Local Authority round-up 12/07/24
12th July, 2024
Our Local Authority round up provides brief summaries of topical information on a weekly basis, to keep you aware of the changes and updates relevant to you.
Commercial
Increased Devolution
The newly elected Labour Government has met with regional mayors across England to instigate their plans to ‘widen devolution to more areas, encouraging local authorities to come together and take on new powers’. The key areas identified for further devolution are transport, adult education and skills, housing, planning and employment support. The condition for the transfer of such powers will be a legal requirement on local authorities to produce ‘Local Growth Plans’ to identify key local advantages in their area and outline ways in which these can be developed to boost economic growth.
For more information please click here.
Funding
Labour has promised councils multi-year funding settlements in the hopes of creating greater stability, but does not specify figures.
The Government has also shown a desire to re-introduce the financial oversight of local authorities, advocating for the re-establishment of a committee akin to the previous Audit Commission. Labour have stressed that without a regulatory body like the Audit Commission the Government has been left ‘blind with no early warning system in place to sound the alarm when a council is struggling”.
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Education
6,500 more teachers
The Government plans to relaunch two recruitment campaigns for educators, Every Lesson Shapes a Life and Share Your Skills, as they aim to meet their target of hiring 6,500 more teachers.
Labour has pledged to rebuild the Government’s relationship with the education sector, and ensure that a career in teaching is seen as an “attractive, expert profession” so as to increase the recruitment of new teachers and retain those already in classrooms.
The Government seeks to fund this proposed increase in teaching staff by charging VAT on private school fees. It is hoped that by closing tax ‘loopholes’ the financial deficit faced by state schools will be alleviated.
Ofsted reform
Labour has promised to reform school inspections by ending the ‘single word Ofsted judgements’. Instead, it will introduce a report card system, along with annual checks on safeguarding and attendance.
Multi-academy trusts will also be inspected in addition to the individual schools which they manage.
For more information please click here.
Planning and Housing
A revised NPPF and more Planning Officers
Labour plans to update the National Planning Policy Framework imminently, including restoring mandatory housing targets. The Government has also pledged to support local authorities by funding an additional 300 planning officers, through increasing the rate of the stamp duty surcharge paid by non-UK residents.
Labour also seeks to capitalise on ‘grey belt land’ (disused land such as an abandoned car park) to achieve its target of 1.5 million new homes in the next 5 years, with half to be utilised as affordable housing.
For more information please click here.
If you have any questions about the issues raised in this update, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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