Room151

Live and online: Private Markets Profile Q4 issue: Welcome to the latest edition of the Private Markets Profile. Getting to grips with climate change is the theme of this issue, and the topic is explored in this quarter’s[...] The post Live and online:… dlvr.it/SxfSjy

CCN: two-thirds of councils’ budgets spend on care services: Local authorities in England spend around two-thirds of their budget on adults’ and children’s social care, a new analysis has revealed. The research by Pixel Financial Management for the… dlvr.it/T4FZ4N

Hearthstone announces deployment of residential fund: A £152m residential fund managed by Hearthstone Investments, which had commitments from Teesside and Cumbria pension funds alongside other investors, has now been deployed. This week the manager… dlvr.it/T48f2m

PAC: only 10% of levelling up funds have been spent by councils: The government are “struggling” to get the £10bn of levelling up funding “out the door”, with only around 10% being spent by councils so far, a new report has revealed.[...] The post PAC:… dlvr.it/T48f2l

Stephen Sheen: clearing the local audit backlog: The government is now assessing feedback from a consultation on proposals to clear the backlog of local audits in England. Here, Stephen Sheen looks at some of the difficulties arising[...] The post… dlvr.it/T48f2j

Jonathan Bunt: is Right to Buy clouding councils’ approaches to strategic asset management?: A discussion panel at Housing151 revealed differing opinions around stock condition data between housing associations and local authorities. Jonathan Bunt,… dlvr.it/T48f2g

LGPS funds face growing pressures over Gaza conflict exposure: LGPS funds are facing growing public pressures over their investments in companies that might benefit from the conflict in Gaza. The latest council meeting agenda for Powys County Council… dlvr.it/T48f2f

LGPS Central invests £200m in real estate debt fund: LGPS Central, one of the eight Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) pools, has committed £200m to a real estate debt fund managed by M&G Investments. At first close of its[...] The post LGPS… dlvr.it/T48f2W

Leeds regeneration to deliver affordable homes and improved infrastructure: Leeds City Council’s executive board is to approve plans for a 10-year regeneration project that will see the authority partner with national, regional and local government.… dlvr.it/T48f2L

Government announces exceptions for council tax premium on second homes: The government has announced several exceptions to new rules giving councils greater powers to double council tax on second homes. Introduced in the levelling up and regeneration… dlvr.it/T48f15

LGPS CIO joins Labour’s National Wealth Fund taskforce: Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has appointed two senior UK pension executives alongside other influential investors to lead the launch of a new National Wealth Fund. David Vickers, CIO at… dlvr.it/T3ws5q

LPFA escalates net zero coverage across portfolio: The London Pensions Fund Authority (LPFA) has achieved a 75% emissions reduction in its listed equity portfolio and expanded its net zero coverage to corporate fixed income and real estate.[...] The… dlvr.it/T3p8Bw

Roundtable: women and the LGPS- reviewing strategic asset allocation: Inflation and rising rates pose new challenges for the LGPS. Room151 brought together women from six local authority funds, one pool, a consultancy, an independent advisor and two fund… dlvr.it/T3nkcY

15 years of change in government bond and cash markets: Head of Rates & Cash, Craig Inches, celebrated 15 years with Royal London Asset Management in January 2024. He talks through what has changed – and what hasn’t. What has[...] The post 15 years of… dlvr.it/T3nkbK

Housing151: government must take a ‘more sensible’ attitude towards debt: A “more sensible” attitude towards debt needs to be taken by central government as local authorities cannot currently build houses without borrowing, a section 151 officer has… dlvr.it/T3lyp3

Housing151 in review: addressing the UK’s housing crisis: Senior local government finance and housing officers joined public and private sector partners at Room151’s Housing151 conference to discuss the UK’s deepening housing crisis and attempt to find… dlvr.it/T3lZ3j

Local government minister reports good progress at Liverpool and Thurrock as Sandwell intervention ends: Updates on statutory interventions at Liverpool, Sandwell and Thurrock councils have been presented in parliament. In a written statement, Simon… dlvr.it/T3lZ28

Richard Harbord: Budget does little to stop new s114 notices being issued in 2024/25: The former chief executive of the London boroughs of Richmond and Hammersmith & Fulham, Richard Harbord, reacts to the Spring Budget and its impact on local government.… dlvr.it/T3l7lp

Major cuts to public services would fund chancellor’s post-election spending, finds IFS: Delivering on the government’s post-election spending plans would require substantial cuts to local authority services, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has said.… dlvr.it/T3l7kq

Housing151: ‘Total, radical shift’ in housing provision required, says keynote Jackie Sadek: ‘Build more homes’. That was the fundamental message of a passionate opening keynote given by Jackie Sadek, chair, UK Innovation Corridor & author, Broken Homes.… dlvr.it/T3j7Cb

Spring Budget: Hunt could take ‘further action’ if LGPS UK equity allocations don’t increase: Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds will be required to publicly disclose their UK equity investments, with the government potentially taking “further… dlvr.it/T3j7CH