Insights

On Saturday 21 October government announced long-awaited plans for simpler recycling in England in response to the consistency in collections consultation. Simpler recycling plans include requirements for both local authorities and businesses in England to collect a consistent set of materials for recycling.   Here, we take you through the key points for local authorities and […]

I’ve read countless articles recently on Birmingham’s woes and reasons for downfall. All articles have tackled the same theme: councils ‘fail’ because of a handful of common issues. These, summarised in my words, include inept financial management, poor project management, absent or insufficient governance and scrutiny, laissez faire corporate attitudes, weak political and/or executive leadership […]

The role and engagement of local councils and mayoral combined authorities is critical to deliver the recommendations set out by the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) The breadth and depth of the Second National Infrastructure Assessment is impressive. The challenge of producing an impartial five yearly review, underpinned by robust analysis and a fully costed plan […]

Today sees the launch of the Council Climate Action Scorecards. The publication of the scorecards does not reflect the huge efforts we know councils are going to to meet their ambitious net zero targets, whilst also working hard to adapt their services in response to the changing climate to continue to serve communities. We continue to […]

New podcast episode: Partnerships Bulletin and the future of partnerships in the UK Chief Executive of Local Partnerships, Adele Gritten, is the latest guest on the Partnerships Bulletin podcast “3PS in a pod”. In the episode, Adele gets into the details of the UKs partnerships scene and discusses our organisation’s role in supporting the future […]

Aberystwyth University has applied the Local Partnerships’ Re:fit framework to increase energy efficiency across its buildings, including installation of a solar farm, which will reduce carbon emissions by 500 tonnes annually. Local Partnerships exclusively provides support to users of the Re:fit framework nationwide. Client Context Aberystwyth University is a public research university in Wales, with […]

In his keynote speech at Labour’s party conference this week, Keir Starmer said Labour will tackle obstacles holding back housebuilding and vowed to prevent home-ownership from becoming “a luxury for the few not the privilege of the many”. The publication of Crisis’ 2023 Homelessness Monitor for England has highlighted the continuing emergency councils are attempting to alleviate through their homelessness […]

Raymond Cheung from TfL is a peer reviewer, part of the Local Partnerships Gateway Review team. His honest and respected outside perspective gives us a unique view into the value of Gateway Reviews for Local Partnerships, our clients, and his own organisation alike. How effective do you think a Gateway Review is at getting under […]

Delivering on time and to budget is the goal of every project as it commences its delivery journey. At no time has this been more desirable, or more difficult to deliver, in a world where budgets are under pressure, the economic environment more uncertain and timescales more challenging. The good news is that there are […]

s114 Notices There is a need for some optimism in the midst of the clamour over s114 notices. At a recent event, senior local government leaders were calling for resilience and positivity, despite the difficulties. It also led to a discussion about the need for clarity about what you provide and why. It is not […]

It is estimated there are more than 200 housing delivery vehicles in existence, and owned by local authorities, in the UK today. There was a notable surge in the numbers of these vehicles being established around five years ago. An increasing number of councils who have set up such vehicles are now asking us to […]

The whole team had a fantastic time during our company away days in Cardiff Bay last week. We had the opportunity to plan for the future, discuss strategy and bond as a team, as well as enjoy the beautiful weather in Wales! These events hold significant importance for our remote team members, as they allow […]

The RWM Expo 2023 was a great chance to meet industry experts and champions who are leading a way towards a world beyond waste. Each year in mid September the great and the good of the resources and waste sector meet in Birmingham for the annual Resources & Waste Management show (RWM show). Several large exhibition […]

To quote Leach and Copus, Local Government is “not just a vehicle for service provision. It is equally importantly a vehicle for local democracy and political and civic engagement.” It’s already been on a long journey with many authorities still as proud about non-statutory services, as their core offer. What the ultimate “offer” is in the context […]

There will be increased demand for evidence-based consultancy support based on empirical evidence, writes Adele Gritten, chief executive of Local Partnerships. “Supercharging growth” are buzzwords returning to local authority parlance after Michael Gove’s announcement on heightened plans for regeneration and housing transformation across England. Twenty high-growth potential areas have been identified as ripe for expedited […]

Local Partnerships has helped local stakeholders objectively consider the long-term plans of key infrastructure in the South West of England with the Tamar Crossings The River Tamar, in South West England, connects Devon and Cornwall through 24 crossing points, including Torpoint Ferry, the Royal Albert Bridge, and the Tamar Bridge.  The key infrastructure has been a […]