Here's how an intelligent council tackles austerity. Take note Lambeth

[editor]

Preston's story shames library-closing Lambeth.

A city ravaged by Tory austerity is now thriving after pioneering a system it calls “radicalism on a shoestring”.

Fed-up officials in Preston, Lancs, took matters into their own hands after a £700million redevelopment collapsed in 2011. Since then, the council’s Central Government grant has been cut from £30million to £18million.


The city was in the bottom 20 per cent of deprived areas and life expectancy for its poorest was just 66.

But determined officials looked for a model to turn its fortunes around – and found it in the US in Cleveland, Ohio. The idea was to keep money in the local economy and the tactic has led to the creation of hundreds of jobs and renewed building work.

The Tory government just quietly delayed a tax reform over fears it'll hike bills for poor strivers
Preston had the second-best improvement on the Multiple Deprivation Index between 2010 and 2015. And last year it was named the best city in the North West to live and work in.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell says Preston’s “radicalism is what we need across the whole country”.

The Manchester-based Centre for Local Economic Strategies reported that six major local institutions had spent 18 per cent of their budget there in 2017 – up from five per cent in 2013.

The increase means an extra £75million was being spent in the city.

How one city is beating Tory austerity with 'radicalism on a shoestring'

 

[marty21]

It is impressive what Preston is doing, but I can't see a London Council replicating it.

 

[Dan U]

will have a read of that with interest, but one massive difference between Preston and Lambeth is what each respective authority has responsibility for.

Preston has no responsibility for Social Care or Education, they both sit with Lancashire - i.e. the two main areas of expenditure and cost pressure on the general fund.

 

[Dan U]

It is impressive what Preston is doing, but I can't see a London Council replicating it.

i've been a part of similar conversations with some non London councils in Social Care - trying to encourage small local providers to grow, particularly when big nationals hand back contracts. it's the same logic as Preston, if you spend money with local firms they will headquarter there, employ more local people in their offices, pay business rates, more money in to local economy etc.

Big corporate/national third sector providers - all of that activity often goes to wherever their offices already are, often in that London etc.

As an aside, the Mirror website is a shocker to read articles on