"Local authorities across the country really want to step up. They're galvanised. They want to deliver for local communities, and there's a real will and ambition to deliver. But there are some constraints that they are feeling. The ask for long-term funding settlements, where local authorities and their partners will be able to invest in pipelines of work across those settlements, is really key."
"Before Rachel Reeves's spring forecast on Tuesday, a survey of senior council officers showed that 40% do not think the local authority they work for is well placed to follow through on its construction plans. Local authority finances have been under sustained pressure for more than a decade."
"When asked to state in their own words what was causing the hold-up, many just wrote funding. More than a third (34%) said Labour's radical reorganisation of local government could also create delays in the short term, while 40% pointed to skills shortages."
A survey of senior council officers reveals significant challenges to Labour's construction agenda. Sixty-four percent report project delays, while 40% doubt their local authority can execute planned construction. Funding emerges as the dominant concern, with 94% demanding multi-year funding certainty. Labour's local government reorganization could create short-term delays according to 34% of respondents, while 40% cite skills shortages. Regeneration, housing, and transport projects face the greatest disruption risk. Local authorities express strong commitment to delivery but face constraints requiring long-term funding settlements and investment pipelines to overcome obstacles.
#local-government-funding #construction-project-delays #housing-and-infrastructure #skills-shortage #labour-policy-implementation
Read at www.theguardian.com
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