@jacktshaw.bsky.social
Director of Groundwork Research and Policy Fellow, The Productivity Institute.
Devolution, local government, regional inequalities, homelessness, public service reform, industrial strategy, housing.
Devolution, local government, regional inequalities, homelessness, public service reform, industrial strategy, housing.
A number of interesting amendments to the Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill submitted by Members of Parliament.
Should the Government establish a recall process for councillors that breach the Code of Conduct?
Should the Government establish a recall process for councillors that breach the Code of Conduct?
November 5, 2025 at 3:51 PM
A number of interesting amendments to the Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill submitted by Members of Parliament.
Should the Government establish a recall process for councillors that breach the Code of Conduct?
Should the Government establish a recall process for councillors that breach the Code of Conduct?
The Government has issued a statement on local government re-organisation in Surrey.
Both proposals met the criteria, but the Government has chosen two unitaries - East Surrey and West Surrey - rather than three. Government will re-pay £500 million of Woking's debt in 2026-27:
Both proposals met the criteria, but the Government has chosen two unitaries - East Surrey and West Surrey - rather than three. Government will re-pay £500 million of Woking's debt in 2026-27:
October 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM
The Government has issued a statement on local government re-organisation in Surrey.
Both proposals met the criteria, but the Government has chosen two unitaries - East Surrey and West Surrey - rather than three. Government will re-pay £500 million of Woking's debt in 2026-27:
Both proposals met the criteria, but the Government has chosen two unitaries - East Surrey and West Surrey - rather than three. Government will re-pay £500 million of Woking's debt in 2026-27:
I wrote about local authorities run by Reform UK for Renewal Journal earlier this year.
Given the challenges facing Kent County Council, this feels pertinent:
Given the challenges facing Kent County Council, this feels pertinent:
October 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I wrote about local authorities run by Reform UK for Renewal Journal earlier this year.
Given the challenges facing Kent County Council, this feels pertinent:
Given the challenges facing Kent County Council, this feels pertinent:
There is evidence that local authorities aren't using their Community Infrastructure Levy contributions. Striking that by December 2024 - as the Public Accounts Committee reports - 17 per cent haven't even published their Infrastructure Funding Statement from 2022-23:
October 18, 2025 at 2:57 PM
There is evidence that local authorities aren't using their Community Infrastructure Levy contributions. Striking that by December 2024 - as the Public Accounts Committee reports - 17 per cent haven't even published their Infrastructure Funding Statement from 2022-23:
The Institute for Fiscal Studies highlights today that should Referendum Principles be set higher and local authorities were to increase council tax by 1 per cent more than expected, it'd raised £500 million in 2029-30. Presumably a tad shy of that over the next three years.
October 16, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The Institute for Fiscal Studies highlights today that should Referendum Principles be set higher and local authorities were to increase council tax by 1 per cent more than expected, it'd raised £500 million in 2029-30. Presumably a tad shy of that over the next three years.
The rate of Exceptional Financial Support fell in 2025-26 following a sustained increase. Three pertinent questions:
1. Will it continue to fall in 2026-27? If so, that'd be a significant achievement for the Government.
1. Will it continue to fall in 2026-27? If so, that'd be a significant achievement for the Government.
October 15, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The rate of Exceptional Financial Support fell in 2025-26 following a sustained increase. Three pertinent questions:
1. Will it continue to fall in 2026-27? If so, that'd be a significant achievement for the Government.
1. Will it continue to fall in 2026-27? If so, that'd be a significant achievement for the Government.
That local authorities are using reserves at an unsustainable rate is well understood, but the specific dimensions of that aren't. For example, the Institute for Government's new Performance Tracker highlights that LAs are drawing on reserves consistently, in higher numbers:
October 15, 2025 at 7:56 PM
That local authorities are using reserves at an unsustainable rate is well understood, but the specific dimensions of that aren't. For example, the Institute for Government's new Performance Tracker highlights that LAs are drawing on reserves consistently, in higher numbers:
Reading the amendments tabled to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill under consideration by the Bill Committee.
Protecting green spaces is important, but should strategic authorities really have oversight over allotments? I suspect it'll be withdrawn.
Protecting green spaces is important, but should strategic authorities really have oversight over allotments? I suspect it'll be withdrawn.
October 14, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Reading the amendments tabled to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill under consideration by the Bill Committee.
Protecting green spaces is important, but should strategic authorities really have oversight over allotments? I suspect it'll be withdrawn.
Protecting green spaces is important, but should strategic authorities really have oversight over allotments? I suspect it'll be withdrawn.
The Government has launched a consultation today on the Local Government Pensions Scheme - including whether the roles of Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillor and Member of the London Assembly should be eligible to access it:
October 13, 2025 at 9:27 PM
The Government has launched a consultation today on the Local Government Pensions Scheme - including whether the roles of Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillor and Member of the London Assembly should be eligible to access it:
Council tax is broken to such a degree, that even properties sold for the same price have significantly varying council taxes:
October 10, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Council tax is broken to such a degree, that even properties sold for the same price have significantly varying council taxes:
According to new polling from Ipsos, there is significant cynicism - particularly among Reform UK voters - that public services are "ready to listen to complaints":
September 12, 2025 at 11:39 AM
According to new polling from Ipsos, there is significant cynicism - particularly among Reform UK voters - that public services are "ready to listen to complaints":
Children's services are under significant strain. According to the National Audit Office, in some authorities more than 40 per cent of placements are outside of their boundaries:
September 12, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Children's services are under significant strain. According to the National Audit Office, in some authorities more than 40 per cent of placements are outside of their boundaries:
Should Homes England be abolished? Restate believes it should, and that strategic authorities should take responsibility for its functions.
The Greater London Authority did following the Localism Act 2011 - over a decade after it was established.
The Greater London Authority did following the Localism Act 2011 - over a decade after it was established.
September 1, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Should Homes England be abolished? Restate believes it should, and that strategic authorities should take responsibility for its functions.
The Greater London Authority did following the Localism Act 2011 - over a decade after it was established.
The Greater London Authority did following the Localism Act 2011 - over a decade after it was established.
According to YouGov, Britons are more positive about the state of their communities than the UK as a whole, but 48 per cent still hold the view that their area has got worse over the past decade:
August 28, 2025 at 1:38 PM
According to YouGov, Britons are more positive about the state of their communities than the UK as a whole, but 48 per cent still hold the view that their area has got worse over the past decade:
West Northamptonshire Council has published a list of the information requested by Reform UK, though the DOGE Unit has not visited the authority.
It's information that will be held by the authority and is either publicly available or councillors are already entitled to request.
It's information that will be held by the authority and is either publicly available or councillors are already entitled to request.
August 22, 2025 at 4:39 PM
West Northamptonshire Council has published a list of the information requested by Reform UK, though the DOGE Unit has not visited the authority.
It's information that will be held by the authority and is either publicly available or councillors are already entitled to request.
It's information that will be held by the authority and is either publicly available or councillors are already entitled to request.
In much of Europe museums are free for domestic visitors but not international tourists. A Tourism Levy on hoteliers - and a new policy on museum charging - would generate income for local authorities and create headroom for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.
August 20, 2025 at 7:02 AM
In much of Europe museums are free for domestic visitors but not international tourists. A Tourism Levy on hoteliers - and a new policy on museum charging - would generate income for local authorities and create headroom for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.
I'd recommend reading Beyond Our Ken, which - despite the title - is an excellent account of the fight over the Greater London Council and its abolition in 1986.
August 20, 2025 at 6:55 AM
I'd recommend reading Beyond Our Ken, which - despite the title - is an excellent account of the fight over the Greater London Council and its abolition in 1986.
According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the the Fair Funding Review will have - as has been widely reported - a negative effect on inner-London authorities from 2026-27:
August 7, 2025 at 9:35 AM
According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the the Fair Funding Review will have - as has been widely reported - a negative effect on inner-London authorities from 2026-27:
This is really interesting. As part of YouGov's survey of 101 Civil Servants, 43 per cent take the view that it's "too risk averse and closed to new ideas":
July 28, 2025 at 1:02 PM
This is really interesting. As part of YouGov's survey of 101 Civil Servants, 43 per cent take the view that it's "too risk averse and closed to new ideas":
The Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee has published its report on local government finance. In it, it recommends that the Government should publish its vision for local government by the end of 2025:
July 23, 2025 at 7:21 AM
The Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee has published its report on local government finance. In it, it recommends that the Government should publish its vision for local government by the end of 2025:
The Government has issued a Best Value Notice to Dudley Council:
July 17, 2025 at 8:16 PM
The Government has issued a Best Value Notice to Dudley Council:
That a majority of Brits hold the view that Britain never left or is returning to austerity highlights the scale of the challenge facing the Government. Its focus on the structural challenges is the right one, but the public are seeking a better tomorrow:
July 9, 2025 at 9:38 PM
That a majority of Brits hold the view that Britain never left or is returning to austerity highlights the scale of the challenge facing the Government. Its focus on the structural challenges is the right one, but the public are seeking a better tomorrow:
In the event of a non-payment, 23(3) of the Council Tax Regulations 1992 allow authorities to charge the full amount - in effect, the council tax required for that financial year. The Government is consulting on whether authorities should pursue less "aggressive" recovery action:
June 26, 2025 at 7:35 AM
In the event of a non-payment, 23(3) of the Council Tax Regulations 1992 allow authorities to charge the full amount - in effect, the council tax required for that financial year. The Government is consulting on whether authorities should pursue less "aggressive" recovery action:
Are you an authority that wants the make changes in advance of the English Devolution Bill?
June 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Are you an authority that wants the make changes in advance of the English Devolution Bill?
The Government has announced today that it will standardise the Cabinet and Leader Model in local authorities, which is sensible.
The existing Mayors in England that represent local authorities will continue, but no more will be created:
The existing Mayors in England that represent local authorities will continue, but no more will be created:
June 24, 2025 at 6:51 PM
The Government has announced today that it will standardise the Cabinet and Leader Model in local authorities, which is sensible.
The existing Mayors in England that represent local authorities will continue, but no more will be created:
The existing Mayors in England that represent local authorities will continue, but no more will be created: