England’s first Land Commission, facilitated by the Manchester-based Centre for Local Economic Strategies, said Liverpool’s leaders should recognise “the true social purpose of land” rather than seeing it just as a “commodity”.
CLES welcomes Sarah Longlands as new chief executive
Former director of IPPR North and advocate for regional development in the North of England joined the Manchester-based ‘think and do’ tank in June.
Neil McInroy: taking the fight for a fairer economy to America
At the forefront of establishing the community wealth building model across the UK, Neil McInroy is taking on a fresh challenge. The Meteor speaks to him about his departure from the Centre of Local Economic Strategies to take up a new post in the United States.
Hulme residents oppose new student tower blocks and call for community facilities
Hulme residents took to the streets to make their opposition clear to more student tower blocks. “There is nothing else for older people here,” says Sally, who has lived in Hulme since 1969.
Reshaping ownership within adult social care
Adult social care is broken. After years of marketisation and outsourcing we are left with a service where large market players dominate. Taxpayers’ money, and the savings of older people, are being extracted out of the system for shareholder gain.
The Centre for Local Economic Strategies have published a report on the issues involved.
The report’s author, Tom Lloyd Goodwin, reflects on how ownership models must be shifted to fix that broken system.
How Manchester’s bus drivers beat ‘fire and rehire’
After 85 days on strike, Manchester’s bus drivers have forced corporate giant Go Ahead to abandon its plans to fire and rehire almost 500 workers – it’s a victory not only for them, but for workers across the country.
Salford Star closure – how Salford council tried to block and discredit the Star
The Salford Star has shut down. This article is a warning to others who may follow, on the pitfalls of founding a genuine publication that aims to give the community a voice and hold public bodies up to account. They will try to discredit you, block information and shut you down.
Here the Salford Star editor, Stephen Kingston, looks at how democracy perished badly under the Salford mayoral system.
Democratic approach to managing public land called for in open letter to Burnham
Campaigners call for Andy Burnham to uphold his election manifesto promise and introduce a Land Commission in Greater Manchester, following the example set by the Liverpool city region.
Are council deals with developers offering best value? Research paper questions development policy and calls for greater transparency
New research paper investigating the sale of public land in Manchester to property developers, questions whether the public are getting value for money in these deals.
Authors highlight lack of available information on development deals and call for a Land Commission. Manchester City Council responds.
Fossil fuel holdings increase at GM Pension Fund, after claims it would divest from them
Analysis of the Fund’s 2021 annual report by Fossil Free Greater Manchester shows the Fund increased its holdings of fossil fuel shares between 2019 and 2020, undercutting its claims it has made moves to divest.