The Green Book User Group – Strong Foundations for Better Intervention Development

Rebecca Riley discusses the formation of the Green Book User Group and an event to launch the latest Green Book.  This blog was first published on the Government Finance Function website.  The Green Book is a great tool for better decision-making, not a compliance code. Yet we all often hear the term “Green Book compliant” … Continue reading “The Green Book User Group – Strong Foundations for Better Intervention Development”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 27th November 2020

This week the Chancellor announced the Spending Review, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published its latest forecast and the Treasury has launched the new Green Book. The UK economy is expected to shrink by 11.3% this year – the largest fall in output for 300 years. Covid-19 will leave “long-term scarring” and the economy … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 27th November 2020”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 20th November 2020

This week the development of vaccines is signalling a positive change, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s most recent forecasts, global growth is expected to be around 5.2% during 2021 based on the assumption that social distancing would gradually fade away as new Covid-19 vaccines are being developed. It’s worth noting that, following the … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 20th November 2020”

The Future of Data Across Regions

This blog, by Rebecca Riley, focuses on the advantages and pitfalls of data analytics, looking into how to ensure we get the most out of it, the struggles that staff face in keeping up with its rapid evolution and how best to resource it. On the 10th November, I presented at the 2020 Open Data … Continue reading “The Future of Data Across Regions”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 13th November 2020

This week we see cases continuing to rise and the adjustment to Lockdown 2. In terms of wellbeing, nationally, people are feeling the least satisfied with life since March, they are suffering the largest drop in how they feel about the things they do in their lives, anxiety levels are on the rise and happiness … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 13th November 2020”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 6th November 2020

This week Britain looks on course to enter a double-dip recession this winter, as business surveys show economic growth almost halted last month even before the latest England-wide lockdown was announced, according to financial data company IHS Markit. Business service activity rise is much softer than September, new orders have declined for the first time … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 6th November 2020”

The Pandemic Hangover

In this blog, Rebecca Riley, Administrative Director, City-REDI / WM REDI looks at the long term health impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic.  At the moment we are dealing with the short term impacts of the pandemic and the effect of the interventions that are being put in place and this is potentially only the beginning … Continue reading “The Pandemic Hangover”

The Future of Towns and Cities After Coronavirus

Welcome to REDI-Updates. REDI-Updates is a bi-annual publication which will get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. In this edition, WM REDI staff and guest contributors will discuss some of the key topics when trying to understand the long-term economic impacts of the pandemic. In this article, Rebecca Riley looks at the economic, … Continue reading “The Future of Towns and Cities After Coronavirus”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 23rd October 2020

This week we include the dashboard of indictors monitoring the economy. As would be expected, they reflect the current pandemic circumstances. Deaths from coronavirus are on the rise for the first time since May. Youth claimant counts are relatively stable but stand at 44k or 8.9% of 16-24 year olds (21k more than pre-pandemic). All … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 23rd October 2020”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 16th October 2020

This week infections continue to rise globally. Rates are surging in countless countries across the globe, with cases in Europe accelerating notably. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced bars and pubs will be closed in the worst-hit parts of England in order to suppress the spread of the virus. Chris Witty, the Chief Medical … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 16th October 2020”