“I Blame the Green Book”- Why has Guidance Become the Scape Goat of Public Funding Decisions like Levelling Up?

Rebecca Riley outlines some of the misconceptions around the use of the Green Book. As part of the Y-PERN conference held recently, I had a slot on a session about the Green Book, partly because I chair the Green Book User Network Steering Group, but also because City-REDI does a lot of work helping partners … Continue reading ““I Blame the Green Book”- Why has Guidance Become the Scape Goat of Public Funding Decisions like Levelling Up?”

All Our Money: The Impossible Job of Running Birmingham City Council

On 15th March, Stan’s Cafe put on a sold-out performance about how Birmingham City Council spends £3,000,000,000 of our money. The event was held at The Exchange, University of Birmingham. Here’s what we learned from the play. Annoyed about your bins not being picked up again, or the ridiculous number of bollards that just popped … Continue reading “All Our Money: The Impossible Job of Running Birmingham City Council”

Insights into Birmingham City Council’s Spending Power, Revenue Funding and Spending between 2010-11 and 2019-2020

A new report by Alice Pugh, Dr Abigail Taylor, and WMREDI intern Charlotte Tomlinson examines changes in Birmingham City Council’s income and expenditure over the decade between 2010/11 and 2019/20. In this blog, Alice and Abigail summarise the aims of the report, the methodological approach adopted and they key findings. They also discuss key messages … Continue reading “Insights into Birmingham City Council’s Spending Power, Revenue Funding and Spending between 2010-11 and 2019-2020”

Reflections on Assessing Value for Money at Local Government Level

George Bramley discusses his attendance and presentation at a recent Green Book event, and why these events are so useful for those who commission, produce or review business cases at the local government level.  I recently had the opportunity to share my reflections at the ‘Green Book: One Year On: Value for Money’ event in … Continue reading “Reflections on Assessing Value for Money at Local Government Level”

Local Government and Its Captivity by National Electoral Interests

With the upcoming local elections in England, Dr Tasos Kitsos looks at the influence of distributive politics and the importance of local government to catalyse change where we live. With the local elections coming up in (some of) England, and our recent publication (with Dr Antonios Proestakis) on distributive politics in Greece, I wanted to … Continue reading “Local Government and Its Captivity by National Electoral Interests”

A Safe Return to the Classroom and Work in the West Midlands During the COVID-19 Pandemic

What can central and local government do to ensure safe transport to work and school during the COVID-19 pandemic to safeguard the well-being of workers and children? Dr Magda Cepeda Zorrilla looks at the evidence and possible solutions. Getting young people back to school has been set as a priority by the Transport for West Midlands … Continue reading “A Safe Return to the Classroom and Work in the West Midlands During the COVID-19 Pandemic”

The Complexity of Local Government in England: The West Midlands’ Rubik’s Cube

In our latest blog, Dr Charlotte Hoole unpicks the complex world of the local government systems and explains how the different tiers and authorities for each region inter-relate. Back in 2006, the then head of communications at the New Local Government Network was quoted in the Guardian as saying “the complexity of local government is … Continue reading “The Complexity of Local Government in England: The West Midlands’ Rubik’s Cube”

Devolution and Local Recovery

Kevin Johnson, Managing Director of strategic communications firm Urban Communications, looks at the Government’s upcoming White Paper on Devolution. Will the government propose to increase powers for local authorities or continue a policy of delegation rather than devolution?  The Government is set to publish a White Paper this Autumn on Devolution. As well as building … Continue reading “Devolution and Local Recovery”

The Need for Greater Devolution in England to Respond to COVID-19

Welcome to REDI-Updates, a bi-annual publication which will get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. West Midlands REDI staff and guest contributors will discuss various topics, with this first publication focusing on how inclusive growth can be a tool to tackle regional imbalances across the UK. In this article, Dr Charlotte Hoole … Continue reading “The Need for Greater Devolution in England to Respond to COVID-19”

Business Recovery Measures in China (COVID-19)

In this blog, Dr Fengjie Pan explores China’s approach to supporting enterprises weather the economic storms generated by Covid-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has made a profound impact on many enterprises, completely disrupting their normal work rhythm and plans. Production and operations are blocked, yet they have to bear huge expenses such as personnel and rent. … Continue reading “Business Recovery Measures in China (COVID-19)”