Salman Anwar

Innovate UKs #competition3 is now live, and the online briefing for applicants and advisors takes place tomorrow. Join the call using the link below, to find out what makes a good project, and how to apply

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Today in the House of Lords, the government addressed oral questions about how regional mayors can contribute to achieving the target of building 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament. Baroness Taylor of Stevenage shared both new and updated insights during the session, including: 1️⃣ Housing targets for mayors will be calculated as an aggregate of the targets set by the local authorities they oversee. 2️⃣ The distribution of strategic planning powers between regional mayors and local authorities will be clarified in the English Devolution Bill, anticipated early next year. 3️⃣ Sir Michael Lyons is actively working with regional mayors to define their role in delivering new settlements. 4️⃣ The updated NPPF will be published before the House of Lords rises for recess on 19 December. 5️⃣ A consultation will be launched on how the Future Homes Standard will further align with the UK’s carbon emissions targets. The government underscored the importance of collaborating with regional mayors to deliver its house building vision and crucially that 1.5 million target.

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𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝? There have been a lot of headlines recently about using the Mayoral role (and funds) to buy a hotel in Scarborough and, more recently, to set up a Mayoral Development Corporation for the town. This is a useful read from the Yorkshire Post https://lnkd.in/e99z7_vB which explains that these “…have proved controversial as they are essentially unaccountable, being largely made up of unelected individuals” and “the use of MDCs has drawn criticism elsewhere, particularly in Teesside... https://lnkd.in/eGv5Gsy8 which was criticised in a government-commissioned review for lacking transparency and appropriate systems to evaluate whether value for money was being achieved” So is this what Scarborough needs? Is it for a lack of a hotel (albeit refurbished) that 85% of North Yorkshire’s most deprived residents live in Scarborough? This is a town that has some of the highest levels of unemployment and poverty, and lowest life expectancy in the region - but at the same time it’s a beautiful place with excellent potential. It needs a positive narrative, and I have other plans… You can read my comments in York Mix https://lnkd.in/eJGhzGVT in essence, there are a blend of issues to resolve and various elements of my manifesto address these : “to establish a clear and innovative marketing plan for tourism, regenerate the High Street, boost the night-time economy, improve public transport, address the second homes/holiday let imbalance, resolve the skills and labour shortage crisis and get to the bottom of the shellfish die back and ongoing sea water quality issues.” I have also pledged to improve health and wellbeing, with subsidised access to sport, nutritious school food, mental health support and daily toothbrushing for children - along with an allotment scheme, supporting community hubs and increased social care provision. So I hate to disappoint you if you are looking for a headline grabbing fix... but the answer lies in getting to grips with what the issues really are, resolving them and identifying opportunity to generate growth and prosperity for all. To read Felicity's manifesto: https://lnkd.in/eQ3gWwZE #scarborough #community #jobs #economy #socialcare #yorkandnorthyorkshire #york #northyorkshire #yorkshire #felicity4mayor #felicitycunliffelister

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How can planning policy better support councils in promoting healthier communities? That's a question posed in the government's NPPF consultation, and I’m pleased to have been asked by Simon Wicks to share my thoughts on this topic for the latest issue of The Planner RTPI. It’s definitely encouraging to see the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government recognising the critical link between planning and public health. And there’s a real opportunity to strengthen policy to support this. Here are a few key ideas I believe the government should consider: - Make health improvement and the reduction of health inequalities explicit objectives in national planning policy. - Extend the concept of vision-led planning (introduced in the transport section of the NPPF consultation) to all development projects. - Apply the green belt 'golden rules' to all developments (everyone deserves access to green spaces and reliable public services don't they?) - Expand the understanding of what makes a healthy place - and the Quality of Life Framework offers a helpful, evidence-based approach. The Quality of Life Foundation’s full response to the consultation digs deeper into these points and more. Because planning plays a vital role in shaping healthier, happier communities—and now is the time to make that a core focus. #PlanningPolicy #NPPF #NPPFConsultation #PublicHealth #HealthAndWellbeing #HealthyPlaces #UrbanPlanning #SpatialPlanning #LocalGov

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With Labour's manifesto launch tomorrow we already know some of their housing policies but what else can we expect? Last week's announcement meant we know that the manifesto should include: - The Freedom to Buy permanent mortgage guarantee scheme. - Compulsory purchase reform - 'First dibs' on new homes for FTBs - Planning reform to build more homes including relaxed green belt rules - Tax on foreign investors to fund more planning officers Hopefully there will be more detail on social housing and private rented sector proposals. I've set out a round up of other potential housing measures https://lnkd.in/eQyXn2-i

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Happy Friday - here's the latest environmental headlines from the past week. 🚗 Campaigners urge UK ‘pay per mile’ EV tax to fill £5bn revenue gap via Innovation News Network https://lnkd.in/e5spKPTj 🎶 MusicMagpie achieve annual energy savings of 67,137kWh musicMagpie Bee Net Zero https://lnkd.in/etdCF5zg 🥑 UK Government urged to launch National Food Security Strategy amid rising climate risks via edie https://lnkd.in/eU89THwT 🔣 Over half of waste and recycling datasets phased out under previous government via CIWM https://lnkd.in/ehru9ssR 🏭 UK leading the world in fusion power plant design https://lnkd.in/e2PjeYiK 🗑 A fifth of the world's plastic garbage is either burned or littered via New Scientist https://lnkd.in/eWPXdBWT ⛽ Volvo cars pulls back electrification, carbon reduction goals via ESG Today https://lnkd.in/eb6u5qeb

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Climate change has cross-party support in the UK: our polling with More in Common earlier this year found that four in five Britons think it’s important that the government cares about tackling climate change - including nearly 80% of 2024 Conservative voters and two thirds of 2024 Reform voters. In fact, in every UK constituency the majority of people said they were worried about climate change. Whether its climate justice, nature, lower bills, green tech, conservation or energy independence, there are different ways to communicate about environmental issues depending on your audience's priorities. 👉https://lnkd.in/eay7j4hK

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The Boundary Commission for Wales’ review presents a critical opportunity to reshape our political landscape in a way that genuinely reflects and serves BAME communities. This is more than a technical exercise—it’s about ensuring that every voice in our diverse society has the power to influence policies that affect our economy and well-being. Politicians and media must see this as a chance to promote real equity, where fair representation leads to tangible improvements in the lives of minority communities across Wales. #BAME #RepresentationMatters #EquityInAction #BoundaryReview https://lnkd.in/ek4cm32x

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The US presidential/ UK PM debates have never taken place in the same week, let alone consecutive days. Setting aside which was the more entertaining (easily US) – a few thoughts on how the different broadcast formats affected the coverage and impacted the viewer: ⏳ Ground rules & visuals Contrasting with the BBC's looser approach, #CNN set explicit rules of engagement, everything from response times, microphone control and stage positioning. The split screen close-up camera effect was revealing – Biden pensive then growing in confidence and Trump looking increasingly needled as the debate progressed. If a similar technique was adopted for the UK debate, it wouldn't have benefited Starmer... 🔊 Moderation & questions Dana Bash and Jake Tapper led for CNN vs Mishal Husain alone for the #BBC. Two moderators enabled closer control and smoother transition through questions. Lack of audience in Atlanta meant a strangely sanitized atmosphere but removing audience reactions – along with the use of zoom-in – perhaps helps the viewer to focus more on the candidates and be less influenced by variables. The debate in Nottingham was less structured, giving both men – mainly Sunak – more chance to interrupt and go on the attack. There was also something very British about a willing audience stumbling through their questions amidst shouts of protest from outside! 🎯  Fact-checking Husain planted the flag early by highlighting BBC Verify and both candidates appealed to the service when disputed claims arose. She was also more assertive at clarifying statements and presenting official statistics especially during the immigration and fiscal debates. There was little pre-emptive or real time fact-checking in Atlanta, for which CNN are being heavily criticized. In the closing stages, the moderators struggled just to get the candidates – especially Trump - to engage with the question asked. Personal accusations, counter-claims and a ‘he started it’ line of attack increased as the debate wore on. As for the overall optics, Trump and Sunak appeared the more forceful and vigorous. Biden and Starmer will have to hope their more measured, statesmanlike performances are not overly perceived as tired or meek. #presidentialdebate #2024election

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I am chuffed to bits to see question 70 in the #NPPF consultation: Question 70: How could national planning policy better support local authorities in (a) promoting healthy communities and (b) tackling childhood obesity? Thanks Dan Simpson for drawing my attention to it. Now to get on with a response.... https://lnkd.in/ebCnyKUx #PlanningPolicy #HealthyHomes #HealthAndWellbeing #HealthyCommunities #Planning #HealthThroughPlanning

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Happy local democracy day, all! 🗳 The mandatory reminder to get out and vote today if you can (and to bring your photo ID). Local government and metro mayors are responsible for the services and investment that often have the biggest impact on our daily lives, so don't miss the chance to make your voice heard. As someone who has had a ringside seat for over 14 years of northern devolution, I'm especially excited about the results of the mayoral elections - the first time that every metro mayor in the country is up for election at once. As a Wakefield resident, of course I'll be taking a keen interest in the West Yorkshire mayoral election, but the other ones I'll be paying extra attention to are: ☑ York and North Yorkshire - today is the first time that residents of York and North Yorkshire will get to elect a metro mayor, responsible for £540m of investment in areas including transport, brownfield regeneration and net zero. York politics have always been a rollercoaster (I worked with Labour, Conservative, Conservative-Lib Dem and Lib Dem-Green administrations over a 10-year period) but the formerly solid Conservative North Yorkshire has also become much more interesting in recent years. I'm not a betting gal anyway, but I can't call this one... ☑ Tees Valley - I grew up in Middlesbrough and Teesside will always be the place I'll call home, so I'll be keeping a close eye on this mayoral race, which will be incumbent, Ben Houchen's, third run at re-election. He got a stonking majority the last time around, but concerns around the huge Teesworks regeneration scheme and Freeport, mass shellfish die-offs along the Teesside coast and the national political context mean third time might not be the charm for Lord Houchen of High Leven. ☑ Another first is the North East mayoral election. The North and South areas of the Tyne were unable to reach an agreement on a combined devolution deal for years, until the government put a deal on the table that all parties could unite around. The previous North of Tyne Combined Authority will become part of a wider North East Combined Authority stretching from Durham up to the tip of Northumberland. This is widely seen as a two-horse race between the incumbent North of Tyne Mayor, Independent, Jamie Driscoll, and Labour's Kim McGuinness, who currently serves as Northumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner. I suspect McGuinness will edge it, but Driscoll has amassed significant support after he didn't make Labour's candidate shortlist for the new North East role. Of course, today's hot takes are tomorrow's digital chip paper, and whoever ends up victorious tomorrow must turn immediately to the job of delivering for communities, bringing forward investment and fighting for their places on the national stage. I'll end with a shout-out to the many public servants who are grafting behind the scenes to make today's elections happen. You are the unsung heroes of our democracy! Social

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In the past few years, there have been over 50 citizens’ juries and assemblies on climate change in the UK, and yet… The majority of people I speak to have no idea what a citizens’ jury or assembly is, how deliberative democracy is any different from a consultation, or how deeper democracy could meaningfully impact their lives. While a movement of ‘popular assemblies’ has sought to prefigure a deliberative culture from the bottom-up, it currently runs the risk of attracting only the ‘usual suspects’, those with time, money, and confidence in expressing their own views. So how do we demonstrate that another way is possible? We know that citizens’ juries and assemblies work, from getting diverse people and views around the table, to producing sensible (and often radical) recommendations on issues that those seeking re-election would shy away from. If we’re going to rebuild trust in politics and make progress against the greatest challenges of our era, it’s time we see them embedded at the top. Great piece by Iswe Foundation’s Rich Wilson #citizensassembly #sortition #deliberativedemocracy #climatechange

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From our public roads and highways to our NHS, cleansing, schools and colleges, universities, apprenticeships, trains and buses, social care, social work, community safety, business support, community development – those essential public goods that we all rely on, all seem to be cut off from that wealth too. We can see the effects in towns, villages and cities across the length and breadth of Scotland, from weakened council services to the rise in community foodbanks. That’s bad for all of us. But it’s a disaster for people on the lowest incomes, because those public goods are often a vital lifeline in difficult times, and a platform that people can use to build for the future. Without them people are trapped. It’s also bad for business. They rely on roads to get goods to and from markets. They need public transport to get their workers in on time. They rely on the next generation of workers being educated and skilled. When a worker is sick, they rely on the NHS to get them well enough to return to work. They often rely on public grants and loans, and public support with paying their rates. In a myriad of ways, the public good is the bedrock of private enterprise. https://lnkd.in/eewPPech

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🚋 "The most effective way for the government to reduce transport costs is by decreasing public transport fares and extending networks." 🗣 Maya Singer Hobbs, Senior Research Fellow at IPPR, joined us for our latest webinar and took us through the intricate findings of the IPPR report, "Who gets a good deal?" She explained how the cost of living crisis has exposed the shortcomings of our transport system following this nationwide survey. To watch the full session around how we can change public attitudes to transport, visit this link: https://lnkd.in/eVVEw64E #publictransport #climate #sustainability

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https://lnkd.in/dpCExdCG There are still some important results to come from Thursday's local elections in England and Wales, not least the mayoral election in West Midlands where the Conservatives will be hoping to hold on as they did in Tees Valley. However, here is John Curtice's analysis based on where things stood when counting was suspended last night and it does indeed look grim for the Conservatives who have lost over half the council seats they held (and counting). The Beeb is reporting that there is no sign of a right-wing rebellion against Rishi Sunak yet; but, personally, I would not expect anyone to make a move before the West Midlands result is announced. If the Tories lose there and even more so if the loss of council seats crosses 500 an attempted ouster would come as no surprise even though the commentariat consensus (with which I agree) is that it would probably not succeed. What the threat might do, however, is push Mr Sunak into calling an early election - 20 percent probability only, according to the bookmakers (and, again, I agree) but one which cannot be dismissed.

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Really pleased to be part of the team at Tax Justice UK, working with Patriotic Millionaires UK to launch this new paper that details just 10 tax reforms to raise up to £60bn a year. This is a vitally important conversation to have, while politicians kick the can down the road and ignore the reality of the situation. Right now, whoever get the keys to 10 Downing Street after 4 July will face a choice. They either enact another round of brutal austerity on already decimated public services OR they invest more to breathe life back into the NHS, improve access to housing and justice and give local authorities the money they need. Investment can be paid for by taxing the super-rich, and the wealthiest companies a bit more, for the benefit of everyone. The tax reforms set out are sensible options to raise revenue, and include: - A 2% wealth tax on assets > £10m from just richest 20k in UK - Equalisation of capital gains tax with income tax - Application of national insurance to investment income - Introduction of a 4% tax on share buybacks We need a grown-up conversation about tax and spending, rather than scaremongering and political soundbytes. Please share if you agree. Read the full report here 🔽 https://lnkd.in/e95NRF_f

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