Welcome to this month’s edition of Trowers & Hamlins Local Government Matters, which lands after the much anticipated first budget of the Labour government. Whilst many of the major tax changes were trailed in the weeks before the event itself - there was still much to take in from one of the most significant budgets for a generation.
It was the technical note to the budget that set out some of the significant detail for local government - including a 3.2% funding increase in real terms in 2025-26, with £1.3bn of new grant funding and at least £600m for social care. There was a promise of multi-year settlements from 2026-27, an extra £1bn for SEND, a further £1.4bn for school rebuilding, new proposed planning reform and the continuation of the UK Prosperity Fund albeit at a reduced rate of £900m. Whether these interventions (along with others) are enough for a sector that continues to grapple with financial constraints and the growing burden of social care costs remains to be seen. However our view is that these can only be seen as positive steps to help recalibrate the strain endured by councils since the era of austerity started.
One of the more controversial aspects of the budget was the suggestion that future devolution would be contingent on local government reform. The sector has already been subject to a certain level of reorganisation - and we have prepared a guide to the process in our new publication "Bridging The Divide" included in this edition. The extent of the government's reorganisation ambitions remain to be seen, and more clarity will be provided once the English Devolution White Paper lands.
In addition to updates on the budget, we further include our webinar on the new Employment Rights Bill, our webinars from our Building Safety conference, developments in EV and Affordable Homes, updates on procurement and much more besides!
Click the links below to access the full articles:
Local government reform: bridging the divide
In this guide we take look at recent snapshot examples of local government re-organisation and provide general guidance for other authorities who are considering transitioning to a unitary model or are already on that journey.
We have also included links to interviews with colleagues in the sector who have undertaken re-organisations in order to provide detailed first-hand accounts on the issues that arose.
Autumn Budget 2024 - Devolution, funding and enhancing the role of combined authorities
Now that markets have settled following the seismic Autumn Budget 2024, it is clear that this government backs mayoral combined authorities through a raft of measures to allow existing CAs greater financial freedoms and autonomy.
Procurement law reform: Keep your eyes on the prize!
The new law has been delayed until 24 February 2025, ostensibly due to the Labour Government's desire to introduce a new National Procurement Policy Statement, perhaps to the relief of procurement professionals everywhere (and those working on the central digital platform).
Procurement in Profile – October 2024
The procurement landscape continues to move beneath our feet – not least because of the change of government over the summer. With the recent announcement that the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 23) is being deferred until 24 February 2025, we take a deep breath and take stock of current procurement trends – and think about where they are going next.
Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3
On 2 October 2024, the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) opened applications for Wave 3 of the newly rebranded Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF), previously known as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF). The fund aims to help social landlords undertake energy efficiency and low carbon heating works across their existing housing stock.
As applications are being prepared, we have set out the key issues that social landlords should be considering.
Cineworld restructuring plan: Avoiding the landlord cramdown
Trowers & Hamlins acts for landlord removed from controversial restructuring plan.
On 30 September 2024, four companies within the Cineworld Group, the second largest cinema chain in the world, secured court sanction for contested Part 26A Restructuring Plans. Cine-UK Ltd, Cineworld Cinemas Ltd, Cineworld Cinema Properties Ltd, and Cineworld Estates Ltd (the "Plan Companies") proposed restructuring plans (the "Plans") which enforced rent reductions or lease terminations upon landlords for a large number of cinemas.
Webinar: Trowers Tuesday – New Employment Law
We are excited to announce our upcoming series of Trowers Tuesday webinars, which look at the Government's radical plans to change the workplace, introducing the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation.
The government's employment plans
The government has delivered on its promise to introduce legislation - the Employment Rights Bill (the Bill) - within the first 100 days in government! It has also published a policy paper, 'Next Steps to Make Work Pay', which sets out details of the reforms in the Bill, as well as other non-statutory measures, including codes of practice and consultations which it plans to implement during its time in office.
Employment Rights Bill: key provisions
Labour has delivered on its promise to publish its Employment Rights Bill within the first 100 days in government! But what does the Bill say and does it represent "the biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation" as the government press release claims?
Fifth annual mini-conference on building safety
We were delighted to be joined by industry-leading experts, commentators and the Building Safety Regulator for this year's Trowers & Hamlins virtual mini-conference on building safety.
Dame Judith Hackitt, author of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety and chair of the Industry Safety Steering Group and Peter Apps, Deputy Editor of Inside Housing and award-winning author of "Show me the Bodies" were once again our keynote speakers across both days.
New Building Safety Act 2022 amendments: Trick or treat
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 may spook unprepared landlords and developers this Halloween with amendments to the Building Safety Act 2022 that came into force on 31 October 2024.
Funding affordable homes – the Autumn budget
The first Labour Budget of this term was delivered on 30 October 2024, by the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer. Some of the changes announced will have significant impact and will be welcomed by the housing sector. The message on the funding side was more muted and despite the big numbers set out in the speech it seems that the cards will be held close until the Spring.
Here's a snapshot of the key announcements and their potential impact.
The beginning of the end of Right to Buy in England?
Companies participating in the trial are set to begin the scheme in November, and findings will be presented to the government in the summer of 2025.The Director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, Joe Ryle, has stated that he believes that a Labour government will be more receptive to the four-day week than the Conservatives were.
Webinar: Trowers Tuesday – mental health in the workplace
10 October 2024 was World Mental Health Day and this year's theme is "it is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace". This theme highlights how important it is for businesses to address mental wellbeing at work and proactively support the mental wellbeing of their staff.
The new government's plans for staff under outsourced contracts
Before the general election Labour published details of its employment-related plans in 'Labour's Plan to Make Work Pay: Delivering a New Deal for Working People'. It then explicitly referred to the New Deal in its manifesto and committed to introducing the package of about 75 measures once in government. The proposals range from protection against unfair dismissal from day one, restrictions on the use of exploitative zero hours contracts to mandating social value in contract design and bringing about the biggest wave of insourcing.
Webinar: CyberSecure 360 - housing
In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity is more critical than ever. We are excited to introduce CyberSecure 360, our comprehensive cyber risk management service.
During this webinar Charlotte Clayson and Amy-Rose Hayden were joined by Chris Woods from CyberQ Group to discuss how to prepare for and respond to cyber incidents. This webinar discussed some of the key cyber risks for the Housing sector and what companies need to be aware of to manage cyber risk.
Powering progress: Navigating EV infrastructure expansion
The roll-out of new government funding is an opportunity for highway authorities to accelerate the deployment of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. However, there are key legal, commercial and practical matters to be considered first.
In our article we cover the top eight.
