Research Briefing
The Government has published two documents, in November 2014 and February 2015, proposing ‘devolution to Greater Manchester’. The November document proposes to devolve some additional transport powers, a housing capital budget, and various business support and skills-related budgets, a statutory spatial strategy, with a promise of closer working on the Work Programme and further education
Research Briefing
This note analyses proposals in the mid-2010s for new taxes, charges and fiscal powers for local government in England, plus proposed changes to the system of local government finance and for additional powers to borrow.
Research Briefing
This note provides information on the various types of referendum which may be (and in some circumstances must be) conducted by local authorities.
Research Briefing
Background The West Lothian Question draws attention to the fact that, following devolution, English MPs are unable to vote on matters devolved to Scotland, but Scottish MPs can vote on the same matters with regard to England, as they are still decided in the UK Parliament. This has led for some calls for ‘English votes for
Research Briefing
This special briefing paper has been produced to help Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) prepare for the House of Commons sitting of the UK Youth Parliament which takes place on 14 November.
Research Briefing
Local government finance in England has experienced substantial changes since 2010. This paper examines the challenges that local authorities have faced from reductions in central government funding, and how they have responded to these. Local authorities have been using a number of strategies to cope with reduced funding, including community budgets, city deals, efficiency savings, combined authorities and shared services. They have also reduced or redesigned services, and collected more local taxes where possible.
Research Briefing
A number of councils and campaigners would like to see the introduction of a ‘supermarket levy’, also dubbed the ‘Tesco tax’ by the media. The tax would allow an additional levy to be imposed on large retailers by local councils. How does the tax work and would it be possible?
Research Briefing
This blog post was updated on the 15 July due to new legislation being passed. There have been a number of media reports, from 2011 onwards, regarding individuals who have attempted to film council meetings on their cameras or mobile phones and have been prevented from doing so by the council (for example, see here*).
Research Briefing
The Bill proposes a range of measures in line with the Government’s aim to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses and public authorities.
Research Briefing
The Community Right to Challenge allows local communities the right to challenge how local authorities provide and run services. The Localism Act 2011 allows voluntary or community bodies, parish councils, or two or more employees of a local authority, to challenge the provision of a local authority service.
Research Briefing
The Wales Bill had its first reading in the House of Commons on 20 March 2014; it is due to have its second reading on 31 March 2014. The Bill devolves some tax-raising powers to the National Assembly for Wales. Stamp duty and landfill tax are devolved, while a power is created to reduce income tax by 10 pence in the pound and put a Welsh rate of income tax in its place. The Bill allows these powers over income tax to be devolved only if they are approved in a referendum, the calling of which is subject to parliamentary approval and a two-thirds majority in the Assembly.
Total results (page 15 of 16)