AUTUMN STATEMENT : what support is required?

With a focus on cutting taxes, backing business, growing the economy and helping people back into work whilst providing support with the cost of living, the Autumn statement also paves the way for a spotlight on sector support required.

There are three areas key to councils’ operation that were outlined in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement which our experts have digested and set out below for your information and action. 

Climate change 

In the Autumn Statement the Government is removing barriers to investment in critical infrastructure and these reforms will help drive the net zero transition. It is vital to recognise the scale and pace at which we need to work to decarbonise our energy supply, so these moves are to be welcomed. However, it is also important that infrastructure development positively impacts local communities and, while this has been specifically recognised by the Government in relation to new overhead transmission lines and substations, there is currently no specific policy in relation to community benefits for hosting solar PV, battery storage or other renewables (other than onshore wind). A recognised minimum community benefit level would be helpful in keeping communities onside with net zero goals. 

Local Partnerships has been working with local authorities who have received Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project applications in their area to ensure better community engagement and support in the negotiation of community benefits. We would be delighted to help more authorities with such key stakeholder engagement challenges. 

Further, it is great to see investment into industry and strategic manufacturing, but protecting existing infrastructure from climate change is also key. The Local Partnerships Climate Adaptation Toolkit has been designed to help understand the issues in your area, which in turn can help you to work with local businesses to protect their assets and local investment.

Heat decarbonisation is highly significant to the UK’s net zero ambitions. Local Partnerships can help local authorities identify and assess heat network opportunities across their area.

Housing

In the Autumn Statement, the Government announced that Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates were to increase, to the 30th percentile of local market rents in April 2024.

This will be the first time that LHA rates have risen since 2020. Government figures suggest that 1.6 million households will benefit, by an average of £800 a year. 

In recent months, Local Partnerships has been working with an increasing number of councils who have found there are no wards within their areas where homes are available within LHA rates – effectively crowding out low-income families from housing and increasing pressures on homelessness. It is hoped that this increase may reverse this trend.

Free temporary accommodation model Webinar

We are hosting a webinar on Wednesday 29 November to introduce a temporary accommodation model we have developed in Manchester, which will assist councils in their decision-making processes around homelessness: register here.
On housing supply, the main measures were as follows:

• Government announced £110m worth of funding for the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund, which it is hoped will unblock 40,000 homes over the next five years. Local Partnerships is already working with the Welsh Government in this area. Should you wish to discuss how we may be able to help please contact martin.walker@localpartnerships.gov.uk
• An extension of the Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme, which provides loans to enable the development of affordable housing
• £450m towards the Local Authority Housing Fund, which is designed to provide additional funding for new Temporary Accommodation and homes for Afghan Refugees
• Planning system reforms, including a commitment to bring forward plans for authorities to offer guaranteed acceleration dates for major developments in exchange for a fee, with refunds given where deadlines are not met.

Devolution, regeneration and Investment Zones

We know from our work with areas seeking either to acquire, deliver or expand upon their devolved powers and funding, how important it is to be clear and united about the programmes of activity that will be progressed. We also know about the capacity challenges these bring as well as the need for assurance to be a recognisable and valued feature of the delivery process.  

We have helped nascent local authority partnerships define and prioritise their investment pipelines, provided capacity support to a range of projects across the combined authority sector and are the accredited provider of gateway and assurance services to local government. 

Meet our experts below; Jo Wall, Martin Walker and Martin Forbes.

Need help with the Autumn Statement? Please get in touch to find out how they can help you create stronger communities and services.