What it is: Support services company Interserve reports on local authority attitudes to outsourcing as they expect to make 10% cuts to their budgets in the next two years.
When it came out: 8 April 2010.
Why it is important: The research shows that, of the 152 staff members at local authorities questioned, that 84% think planned government savings of £5.5bn by 2008-11 is unrealistic and almost half think that the Total Place efficiency initiative will have no effect on local services or make them worse.
To read the full report click here: …

What it is: The BPF have launched an initiative to encourage planners to think more carefully about the infrastructure surrounding new developments, such as schools, health facilities, and parks. This guide aims to show planners how to take account of infrastructure when processing an application.
When it came out: 27 April 2010
Why it is important: Whichever party wins the general election, the need for planners to understand how to help guide developments surrounding new schemes is unlikely to disappear.
To download the guide, click here: Social_Infrastructure_Report

What it is: Economic think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies has delivered its verdict on the plans for “efficiency savings” from Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
When it came out: 27 April 2010.
Why it is important: It says that the parties have misled the public on how much their efficiency savings would be able to help cut the £164bn annual budget deficit. It says that efficiency savings should not be counted among the public spending cuts that the next government would need to make.
To read the full briefing …

What it is: The Liberal Democrat party manifesto for the 2010 general election.
Simply called Manifesto 2010, this is the Lib Dems’ opportunity to spell out how  they might influence government in the event of a hung parliament on 6 May.
When it came out: 14 April 2010
Why it is important: The Lib Dems have backed the Tories on planning policy, supporting the idea of third-party right of appeal for certain planning decisions. They make broad pledges to cut the public deficit by axing Regional Development Agencies that are underperforming, among other …

What it is: The Conservative Party manifesto for the 2010 general election.
It calls itself an Invitation to Join the Government of Britain, as the Tories try to convince the public that they can give all British citizens more power over government.
When it came out: 13 April 2010
Why it is important: It confirms Tory pledges ot devolve powers over planning to local communities, as well as promising to upstage Labour’s pledges on making public property savings.
To read the manifesto in full, click here: Conservatives Manifesto 2010

What it is: The Labour Party manifesto for the 2010 general election, as it tries to convince the public that it deserves a fourth Parliamentary term.
When it came out: 12 April 2010
Why it is important: It sets out Labour pledges for areas including planning and property, although many of its property policies were set out at last month’s Budget.
To read the manifesto click here: Labour Party election manifesto

What it is: Barton Willmore has released a briefing document on the impact of the new Planning Policy Statement 5 (PPS5) on planning for heritage sites.
When it came out: 13 April 2010.
Why it is important: This guidance note explains some of the key changes in the new PPS5, and what this means for development.
To read the full guidance click here: PPS5: Changes in Heritage Policy

What it is: Total Place is a Treasury-sponsored initiative looking at how local areas can save money by sharing services across public sector agencies more effectively. This could mean social services and the Job Centre sharing data about unemployment, or local authorities sharing property with regional civil servants.
When it came out: 25 March 2010
Why it’s important: Pilot schemes in Kent and Worcestershire examining how Total Place can be applied to property have shown that up to £35bn in property sales might be available in the next ten years. This would …

What it is: former Reed Elvesier chief executive Ian Smith has examined the case for relocating civil service jobs out of London and the South East in order to save money.
When it came out: Wednesday 24 March 2010
Why it is important: The review expands on recommendations made in the 2004 Lyons Review, which said 20,000 civil servants should be moved out of London and the South East. This latest report says that a further 15,000 should be moved within the next five years.
To read the full report, click here: Budget …

What it is: The Institute of Directors has published a report on the amount of money wasted by the public sector on the £220bn of services it procures annually.
When it came out: 19 March 2010
Why it is important: The IoD says the public sector could save £25bn a year within three years if it managed its procurement and outsourcing better. In this report it also sets out the way it thinks it could do this, including more collaborative procurement and a new procurement agency led by the Office of Government …