Audience: Local Government

New Report – End Furniture Poverty – Cost-Benefit Analysis of Furnished Tenancies and Local Welfare Assistance

This report, commissioned by End Furniture Poverty (EFP), explores the benefits of Local Welfare Assistance (LWA) schemes and furnished tenancies in tackling furniture poverty, which affects 9% of the UK population. LWA schemes provide crisis support, such as furniture and fuel vouchers, reducing demand on homelessness services, health systems, and social services while delivering significant economic returns for local authorities and the public purse.

Furnished tenancies help prevent furniture poverty, promote tenancy sustainability, and reduce costs for tenants and landlords, with additional benefits like improved health, educational engagement, and work readiness. The report calls for the expansion of these initiatives, including legislation to ensure all social housing tenants have access to furnished tenancies, and introduces EFP’s “Furniture Flex” offer to simplify implementation for social landlords.

Welsh Government’s Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP)

Watch the replay of our insightful webinar on the Welsh Government’s Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) Programme. Discover how this whole-systems approach is helping Wales achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with highlights including a Newport case study showcasing the benefits of local decarbonisation. Gain valuable takeaways on stakeholder engagement and collaboration with distribution network operators for effective implementation. If you have any questions or need support, feel free to use our ‘Can we help?’ forms or contact any of the experts listed.

Read the latest Refit case studies 2024

Discover how UK institutions, including universities and local councils, are advancing toward carbon neutrality. These case studies showcase the practical steps taken through the Refit framework, from integrating renewable energy sources like solar panels to upgrading outdated infrastructure with efficient heating systems. Each example highlights the substantial cost savings and carbon reductions achieved, reflecting a shared commitment to a sustainable, greener future.

The newly released report, Constructing Consensus: The case for community-powered development and regeneration, presents evidence and insights from current practices, showing that when local communities are involved early and meaningfully in housing and regeneration projects, they tend to support new developments and demonstrate real ambition.

The report outlines strategies to overcome the adversarial planning process that often pits communities against councils and developers, enabling development to proceed more efficiently, while delivering both the quantity and quality of housing needed.

Key recommendations include empowering local authorities, enhancing community participation in planning, and revising policies to support community-led development. The report proposes a shift toward a more collaborative approach, ensuring that communities have a voice in shaping the future of their local areas.

In 2021, the Place team at Local Partnerships secured an LGA grant and launched an SME pilot initiative with three local authorities.

Under this initiative, councils have been approved to contract a select group of SMEs in their areas to forward-purchase newly constructed affordable homes off-plan, paying in stages at a fixed price. This initiative complements other supply-side actions the councils are taking to unlock new-build affordable housing and expand council-owned stock. Councils work with local SMEs, who identify suitable sites and secure planning permission as usual.

Building on the pilot’s success, Local Partnerships has collaborated with other councils, including Rotherham Borough Council, which is now developing a new SME kickstart initiative. This initiative provides a fast-track route for SMEs to build homes on small sites within Rotherham Borough that they secure themselves.

If you’re interested in learning more about how this approach has successfully delivered high-quality, affordable homes in Rotherham—and how it could benefit your area—watch our webinar webinar.

“PFI Expiry: How London Boroughs Can Get Ahead” is a research-based guide produced by Future of London, in partnership with Devonshires and Airey Miller, on the impending expiry of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts across London boroughs.

The report aims to offer practical insights and recommendations to help local authorities manage the complex challenges of PFI expiry while seizing the opportunities for improved public service delivery.

This research, conducted throughout 2024, draws on desk research, polls, roundtables, and in-depth interviews with borough directors and officers. The findings highlight the significant risks associated with inadequate preparation for PFI expiry, including financial losses and operational disruptions. The report also presents five key factors for success, based on real-world insights, to help boroughs mitigate these risks and optimise outcomes.

The document provides a clear roadmap for local authorities, offering guidance on how to navigate the expiry process, build necessary expertise, and engage stakeholders effectively. Additionally, it includes recommendations and resources for boroughs to enhance their PFI readiness and make informed decisions that benefit their communities in the long term.

The ‘Preparing for the Procurement Act’ guidance aims to support councils in preparing for the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023.

The guidance contains an overview of its core purpose, a checklist of key activity to make sure you are on track for delivery and a profile on how the workforce may need to change. The guide was produced in partnership with Michael Page Recruiting.

Waste Management Solutions: Case Studies from the Zero Waste team at Local Partnerships

Local Partnerships’ Zero Waste team has helped councils implement strategic waste management solutions that drive efficiency, reduce costs, and improve sustainability. From Cardiff City Council’s energy facility expansion to South Gloucestershire’s re-procurement for 2025 reforms, these case studies highlight how councils optimize services and adapt to new regulations. The team’s work includes supporting Welsh authorities under new recycling rules and facilitating the transition to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging, shifting costs to producers.