [, Mar 28, 2011]
Ministers should allow councils to ‘buy’ themselves out of the national business rates system and retain local tax revenues to encourage authorities to stimulate economic growth, a thinktank has proposed.
The Rate Escape [, Mar 28, 2011]
Localis' latest report on reforming the business rates system with a foreword by Sir Michael Lyons, advocating the local retention of business rates to allow councils to support business growth
Survey shows overwhelming support for local business rate retention [, Mar 25, 2011]
All of a sudden, local government finance is a hot topic, so it is good news that Localis has an in depth report out on Monday. The punningly titled ‘The Rate Escape’, which has been produced in partnership with Ernst and Young, will advocate that councils should be allowed to retain more of their l
Radical change needs radical reforms [, Oct 21, 2010]
Alex Thomson, Chief Executive of Localis, sets out the guiding principles of Localis's latest research project on local government finance
Tax Increment Financing no silver bullet, says Localis Chief Executive [, Oct 20, 2010]
Alex Thomson said Tax Increment Financing – which would allow local authorities to borrow against predicted growth in business rates to fund capital projects – was not a ‘cure for all ills.’
Living Without the Formula Grant? [, Sep 24, 2010]
The balance of funding between central and local government is, arguably, the greatest challenge this government faces in achieving genuine decentralisation. We describe the problems as part of a more extensive piece of research that will culminate in a definitive report in 2011.
Local money for local spending [, Sep 21, 2010]
Alex Thomson, the Chief Executive of Localis, says councils should be able to keep the Business Rates. We cannot have true localism when only a quarter of a Council's budget is raised locally.
Is the balance of Funding between Central and Local government a problem? [, Feb 3, 2010]
This is a note following a roundtable discussion hosted by Localis looking into revisiting the crucially important idea that funding reform of local government is of fundamental importance for a truly localist agenda. James Morris, Chief Executive of Localis, introduced the session, which was follow
The Long Road to Localism [, Sep 10, 2009]
Reform of Council tax remains a taboo subject in Westminster. Tom Shakespeare explains how the Conservatives could implement much needed reform without causing a poll tax style backlash.
Parties must set councils free from central government [, May 29, 2009]
Only a radical overhaul of the current funding system will help to recover an overcentralised country, and the main political parties need the courage to take steps to make local government independent again
What are the Priorities for Local Government Finance Reform? [, Nov 28, 2008]
In this second Localis Policy Platform, two County Councils (Essex and Leicestershire), a District Council (Tandridge) and a unitary authority (Bracknell Forest) address the need for change in the local government finance system.
Nothing to Lose but Your Chains [, Aug 11, 2004]
In the final part of this major study into local government financial reform, Professor Tony Travers of the LSE and Lorena Esposito of Policy Exchange examine the much overlooked capital finance system
The Decline and Fall of Local Democracy: A History of Local Government Finance [, Aug 27, 2003]
Professor Tony Travers of the LSE and Lorena Esposito of Policy Exchange examine the history of local government funding in England and Wales, from feudalism through the Victorian period to today.
Related Local Government News Articles
13 Related Local Government News Articles
Size of Treasury's business rate 'clawback' could rise to £3.5bn [, Oct 17, 2011]
Government proposals to allow councils to retain local business rates could mean that as much as £3.5bn of local authority-collected cash is retained by the Treasury. Finance chiefs at the LGA now understand that the so-called ‘set aside’ element of the government’s proposals - designed to ensure lo
Business rates retention proposals published [, Aug 22, 2011]
Documents addressing a raft of thorny issues surrounding councils retaining their business rates have been published. The Department for Communities & Local Government has unveiled eight technical papers which senior council figures hope will clarify the implications of a localised business rates sy
Business rates announcement expected today [, Jul 18, 2011]
Ministers are set to unveil proposals on re-localising business rates to councils today, the Department for Communities & Local Government has confirmed.
Communities secretary Eric Pickles is expected to make an oral statement to the House of Commons before publication of a consultation on the
DCLG : 'greater localism' needed on community budget pilots [, Jun 23, 2011]
DCLG : 'greater localism' needed on community budget pilots
23 June 2011 | By Allister Hayman, James Illman
Ministers are set to announce a new push on community budgets amid fears that sluggish progress and lack of Whitehall buy-in could stymie early ambitions.
Councils hopeful Hanham can accelerate progress [, May 6, 2011]
Council chiefs are pinning their hopes on Baroness Hanham’s ministerial group to revive the community budgets programme, after its slow progress sparked strong criticism from a senior council figure last week.
Ministers move to take action on community budgets [, Mar 10, 2011]
A ministerial group tasked with boosting the community budgets programme has been launched, as documents obtained by LGC revealed the extent to which a turbulent spending review period has hampered the programme’s progress.
Ministers herald US-style tax competition between councils [, Mar 3, 2011]
Ministers are set to allow US-style tax competition between councils by handing town halls incentives to cut rates to woo businesses, local government experts have said.
PM does not rule out local taxes [, Feb 3, 2011]
David Cameron refused to rule out the possibility of the introduction of local fuel taxes as part of the local government finance review that is due to be published shortly.
Finance review will give councils more control, says Neill [, Jan 21, 2011]
Local government minister Bob Neill has pledged to hand over more spending power to councils following criticism that the Localism Bill fails to loosen Whitehall's grip on the purse strings.
Localism Bill will give councils flexibility on business rate levels [, Nov 24, 2010]
The forthcoming Localism and Decentralisation Bill will contain measures to help councils stimulate local growth through business rates, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles announced today.
Pickles bids to localise business rates [, Nov 3, 2010]
Government White Paper announces intention to allow councils to keep the business rates they collect locally
Councils’ Tif powers gain unanimous support [, Sep 22, 2010]
Nick Clegg has announced to almost universal approval that financial restrictions on local authorities are to be relaxed
Hand councils 'area budgets' – LGA [, May 21, 2010]
Around £22.5bn worth of savings are available if ministers give the green light to a radical shake-up of public services governance, which would see significant control over local spending devolved to councils, according to the Local Government Association.
Related Pages
The financial flexibilities needed for economic development
News
Publications
Events
The Icing on the Community Cake
by Alex Thomson, Localis (in the MJ)
Strategic Commissioning Is The Future
by Alex Thomson, Localis (on eGov monitor)
Community ownership must be the focus of Miliband’s Labour
by Richard Carr, Localis (on Left Foot Forward)
Neighbourhood planning scheme 'could provide benefits'
by Odgers Berndtson
Power to the People
Posted in Planning, Housing and Economic Development
Commission Impossible?
Posted in Reform and Personalisation of Public Services
Surrey's Big Society
Posted in Reform and Personalisation of Public Services
Funding Infrastructure
Posted in Local Government Finance
Town Hall PLC
[Oct 4, 2011]
Power to the People
[Oct 4, 2011]
Is localism helping to deliver Britain's housing needs?
[Oct 3, 2011]
Beyond the City Limits
[Oct 3, 2011]
- "Localis is fast gaining a reputation for pre-empting the localist agenda, producing thought provoking research and practical policy ideas"Anthony Seldon, author and political commentator
- "Localis’ commitment to decentralisation crosses party boundaries, and their research illuminates policy problems with new practical thinking"Prof George Jones, LSE
- "Localis offers a great blend of a passion for innovation, grounded practical ideas and unswerving belief in the possibilities of local governance"Derek Myers, Chief Executive, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
