Mark Gardner

Universal local representation is now a necessity in the UK. Parish and Town Councils should be managing local assets and services, not remote upper tier authorities.

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Check out this very useful "Planning committee best practice self-assessment toolkit" published by PAS Team. Haringey's Peer Challenge of our Planning service said "Committee is a very good example of how public facing planning committees are run". But we're not stopping there, we'll soon be putting forward changes to our Planning Protocol in the Council's Constitution to ensure we are at the forefront of best practice. This ensures decisions on the biggest new developments are made in the most transparent, efficient and robust way

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🌟Incredible news for North Lincolnshire children🌟 👏 👇 I’m so pleased to see this announcement for a major expansion of Specialist Resource Provisions as part of 2026 budget. This represents a significant commitment to inclusive education and community-centred support for children with additional needs. When we invest in specialist provision locally, we are doing far more than creating additional places. We are: • Keeping children closer to their families, peers and communities • Strengthening early support and reducing escalation • Promoting belonging, stability and positive identity • Building capacity within mainstream settings For those of us working across youth justice, education, safeguarding and family help, we see every day how critical the right support, at the right time, in the right place truly is. This is a strong step toward a more inclusive system — one that recognises that children with additional needs can feel that sense of belonging. Proud to see this direction of travel in North Lincolnshire. 👏 #InclusiveEducation #SEND #ChildFirst #CommunitySupport #NorthLincolnshire

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Havant Borough Council hosted the Southleigh Development Consultation Forum earlier this evening. Bloor Homes presented their proposals for housing, community facilities, open space and infrastructure to Councillors and residents. Some challenging questions from Councillors including on transport infrastructure, housing mix and affordability, ecological safeguards, community facilities and disruption during construction. interesting to see how these translate into a future planning application. #havant #planning #development

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Town and Parish Councils are one of the most direct forms of democracy we have. Councillors are elected by residents to represent their communities, set priorities, and make decisions about local issues. Alongside them, Clerks perform an essential professional role — advising councils, ensuring compliance with legislation, managing administration, and providing the continuity that allows councils to function effectively. When the relationship between councillors and clerks works well, it is a powerful partnership. Democratic leadership supported by professional expertise is exactly how local government should operate. However, conversations about roles and accountability in the parish sector are sometimes avoided. Councillors carry the democratic mandate from the public and are ultimately accountable to the electorate. Clerks, on the other hand, hold significant operational responsibility and institutional knowledge that often shapes how councils function day to day. In most councils this balance works well. Dedicated clerks and committed councillors work together with mutual respect to serve their communities. But like any governance structure, it works best when roles are clearly understood, boundaries are respected, and accountability exists at every level. Councillors should feel confident in exercising the mandate they were elected to deliver. Clerks should feel supported in providing honest, professional advice that ensures decisions are lawful and well informed. Open conversations about governance, accountability, and expectations shouldn’t be seen as criticism — they are simply part of maintaining healthy and effective local democracy. Because ultimately, town and parish councils exist for one purpose: serving their communities well. Take Stotfold for instance, the good of the town has been delivered since changing from clerk led to Cllr’s leading, just like Frome. Yet someone thinks they deserve the praise, don’t get me wrong the proportion can be split but ultimately a collective effort, not a mandated to capture praise on other peoples success, especially when they turned up to the party late. Have a great weekend all.

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A thought provoking read about the potential of the first tier of local government “They’re expanding their role naturally in response to community needs, and there are a range of flexibilities that they have to use their powers to turn their attention to projects that address climate change, cost of living crisis, improving health and wellbeing, supporting young or older people, or playing their part tackling the housing crisis, using neighbourhood planning as a way of bringing people together to plan for housing growth, and what the infrastructure looks like around that.”

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It’s worth sharing that Southwark has new online service for leaseholders and freeholders (with service charge responsibilities to the Council), which is first of its kind. Leaseholders and freeholders in Southwark can now see and download their service charge information online, thanks to a pioneering new service. Southwark Council has more than 14,000 leaseholders and freeholders who pay towards estate services like lifts, lighting in shared areas and grounds maintenance. Now they can all go online and see a detailed breakdown of their charges for 2024/25. It is part of the council’s Good Landlord work to be more open with residents and believed to be the first time this has been offered by any Council in the country. Any leaseholder or freeholder in Southwark, who would like to see their service charges online, can log onto MySouthwark and look at their account. If they don’t already have an account, it’s quick and simple to set one up. Well done to Louise Turff and her team for getting this off the ground in double quick time. Clive Palfreyman Dom Cain Chris Roe Eddie Townsend Althea Loderick

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✏️ South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority has reopened its Adult Skills Fund Pseudo Framework to allow new Learning Organisations to apply. Up to £10m will be awarded via mini competitions for the 25/26 academic year; including call-off contracts to upskill/reskill South Yorkshire residents and to break barriers. Learning Organisations which are well positioned to support South Yorkshire's Skills Strategy Missions Areas and ASF Priorities are able to access the supporting tender documentation here: https://shorturl.at/Bm9HW 📅 The deadline for applications is 14 July.

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A quick run down on the new approach to local authority supported housing strategies. What they are and how they will be developed. https://lnkd.in/e5MMGjj2

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Spelthorne Borough Council is now open for applications for funding through the 2025-2026 Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) for local community projects and improvements. Local Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds are available to help fund local community projects to help address the impacts of new development. CIL is money raised from developments to help fund the infrastructure needed to mitigate the impacts of extra homes. The 2024-2025 local CIL spending round saw funding of more than £900,000 committed to a range of community-based projects, ranging from the refurbishment of tennis courts to an active travel scheme for road improvements outside a local school. In the past, projects such as play areas, sports club and community building improvements have been funded. The deadline for this round of applications is 31 March 2026. Decisions will be made by local spending boards, comprising all Ward Councillors, for each area in the Borough. For further information about CIL funding please call us on 01784 444278, email cil@spelthorne.gov.uk or visit the website by clicking here: https://orlo.uk/I9svJ

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Thoughts on #LookedAfterChildren 👇🏻 This is a superb development by South Tyneside Council. So many councils, through decades of marketisation, find they are reliant on out of area market providers. This model demonstrates local investment, best practice and insourcing is possible. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

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Maldon District Council is backing a proposal for 5 new unitary councils. At a Council meeting held last night (25 Sept) Maldon District Councillors voted to support the 5-council option feeling that this option created councils of the right size which retained a strong sense of community and place, would provide the ability to deliver value for money to local residents and deliver responsive local services. Under the 5-council model, Maldon would form a unitary with Brentwood and Chelmsford Councils as a new Mid Essex Authority. Business cases for 3,4 and 5 unitary councils will be submitted to #MHCLG government as part of Local Government Reorganisation. Great collaborative working across Greater Essex. #LGR #Maldon #LocalGov #MidEssex

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Councils are under pressure to reduce call volumes, improve coordination, and keep communities informed. But with disconnected tools and outdated PDFs, that’s easier said than done. Here are 5 ways Clozure helps you manage road disruptions more clearly, quickly, and confidently. Which one would make the biggest impact for your team? #LocalGovernment  #SmartInfrastructure  #RoadManagement   #DigitalTransformation 

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The public sector is sometimes a bit doom and gloom but not at Falkirk Council today after a truly transformational budget was approved by Cllrs!! 😁 - £16.4m was agreed for investment in the new Falkirk Town Hall project - £15m was allocated for key Council services such as Roads, School Improvements, and Street Lighting - £5.7m was committed to support the delivery of the new £30m state-of-art campus for children with Additional Supports Needs £5m was ring-fenced to bring the new Denny town centre gym project to life - £2m will go towards modernising the historic Town Halls in Bo'ness, Grangemouth & Larbert - £2m will be spent refurbishing the Mariner Leisure Centre and Grangemouth Sports Complex, and buying new gym equipment - £1m has been made available to assist with upgrades at the Grangemouth Stadium - £800k will be spent creating a new 'Clean & Green' team with 10+ officers and vehicles to improve community pride by proactively tackling litter, fly-tipping, and overgrown trees and bushes - £100k was committed on a feasibility study to identify the best solution for a new sport and leisure facility in the Braes - £80k will be spent exploring future uses of the privately-owned La Scala building in Grangemouth This investment is so exciting and now it is down to our team to deliver on the ambitious plans we recommended to Elected Members. Paul Kettrick Michael McGuinness Douglas Gardiner, James Baillie Mark Cox Gary McGregor David Garvin Robert Hammond Keir Stevenson Charlie Croft Laura McIntyre Dougie Hanley Kenneth Lawrie Alison Friel David Grindlay Andrea Bradley-Priest MBA Jacqueline McArthur

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Local Government Reorganisation: Shaping Devon’s Future Torbay Council is advancing proposals for a new four-unitary model for Devon, which has been designed with our community at its heart to preserve Torbay’s current boundaries. Working collaboratively with leaders across the county, the proposed model includes: • Torbay continuing as its own coastal-focused council • Plymouth and Exeter expanding to reflect their growing regional influence • A new Rural Devon Coast and Countryside Authority serving wider rural communities In our recent engagement survey, 64% of respondents supported keeping Torbay’s boundaries — a clear mandate to protect our identity and the services that matter most. One key reason: maintaining our boundary safeguards our unique partnership with the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, which is the UK’s only Integrated Care Organisation and is nationally recognised for integrating health and social care. Key milestones ahead: • Full Council review: 20 November • Submission to Government: 28 November • Anticipated feedback: March 2026 Press Release: https://orlo.uk/89F59 We’ll continue to keep our community informed as this progresses. Thank you for helping shape the future of local government in Torbay and Devon. #LocalGovernment #Torbay #Devon

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💰🚀 Mayor’s Community Development Fund Launches The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) Mayor’s Community Development Fund was launched on 4 September by Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward: . Community groups in 10 priority areas across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are being encouraged to bid for a slice of a new £3 million fund to tackle deprivation and improve lives. The 10 priority areas chosen to benefit include two areas in Derby City - Arboretum and Normanton. EMCCA is looking for organisations and community groups to work together to submit one application per area.  The fund, which will run over the next three years, is aimed at boosting community resilience, increasing local skills, and enabling people to take control of shaping their own neighbourhoods.    The deadline for applications is Monday 24 November 2025 🔗 Find out more about the fund on the News page of our website: https://lnkd.in/eEvnGvta 📣 Did you know that our CEO Kim Harper was recently appointed as the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Representative for EMCCA by Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward? Read about that here! 👇 https://lnkd.in/eYd53zse

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Working for the partnership of three councils is a positive step forward in preparation for Local Government Reform (LGR). I would welcome a chat with all forward thinking planners to discuss how we can help achieve your career development goals. Phil Norman MRTPI Ian Fytche Matthew Hogan Maria Cotton FIPM MSc South Holland District Council East Lindsey District Council Boston Borough Council South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership

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🚨 Budget 2025: What It Means for Local Government Finance In a comment piece for TheMJ I survey, as the Chancellor prepares for the most delayed Budget in recent memory, just how local authorities face mounting uncertainty. Here are five key takeaways: 1️⃣ Fiscal Space Is Shrinking Council finance continues to rely on short-term fixes—higher council tax thresholds, exceptional support—without addressing structural issues. The “kick the can” approach is unsustainable. 2️⃣ National Pressures Overshadow Local Needs Even a proposed 2p income tax rise would raise just £6bn—tiny compared to £124.7bn in borrowing and debt interest. With welfare and health dominating spend, local services risk being sidelined. 3️⃣ Social Care Reform Deferred Responsibility for long-term social care funding has been pushed to 2028 under Dame Louise Casey. Until then, councils must navigate rising demand with limited resources. 4️⃣ Property Tax: The Road Less Taken Business rates reform is on the agenda, but deeper changes—such as mansion tax, wealth charges, or even land value tax—remain politically sensitive. We'll have to wait and see until next Wednesday. Yet could these unlock stable revenue and incentivize local growth? 5️⃣ Fair Funding 2.0: Ceiling or Opportunity? Expect tweaks to council tax bands, but not political suicide full revaluation would ential. Without bold fiscal decentralisation (or bolder than tourism tax at least) Fair Funding 2.0 may be the limit of reform this Parliament. Bottom line: If new ideas aren’t forthcoming, revisiting historic solutions like land value tax might be the only way to keep local government finance viable. 💬 Anybod.. wat reforms do you think could truly empower local authorities? #Budget2025 #LocalGovernment #PublicFinance #EconomicGrowth #PolicyReform https://lnkd.in/eh2h-z-i

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