Institute for the Future of Work’s Post

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of tuning in to the Institute for Government webinar 'Parliament Returns: what next for British politics?' The panel led a great discussion on what we can expect from Parliament and the new Government now that they are in full swing. One key debate was whether the government can maintain its commitment to house-building and, if so, at what cost? With housing ministers serving an average tenure of less than a year, it’s not only a challenge to meet the government’s ambitious targets but also to ensure that the minister responsible sticks around long enough to enable progress. The Government has already highlighted the difficult situation they've inherited from the Conservatives, making the strategy they adopt critical to their success in office. As we approach party conference season, attention will inevitably turn to Labour. The big question is whether they can shift from their recent pessimism to offering a more hopeful and actionable vision for the future? If you want to be up to speed on the upcoming party conferences and planned policy changes across the built environment, follow Luminate Consultancy to see what this can mean for you💡

 Must-Read Boring  EU Documents ! You cant understand the EU without reading these incredible boring documents. For me they amount something like a rite of passage. - Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament     Master the inner workings of the European Parliament with this comprehensive guide.   https://lnkd.in/dUcPzdSh) - Rules of Procedure of the Council of the EU     Uncover the mechanisms of one of the EU's most opaque institutions by exploring its procedural rules.    https://lnkd.in/d6s3cueu The Working Methods of the European Commission It details the mechanics of how the Commission reaches decisions. Be one of the few lobbyist that has read it. https://lnkd.in/dC-YpfRf - EU Financial Regulation     A foundational text for understanding EU budget management, funding allocation, and institutional financial practices.     https://lnkd.in/dHdA-GWr) - Common Provisions Regulation     This regulation governs the spending of all structural funds, including EFRD, the fisheries fund, and the rural development fund.   https://lnkd.in/dAhx9mkP - Consolidated Version of the Treaty of Lisbon     A non-negotiable read for understanding the legal and constitutional framework of the EU. No excuses.     https://lnkd.in/dz7AGCQa - Inter-Institutional Agreements     Dive into the agreements that define roles, responsibilities, and transparency measures between the EU institutions. Perfect for EU enthusiasts.    https://lnkd.in/dz2dTCpi - Explainer on the EU Electoral Act     While the consolidated version of the EU Electoral Act is elusive, this detailed explainer by the EPRS provides an excellent overview of parliamentary election rules.     [Read https://lnkd.in/d2sRHEs3

"My planning project was due to be determined soon - can this still happen now that the General Election has been called?" The team at T47 has been busy working away behind the scenes considering the implications on our clients' proposals following Rishi Sunak's announcement this week. Some of the key questions we've been asked is - "Will this delay the determination of my project"? Can local authorities still make planning decisions? Does Welsh Government go into purdah? Can I still submit my application?... The House of Commons Library has just published its updated definitive guidance, setting out the rules and expectations when it comes to engaging within the planning sphere over the lead in to the Election. Key points: 📆 There is no specific requirement for LPAs to cancel or postpone Committee Meetings (although we have already seen some deciding to delay certain meetings) 📝 Planning applications can still be submitted and determined during this period 💼 Devolved nations can still function (largely) as normal, however it is customary for ministers to "observe discretion in announcing initiatives that are new or of a long-term character in their capacity as a minister". ✏ During periods of heightened sensitivity, holding events or launching consultations should be "carefully considered". There are of course, many other considerations, sensitivities and political points to bear in mind, each unique to every project - so careful thought is important when considering forward strategy over the next few weeks. Get in touch with the team if you have a query, or would like to discuss the implications for your planning project. https://lnkd.in/etuJ6kZU

What do you think about the decision of the Minister not to respond to the recommendations of the Future for Local Government Review panel? We could probably have guessed what some of the responses might have been, and the silence since the release of the report last year might have said it all. But would it have been reasonable to expect a considered response after all the work put in by the sector and the authors?

Good webinar if you are in the midst of your budget setting!

14 years ago the Coalition Government abolished regional (strategic) planning and introduced severe austerity measures on local authorities, just as we were grappling with some key areas of policy change, especially in relation to climate change, health and land economics (we were facing the consequences of the Global financial crisis). In the same way as structure plan teams supported local plan teams, regional planning teams didn't just prepare regional plans, we were effectively an extension of local plan teams, providing additional capacity and expertise. I was just reminded (thanks to Dave Valler keeping old copies of Planning Magazine) of proposals we had to extend and enhance this offer 15 years ago, just before we were all made redundant. A shared resource like this today would have been invaluable but sadly the loss of this potential was yet another of the many unintended consequences of the Government's decision.

It’s worth reviewing how the ammendments to Class Q and Class R might impact on your farm buildings. This summary gives some pointers, with our planning teams standing ready to provide a more detailed assessment. Do call our rural team for further guidance. Contact us in the east on 01223 346600 #CarterJonas #CarterJonasEast

PMM's October 2024 issue on best (and worst) practices in local government corporatization Thank you to guest editors Rhys Andrews, Ulf Papenfuß, Marieke van Genugten and Bart Voorn for a brilliant journal issue filling an important gap with articles on what works (and really doesn't work) for local government corporatization. As they explain in their editorial (https://lnkd.in/gPCQQfsp), the increasing numbers of municipally owned corporations (MOC) provide "a middle ground between public and private provision…an alternative to other forms of local service provision and can be placed between traditional in-house provision by the core administration on the one hand and contracting-out local service provision to private companies on the other hand". And, as Joanne Pitt shows in her article in the October issue, getting it wrong can lead to local councils going bankrupt (Woking Borough Council issued a section 114 report in 2023 indicating that they were unable to balance their budget and the reason for their debts of around £2 billion was a failed investment strategy). Our issue contains articles by Janne Ruohonen, Karel Nieukoop, Stuart Green Durham University, Andreas Bergh, Gissur Ó. Erlingsson, Irmak Ozer, Evrim Tan, Eran Rabin, Anna Hazan University of Haifa, Klaus-Michael Ahrend, Kyra Aman, and Tijs Boom.

The October 2024 issue of PMM is here: PMM: Public Money & Management Excited to share our latest article on the autonomy and control of municipally owned corporations (MOCs) in Türkiye and Israel in collaboration with Evrim Tan, Eran Razin, and Anna Hazan. Through our comparative analysis, we delve into how public accountability and central government control shape MOC autonomy and reveal that in traditional service areas, public accountability is prioritized over performance in MOCs. Our findings highlight that the traditional distinction between MOCs based on public law and private law was found not to be applicable for all country cases, as most MOCs are hybrid and subject to both public and private law. In addressing the shortcomings of the conventional typology, the study proposes a new typology based on MOCs' legal structures. The new typology can be operationalized to study cross-sectional and cross-sectoral patterns for MOC autonomy in centralized states. Our study further underscores the significance of central government control as a key factor shaping MOC autonomy. Thank you, Bart Voorn, Marieke van Genugten, Ulf Papenfuß, and Rhys Andrews, for inviting us to contribute to the PMM special issue and for your invaluable guidance throughout the publication process! Special thanks to Michaela Lavender