Monthly Archives: November 2010

Downside doubt on OBR data, by John Hawksworth

30 November 2010 | John Hawksworth

The Office for Budget Responsibility’s autumn economic forecast is an admirably clear and detailed document. As expected, the OBR revised up its GDP growth forecasts for 2010 but revised them down slightly for 2011 and 2012. Read more...

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Misunderstanding markets, by Stephen Clarke

30 November 2010 | Stephen Clarke

Yesterday the Irish government finalised a rescue deal worth €85bn for the country’s beleaguered banks. With all such large financial decisions, the initial test of success was seen to be the reaction of the markets. Read more...

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Schools not given a sporting chance, by Conor Ryan

30 November 2010 | Conor Ryan

At the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust conference in Birmingham last week, the strongest applause from the audience during the speeches of schools minister Nick Gibb and shadow education secretary Andy Burnham came when mention was made of the coalition’s bizarre decision to axe the school sports partnerships that have revitalised PE and competitive sports in schools. Read more...

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Time for a retrospective graduate tax? By Colin Talbot

26 November 2010 | Colin Talbot

The escalating movement against cuts in higher education teaching funding, linked to potentially huge hikes in tuition fees to £9,000 a year, has taken most commentators by surprise. The scale of the protests, so quickly after the policy was announced, is unusual and suggests a deep reaction is underway. Read more...

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Northern exposure, by Jenni Viitanen

25 November 2010 | Jenni Viitanen

Last month’s Local Growth White Paper set out a vision for a ‘rebalanced’ economy in the UK, correcting the current version which is over-reliant on the financial sector and the Greater South East. While the white paper talks a good talk in terms of a more evenly shared growth, a closer examination reveals that the outcome of this economic rebalancing act could end up topsy-turvy. Read more...

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Fully charged? By Mo Baines

25 November 2010 | Mo Baines

When businesses face financial losses, they look at ways of bringing in income through new products and services or innovation as well as cutting costs. During times of financial austerity in local government, we have tended to focus only on reducing costs. Income generation is usually not considered to be part of the first response. But it can be a way of spreading the burden of public sector spending cuts without penalising those least able to pay. Read more...

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Education white paper: Gove the heir to Blair? By Conor Ryan

24 November 2010 | Conor Ryan

For all the rhetoric in the Commons today, one thing stands out clearly from today’s White Paper by Michael Gove: his education agenda represents far more continuity with the reforms introduced by Tony Blair and David Blunkett than it does a dramatic change from the direction of the last thirteen years. Read more...

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Welsh councils win out, by Tony Travers

24 November 2010 | Tony Travers

The Welsh Assembly Government has given councils in Wales an early Christmas present. Yesterday’s Revenue Support Grant settlement provides local authorities with an average reduction in grant of 1.4%, ranging from a rise of 0.1% in Cardiff to a ‘floor’ of -1.7% for most authorities.  While it is important to note that the Welsh RSG includes schools’ funding (removed in England in 2006-07), the relative generosity of the settlement will be viewed with envy in England. Read more...

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Tenancy trauma, by Chris Nicholson

23 November 2010 | Chris Nicholson

Yesterday Housing Minister Grant Shapps announced that he proposed to allow councils and registered social landlords to require new tenants to leave their home after just two years if their income rises above a certain level. Read more...

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Supply-side solution, by John Tizard

23 November 2010 | John Tizard

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