Kickstarting economic growth

The government has pledged to a “mission-based” approach with kickstarting the economy viewed as its number one priority. It is in this context that APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence), the University of Staffordshire and CLES (Centre for Local Economic Strategies) developed this paper on the issues of growth, in terms of its relationship to the role of local authorities and framed by the now fifteen years of austerity, or, at the very least, severe constraints on local government spending.

This paper wass published in advance of the Autumn 2024 Budget to provide the local government sector with a means by which to advocate for a recognition that local councils, which are properly resourced and funded, can be a catalyst for good growth within local economies, and supporting growth in the national economic context too. This should, the authors argue, be viewed through the prism of investment, rather than a drain on the public finances. Indeed a failure to reflect upon the role of local councils in developing good growth runs counter to all of the Government’s missions which rightly reflect on opportunities, life chances and the recalibration of public services to support an economy that provides for healthier, happier and more sustainable local communities.