Mark Sandford | Lightnews

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · 4d

Agreed - I am surprised this size of new commitment hasn't had more attention. The settlement also commits to doing something unspecified for 26-28. A similar commitment for those years would require a further similar-sized chunk of money.

Amber Dellar @amberdellar.bsky.social · 4d

This is a LOT of money for govt to come up with, and quickly ( it's being paid in autumn this year).

It's also unclear how it plans to fund things from 28/29 onwards, when it will assume responsibility for all future SEND deficits. OBR forecasts those will reach £6bn in the first year alone.

Amber Dellar @amberdellar.bsky.social · 4d

This is a LOT of money for govt to come up with, and quickly ( it's being paid in autumn this year).

It's also unclear how it plans to fund things from 28/29 onwards, when it will assume responsibility for all future SEND deficits. OBR forecasts those will reach £6bn in the first year alone.

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · 9d

The first song on this clip appeared on Enya's album Shepherd Moons in 1991

Michael Warburton @michaelwarburton.bsky.social · 9d

Cannot tell you how much I adore this clip from 1941 of women from the Western Isles of the Outer Hebrides singing as they work their Harris Tweed.

It was shot by the Oscar winning cinematographer JACK CARDIFF.

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · 9d

I have thought for some time that SEND overspends will be the factor that really kills local government financially www.ft.com/content/ab85... A situation where there's not likely to be much choice other than for the Govt to find the money

Nearly 70 English councils say they face insolvency over special needs education debt

Plea illustrates dilemma facing government as it attempts to overhaul increasingly expensive system

www.ft.com

Michael Warburton @michaelwarburton.bsky.social · 9d

Cannot tell you how much I adore this clip from 1941 of women from the Western Isles of the Outer Hebrides singing as they work their Harris Tweed.

It was shot by the Oscar winning cinematographer JACK CARDIFF.

Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 14d

This is absolutely right. It's actually just about leadership, period. I wrote this blog post about a project I was actually involved in that achieved its objectives, on time and on budget. Despite green belt, badgers, bats, NIMBYS, a public enquiry and everything else the system could throw at it.

On time, On Budget - and Fast — Freewheeling

The secret to getting things done quickly and cheaply lies in how organisations are run. I know - I've been part of a team that's done it.

www.freewheeling.info

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · 16d

Recommend this www.labourtogether.uk/all-reports/... I particularly liked the sentence "As a common law country, our natural default is to make decisions by adversarial process between interested parties". Influence of the constitutional water we swim in on practical matters is rarely acknowledged

Build the rail! Save the snails! — Labour Together

Why does British infrastructure cost so much? This paper, by economist Dan Davies, argues that Britain’s adversarial planning system forces developers to gold-plate solutions to hypothetical problems....

www.labourtogether.uk

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · 18d

Ministerial statement expected on "business rates" today. Conceivable that this may relate to issues around pubs and revaluation, though no further details currently. Watch this space - around 1pm #businessrates #pubs

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · 22d

Wondering about the mechanism to actually implement this: www.lgcplus.com/politics/dev... Could be a Venice-style entry tax: or a road pricing scheme, but one that includes motorways and only covers non-UK vehicles?? Not sure either is legally possible right now.

Exclusive: Kent looks to introduce foreign lorry levy

Kent CC is exploring how to introduce a levy on foreign lorries and freight traffic entering the county. Council leader Linden Kemkaran (Ref) told LGC:

www.lgcplus.com

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · 22d

The Government has announced that elections scheduled for May 2026 will be postponed in 29 councils. Five of these have already been postponed for 12 months, having been originally scheduled for 2025: Thurrock, Norfolk, Suffolk, East Sussex and West Sussex. #localgov #reorganisation

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · 28d

How could business rates be improved so as to provide solid funding and encourage growth? Some ideas from me and @muldoonsmith.bsky.social url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/J-b9CVA3BF...

New development: How could incentive-based sources of finance fund English local government effectively?

The UK government’s Fair Funding Review will introduce major changes to the allocation of local government funding from 2026. Government policy statements indicate that scope still remains for adju...

url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · 29d

With the government reportedly about to provide additional support for pubs on business rates - what would this mean and how would it work? See commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri... for what we know at the time of writing

What is happening to business rates on pubs?

Some pubs may have to pay significantly higher business rates from April 2026. This follows business rates revaluation and the removal of covid-era relief.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Jan 14

Interesting that "Northern mayors" get name-checked in this article. How significant is their existence, and involvement, in this reported decision?

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · Jan 14

All this would have been much easier with a genuinely empowered tier of sub-national government which could plan and deliver infrastructure like this without having to constantly seek permission from Whitehall.

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · Jan 14

All this would have been much easier with a genuinely empowered tier of sub-national government which could plan and deliver infrastructure like this without having to constantly seek permission from Whitehall.

Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · Jan 13

Excl

Birmingham to Manchester is back on

as.ft.com/r/771bb6e6-4...

Ministers to announce new rail link between Birmingham and Manchester

[FREE TO READ] Government will reveal much-delayed plans for major new and upgraded rail links in north of England

as.ft.com

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Jan 8

Thanks JP for this, I had no idea that these were all run from a single source. It is indeed a very positive development

JP Spencer @jpspencer.bsky.social · Jan 8

Overall a key lesson from this story is the power of new organisations to make positive change – Mill Media is to be commended for pushing the boundaries of new media and local democracy.

Thanks to @djstimms.bsky.social for the chat.

Read more here: futurenorth.substack.com/p/is-this-th...

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Is this the future of local news?

The Manchester Mill model goes nationwide

futurenorth.substack.com

JP Spencer @jpspencer.bsky.social · Jan 8

Overall a key lesson from this story is the power of new organisations to make positive change – Mill Media is to be commended for pushing the boundaries of new media and local democracy.

Thanks to @djstimms.bsky.social for the chat.

Read more here: futurenorth.substack.com/p/is-this-th...

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Is this the future of local news?

The Manchester Mill model goes nationwide

futurenorth.substack.com

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Dec 18

No legal power to send in the NAO

But this would not have precluded a best value review in conjunction with the auditors, for instance

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Dec 15

Yes the plural is doing a lot of heavy lifting there

JP Spencer @jpspencer.bsky.social · Dec 15

FAO business case nerds: government are finally getting round to publishing business cases.

This has been a long time coming - I remember working on ideas around this over three years ago.

So well done to the government for actually getting on with it.

www.gov.uk/government/c...

Business case publications: collection

This is a collection page for major project and programme business cases.

www.gov.uk

JP Spencer @jpspencer.bsky.social · Dec 15

FAO business case nerds: government are finally getting round to publishing business cases.

This has been a long time coming - I remember working on ideas around this over three years ago.

So well done to the government for actually getting on with it.

www.gov.uk/government/c...

Business case publications: collection

This is a collection page for major project and programme business cases.

www.gov.uk

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Dec 1

Legend has it that that song was actually about Dylan. “I’ve lost my harmonica, Albert…”

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · Nov 30

🎶I been Ayn Randed, nearly branded
Communist, 'cause I'm left handed🎶

Reaching back into my collection for an album from 59 years ago. A favourite of the lunchtime music club at school. We had no idea who Ayn Rand was but Dylan style word play was all the rage at the time

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · Nov 30

🎶I been Ayn Randed, nearly branded
Communist, 'cause I'm left handed🎶

Reaching back into my collection for an album from 59 years ago. A favourite of the lunchtime music club at school. We had no idea who Ayn Rand was but Dylan style word play was all the rage at the time

Alan Renwick @alanrenwick.bsky.social · Nov 28

We're recruiting!

Please do spread the news far and wide. We're excited by the prospect of being joined by another great new colleague!

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · Nov 28

Join and help to lead the Constitution Unit!

@uclspp.bsky.social is looking for a Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics who will also join our senior team and contribute to our research and impact activities.

Applicants must have, or be near to finishing, a PhD.

Apply 👇

Job opportunity: Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics

The UCL Department of Political Science and Constitution Unit are seeking to appoint a Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics. The successful candidate will join the senior team at the Unit.

www.ucl.ac.uk

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Nov 25

What's a 'tourist tax' or 'visitor levy', how does it work, what are the options for England? See some background here commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

Tourist taxes: policy and debates

A briefing about transient visitor levies or 'tourist taxes', including information on plans for the introduction of tourist taxes in Scotland and Wales.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · Nov 25

This edition includes contributions from Dave Busfield-Birch, Tom Fleming, Jim Gallagher, Robert Hazell, @rowaninlondon.bsky.social, @lisajames.bsky.social, @hannahkelly.bsky.social, @alanrenwick.bsky.social, Meg Russell, @marksandford.bsky.social, @paulsilk.bsky.social and @alanwhysall.bsky.social.

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Nov 20

This is really interesting, JP. Any thoughts as to why Rotherham's productivity started climbing in 2021 specifically? I know that's around the time that the mayoralty got full powers but I'd be loath to claim a direct association...

JP Spencer @jpspencer.bsky.social · Nov 20

Read more about the rise of Rotherham and South Yorkshire’s economy in the new post below.

futurenorth.substack.com/p/what-lies-...

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