Local authorities urged to go green and boost local economies

A new report argues that local government should use its financial clout to push for more environmentally sustainable local communities

by Keith Richmond
Friday, March 12th, 2010

Councils should use their spending power to make local economies more resilient, communities more sustainable and minimise the environmental impact.

Those are the conclusions of More Bang for the Public Buck, a new report from the Association for Public Service Excellence in partnership with the Centre for Local Economic Strategies. Their research reveals that local council contracts can now yield £2 for every £1 spent.

APSE chief executive Paul O’Brien said: “Using £175 billion public procurement power effectively can deliver huge benefits. Our previous work analysing the local economic footprint shows how a multiplier £1 of public spending can generate £1.64 in the local economy through strong employment and supply chains. If councils considered how to deliver community benefits through their procurement processes, that figure could rise to £2.”

CLES chief executive Neil McInroy said: “Imminent public sector cuts make it imperative that we start sweating the public sector pound to maximum effect. We in the local government community can do more to ensure public resources cradle and nurture the local economy through supporting local businesses, social enterprises, the voluntary sector and supply chains.”

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About The Author

Keith Richmond is deputy editor of Tribune
  • Robert

    Councils spending powers come from our council tax, my council is claiming to be broke now unable to do anything including care for the elderly, they loaned the local rugby club £9 million and built them a 29 million stadium, then of course the recession hit. Now we are being told about cuts to street lights, take your own rubbish to the tip, out side your door the pavement is yours and you need to clean it pick up rubbish and perhaps do more for your community as the council runs away.
    £38 million would have helped the council meets it’s requirements sadly for my council the Rugby club is more important then the elderly or the sick or the disabled although the way they are now playing I suggest a carer be brought in.

    I was not asked about paying out this money, but I’m being asked to now go green and take my rubbish to the recycling center myself, but is that not why we pay our council tax to have it collected… it’s a labour council of course…

  • Robert

    Councils spending powers come from our council tax, my council is claiming to be broke now unable to do anything including care for the elderly, they loaned the local rugby club £9 million and built them a 29 million stadium, then of course the recession hit. Now we are being told about cuts to street lights, take your own rubbish to the tip, out side your door the pavement is yours and you need to clean it pick up rubbish and perhaps do more for your community as the council runs away.
    £38 million would have helped the council meets it’s requirements sadly for my council the Rugby club is more important then the elderly or the sick or the disabled although the way they are now playing I suggest a carer be brought in.

    I was not asked about paying out this money, but I’m being asked to now go green and take my rubbish to the recycling center myself, but is that not why we pay our council tax to have it collected… it’s a labour council of course…