@jacktshaw.bsky.social
Director of Groundwork Research and Policy Fellow, The Productivity Institute.
Devolution, local government, regional inequalities, homelessness, public service reform, industrial strategy, housing.
Devolution, local government, regional inequalities, homelessness, public service reform, industrial strategy, housing.
Reposted
I've published Substack #2 this morning:
FORGET STATE CAPACITY: WHAT ABOUT LOCAL CAPACITY?
The Government is going to war on ‘sludge’. In the last fortnight, Darren Jones has put Whitehall on a war-footing.
FORGET STATE CAPACITY: WHAT ABOUT LOCAL CAPACITY?
The Government is going to war on ‘sludge’. In the last fortnight, Darren Jones has put Whitehall on a war-footing.
February 1, 2026 at 12:15 PM
I've published Substack #2 this morning:
FORGET STATE CAPACITY: WHAT ABOUT LOCAL CAPACITY?
The Government is going to war on ‘sludge’. In the last fortnight, Darren Jones has put Whitehall on a war-footing.
FORGET STATE CAPACITY: WHAT ABOUT LOCAL CAPACITY?
The Government is going to war on ‘sludge’. In the last fortnight, Darren Jones has put Whitehall on a war-footing.
I've published Substack #2 this morning:
FORGET STATE CAPACITY: WHAT ABOUT LOCAL CAPACITY?
The Government is going to war on ‘sludge’. In the last fortnight, Darren Jones has put Whitehall on a war-footing.
FORGET STATE CAPACITY: WHAT ABOUT LOCAL CAPACITY?
The Government is going to war on ‘sludge’. In the last fortnight, Darren Jones has put Whitehall on a war-footing.
February 1, 2026 at 12:15 PM
I've published Substack #2 this morning:
FORGET STATE CAPACITY: WHAT ABOUT LOCAL CAPACITY?
The Government is going to war on ‘sludge’. In the last fortnight, Darren Jones has put Whitehall on a war-footing.
FORGET STATE CAPACITY: WHAT ABOUT LOCAL CAPACITY?
The Government is going to war on ‘sludge’. In the last fortnight, Darren Jones has put Whitehall on a war-footing.
The Government announced today - unless I've missed it elsewhere, which is entirely plausible - that it will increase the threshold at which a Housing Revenue Account needs to be opened. It'll also extend the PWLB preferential borrowing rate. Has any analysis been done on the appropriate PWLB rate?
January 28, 2026 at 3:30 PM
The Government announced today - unless I've missed it elsewhere, which is entirely plausible - that it will increase the threshold at which a Housing Revenue Account needs to be opened. It'll also extend the PWLB preferential borrowing rate. Has any analysis been done on the appropriate PWLB rate?
Fascinating infographic from the FT on the relationship between democracies and economic growth:
January 24, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Fascinating infographic from the FT on the relationship between democracies and economic growth:
Reposted
I've launched a new substack: Notes on Local Government. Please subscribe!
For my first column I've written about the slow, visible decline of the public realm, which not only reinforces the perception that things are getting worse but is also corrosive to public trust. substack.com/home/post/p-...
For my first column I've written about the slow, visible decline of the public realm, which not only reinforces the perception that things are getting worse but is also corrosive to public trust. substack.com/home/post/p-...
A politics of the public realm
Why don't politicians care about the public realm, and what can be done to fix it?
substack.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:51 AM
I've launched a new substack: Notes on Local Government. Please subscribe!
For my first column I've written about the slow, visible decline of the public realm, which not only reinforces the perception that things are getting worse but is also corrosive to public trust. substack.com/home/post/p-...
For my first column I've written about the slow, visible decline of the public realm, which not only reinforces the perception that things are getting worse but is also corrosive to public trust. substack.com/home/post/p-...
I've launched a new substack: Notes on Local Government. Please subscribe!
For my first column I've written about the slow, visible decline of the public realm, which not only reinforces the perception that things are getting worse but is also corrosive to public trust. substack.com/home/post/p-...
For my first column I've written about the slow, visible decline of the public realm, which not only reinforces the perception that things are getting worse but is also corrosive to public trust. substack.com/home/post/p-...
A politics of the public realm
Why don't politicians care about the public realm, and what can be done to fix it?
substack.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:51 AM
I've launched a new substack: Notes on Local Government. Please subscribe!
For my first column I've written about the slow, visible decline of the public realm, which not only reinforces the perception that things are getting worse but is also corrosive to public trust. substack.com/home/post/p-...
For my first column I've written about the slow, visible decline of the public realm, which not only reinforces the perception that things are getting worse but is also corrosive to public trust. substack.com/home/post/p-...
The Government has published its Written Statement on the Devolution Priority Programme.
Each Mayoral Strategic Authority will hold elections in May 2028 - rather than May 2027 as previously conceived.
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
Each Mayoral Strategic Authority will hold elections in May 2028 - rather than May 2027 as previously conceived.
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.
questions-statements.parliament.uk
December 4, 2025 at 10:27 AM
The Government has published its Written Statement on the Devolution Priority Programme.
Each Mayoral Strategic Authority will hold elections in May 2028 - rather than May 2027 as previously conceived.
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
Each Mayoral Strategic Authority will hold elections in May 2028 - rather than May 2027 as previously conceived.
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
How much will strategic authorities receive as part of their Integrated Settlements?
From the Institute for Government:
From the Institute for Government:
December 1, 2025 at 5:45 PM
How much will strategic authorities receive as part of their Integrated Settlements?
From the Institute for Government:
From the Institute for Government:
One detail I missed in the Local Government Finance Policy Statement this week: the Government will review whether sales, fees and charges can be devolved.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Local government finance policy statement 2026-27 to 2028-29
www.gov.uk
November 23, 2025 at 4:36 PM
One detail I missed in the Local Government Finance Policy Statement this week: the Government will review whether sales, fees and charges can be devolved.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is consulting on the 17 proposals it has recieved for local government re-organisation. The consultations run until 11 January 2026:
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
questions-statements.parliament.uk
November 19, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is consulting on the 17 proposals it has recieved for local government re-organisation. The consultations run until 11 January 2026:
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
Police and Crime Commissioners will be abolished in 2028. Responsibilities will go to strategic authorities where they exist or Police and Crime Boards where they do not:
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.
questions-statements.parliament.uk
November 13, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Police and Crime Commissioners will be abolished in 2028. Responsibilities will go to strategic authorities where they exist or Police and Crime Boards where they do not:
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
I've written for The Productivity Institute about the 'zonification' of place-based economic policy.
Over the past decade we’ve seen the “rise of the Mayor” — with strategic authorities taking more responsibility for shaping local economies.
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/the-rol...
Over the past decade we’ve seen the “rise of the Mayor” — with strategic authorities taking more responsibility for shaping local economies.
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/the-rol...
The role of place and the ‘zonification’ of growth - The Productivity Institute
Jack Shaw examines the role of place and the ‘zonification’ of growth in relation to Reeves' strategy.
www.productivity.ac.uk
November 6, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I've written for The Productivity Institute about the 'zonification' of place-based economic policy.
Over the past decade we’ve seen the “rise of the Mayor” — with strategic authorities taking more responsibility for shaping local economies.
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/the-rol...
Over the past decade we’ve seen the “rise of the Mayor” — with strategic authorities taking more responsibility for shaping local economies.
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/the-rol...
A number of interesting amendments to the Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill submitted by Members of Parliament.
Should the Government establish a recall process for councillors that breach the Code of Conduct?
Should the Government establish a recall process for councillors that breach the Code of Conduct?
November 5, 2025 at 3:51 PM
A number of interesting amendments to the Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill submitted by Members of Parliament.
Should the Government establish a recall process for councillors that breach the Code of Conduct?
Should the Government establish a recall process for councillors that breach the Code of Conduct?
The Local Government Association has published its Autumn Budget submission:
www.local.gov.uk/parliament/b...
www.local.gov.uk/parliament/b...
Autumn Budget 2025: LGA submission
Demonstrating the support and value that councils can provide to UK Government in delivering the objectives of the Autumn Budget 2025.
www.local.gov.uk
November 3, 2025 at 1:23 PM
The Local Government Association has published its Autumn Budget submission:
www.local.gov.uk/parliament/b...
www.local.gov.uk/parliament/b...
Shropshire has announced that is has requested Exceptional Financial Support.
October 29, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Shropshire has announced that is has requested Exceptional Financial Support.
The Government has issued a statement on local government re-organisation in Surrey.
Both proposals met the criteria, but the Government has chosen two unitaries - East Surrey and West Surrey - rather than three. Government will re-pay £500 million of Woking's debt in 2026-27:
Both proposals met the criteria, but the Government has chosen two unitaries - East Surrey and West Surrey - rather than three. Government will re-pay £500 million of Woking's debt in 2026-27:
October 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM
The Government has issued a statement on local government re-organisation in Surrey.
Both proposals met the criteria, but the Government has chosen two unitaries - East Surrey and West Surrey - rather than three. Government will re-pay £500 million of Woking's debt in 2026-27:
Both proposals met the criteria, but the Government has chosen two unitaries - East Surrey and West Surrey - rather than three. Government will re-pay £500 million of Woking's debt in 2026-27:
Kent County Council is requesting that a portion of income from Dartford Crossing be allocated to it and that it is considering introducing a tax on "foreign freight", which should be hypothecated for fixing potholes.
October 21, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Kent County Council is requesting that a portion of income from Dartford Crossing be allocated to it and that it is considering introducing a tax on "foreign freight", which should be hypothecated for fixing potholes.
I wrote about local authorities run by Reform UK for Renewal Journal earlier this year.
Given the challenges facing Kent County Council, this feels pertinent:
Given the challenges facing Kent County Council, this feels pertinent:
October 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I wrote about local authorities run by Reform UK for Renewal Journal earlier this year.
Given the challenges facing Kent County Council, this feels pertinent:
Given the challenges facing Kent County Council, this feels pertinent:
There is evidence that local authorities aren't using their Community Infrastructure Levy contributions. Striking that by December 2024 - as the Public Accounts Committee reports - 17 per cent haven't even published their Infrastructure Funding Statement from 2022-23:
October 18, 2025 at 2:57 PM
There is evidence that local authorities aren't using their Community Infrastructure Levy contributions. Striking that by December 2024 - as the Public Accounts Committee reports - 17 per cent haven't even published their Infrastructure Funding Statement from 2022-23:
The Institute for Fiscal Studies highlights today that should Referendum Principles be set higher and local authorities were to increase council tax by 1 per cent more than expected, it'd raised £500 million in 2029-30. Presumably a tad shy of that over the next three years.
October 16, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The Institute for Fiscal Studies highlights today that should Referendum Principles be set higher and local authorities were to increase council tax by 1 per cent more than expected, it'd raised £500 million in 2029-30. Presumably a tad shy of that over the next three years.
The rate of Exceptional Financial Support fell in 2025-26 following a sustained increase. Three pertinent questions:
1. Will it continue to fall in 2026-27? If so, that'd be a significant achievement for the Government.
1. Will it continue to fall in 2026-27? If so, that'd be a significant achievement for the Government.
October 15, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The rate of Exceptional Financial Support fell in 2025-26 following a sustained increase. Three pertinent questions:
1. Will it continue to fall in 2026-27? If so, that'd be a significant achievement for the Government.
1. Will it continue to fall in 2026-27? If so, that'd be a significant achievement for the Government.
That local authorities are using reserves at an unsustainable rate is well understood, but the specific dimensions of that aren't. For example, the Institute for Government's new Performance Tracker highlights that LAs are drawing on reserves consistently, in higher numbers:
October 15, 2025 at 7:56 PM
That local authorities are using reserves at an unsustainable rate is well understood, but the specific dimensions of that aren't. For example, the Institute for Government's new Performance Tracker highlights that LAs are drawing on reserves consistently, in higher numbers:
Reading the amendments tabled to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill under consideration by the Bill Committee.
Protecting green spaces is important, but should strategic authorities really have oversight over allotments? I suspect it'll be withdrawn.
Protecting green spaces is important, but should strategic authorities really have oversight over allotments? I suspect it'll be withdrawn.
October 14, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Reading the amendments tabled to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill under consideration by the Bill Committee.
Protecting green spaces is important, but should strategic authorities really have oversight over allotments? I suspect it'll be withdrawn.
Protecting green spaces is important, but should strategic authorities really have oversight over allotments? I suspect it'll be withdrawn.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published its Devolution Annual Report for 2024-25. It includes a helpful list of devolved functions for strategic authorities:
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Secretary of State’s Annual Report on English Devolution 2024-25
www.gov.uk
October 14, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published its Devolution Annual Report for 2024-25. It includes a helpful list of devolved functions for strategic authorities:
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
The Government has launched a consultation today on the Local Government Pensions Scheme - including whether the roles of Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillor and Member of the London Assembly should be eligible to access it:
October 13, 2025 at 9:27 PM
The Government has launched a consultation today on the Local Government Pensions Scheme - including whether the roles of Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillor and Member of the London Assembly should be eligible to access it: