Local government funding has been under severe pressure since the 2008 crisis. This has stress-tested the local authority finances and capacities to identify efficiency savings leading to severe warnings such as Barnet Council’s graph of doom. In this blog, I am bringing together official figures of the drop in local authority funding in order to … Continue reading “Local Authority funding in the UK – More ‘graphs of doom’ ahead?”
A New Hope for Tesco
There is no doubt that the past few years have been tough for Tesco. Despite building up debts of over £25 billion as of 2015, and the £263 million accounting scandal which rocked the firm in 2016, resulting in three former senior directors being charged with fraud, there does seem to be some light at … Continue reading “A New Hope for Tesco”
Fiscal devolution in the UK – the facts
Local government funding is once again coming to the fore, especially now that we are approaching the mayoral elections next week on the 4th May. In this blog, City-REDI’sTasos Kitsos discusses fiscal devolution in the UK compared to international experiences. No big introduction needed. This post looks into the numbers related to the extent … Continue reading “Fiscal devolution in the UK – the facts”
Urban Livability and Integrated Challenges
In this blog, Dr. Vida Vanchan, Associate Professor – Geography and Planning, State University of New York, talks about some of the questions raised at a co-organised session with Prof. John Bryson at the annual conference of the Association of American Geographers. On 8 April 2017, I co-organised two sessions with Prof. John Bryson, City-REDI, … Continue reading “Urban Livability and Integrated Challenges”
From Boston with Ducklings! Interdependent Challenges and Urban Living and the Management of Complex Cities
In this blog, Professor John Bryson, City-REDI, discusses his recent visit to Boston, for the Association of American Geographers: On Saturday 8 April 2017, the Urban Living Birmingham project organised two sessions at the annual conference of the Association of American Geographers, Boston. The sessions explored the integrated and interdependent challenges that are facing cities this … Continue reading “From Boston with Ducklings! Interdependent Challenges and Urban Living and the Management of Complex Cities”
Forthcoming Event: Understanding Brexit – Brexit and migration: implications for Birmingham
Tuesday 2 May 2017, 18.00 – 20.00 Impact Hub Birmingham, 58 Oxford Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 5NR This event will discuss the implications of Brexit for Birmingham in terms of migration. Birmingham is one of the most diverse cities in the UK, having experienced major migration flows over many decades. What does Brexit mean for … Continue reading “Forthcoming Event: Understanding Brexit – Brexit and migration: implications for Birmingham”
What characteristics should we look for in the new Metro Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority?
In this blog, Professor John R. Bryson, City-REDI, outlines the eight key qualities a good or successful Metro Mayor for the West Midlands might need. On 4 May 2017, the people living in the geographic area defined by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) have the opportunity, for the first time, to elect a mayor. … Continue reading “What characteristics should we look for in the new Metro Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority?”
City REDI at the American Association of Geographers (AAG) Annual meeting 2017
The AmericanAssociation of Geographers Annual meeting 2017 was held from 5-9 April in Boston, USA. It featured over 6,900 presentations, posters and workshops by leading scholars, experts, and researchers. In attendance from City REDI, and giving papers and organising sessions, were Dr Catherine Harris and Professor John Bryson. Catherine’s paper contributed to a session entitled … Continue reading “City REDI at the American Association of Geographers (AAG) Annual meeting 2017”
Birmingham Business School hosts CABS Annual Research Conference
Birmingham Business School hosted The Chartered Association of Business Schools Annual Research Conference last week. City-REDI’s Professor Simon Collinson and Rebecca Riley were at the event to share their knowledge and expertise on some of the crticial issues facing Business Schools. The following piece was written by Isabelle Szmigin, Deputy Dean of Birmingham Business School and Director of Research and Knowledge Transfer. On … Continue reading “Birmingham Business School hosts CABS Annual Research Conference”
WMCA Productivity and Skills Commission Launch – Call for Evidence
Achieving the scale of ambition… Today was the launch of the West Midlands Combined Authority Skills and Productivity Commission call for evidence. The WMCA Productivity Leadership Group, led by Dr Andy Palmer and bringing together business leaders from across the LEPs, will ensure that WMCA plans to drive productivity are designed by and for local … Continue reading “WMCA Productivity and Skills Commission Launch – Call for Evidence”