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You’ll have noticed that it’s 2022 now, and the long-expected Levelling Up White Paper (LUWP) and UK Shared Prosperity Fund Framework remains under wraps. Michael Gove will front this 100-page document, but the entire DLUHC Ministerial team are behind it, as the key social policy coming from a key Government department between now and the general election; aiming to make good on many manifesto promises made in December 2019. Bets are on for the week 17^th, 24^th or even the 31^st January for publication.

When does a party not feel like a party? When it’s the Conservative party, perhaps, after what we classically describe as a bruising time for the PM, no.10 and it’s Communications leads. Tory MPs from all party factions are upset with the PM, some seeing him as reckless, rule-breaking, lackadaisical. The PM is too old for insouciance but risks looking like a youthful, bullish PM in the Spring of his career, not befitting this stage of his premiership or the winter of covid discontent we’re in.

The much anticipated Levelling Up White Paper (LUWP) is expected to publish before Christmas, with all bets on for week 6^th December OR week 13^th December.  However, the PM is in the midst of political firefighting driven by factors that are not yet under control and external events always steer the course and set priorities at no.10. 

UKCRF: Calling all housing partners listed in successful Community Renewal Fund bids. Drop us a line here @CtW. UKCRF bid winners are confirmed. The full list is here and CRF projects will run from now to the extended deadline of the end of June 2022. CRF is described as the forerunner of SPF and we want to build a bank of intelligence and experience from our Communities that Work membership from today.  

£150 billion windfall gives the Chancellor what he needs.

You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime you find, you get what you need. Rishi Sunak could have hummed this tune on route to deliver the Budget last week.   He can’t have the low taxes he wants, and the PM hasn’t got his high wage economy either, but the OBR handed £150 billion back to forecasts, which brought about a pre-Christmas spending spree from HMT.

What do we want? More Mayors!
When do we want them? Now!
This isn’t a direct quote, more an impression taken from an address by our new leader at DLUHC. It’s quite easy to paraphrase the address, as when Michael Gove was asked in a fringe session at conservative party conference if he wanted to see more mayors, he just said ‘Yes’.

From Teesside to Manchester, Gove goes North
The new Secretary of State at the new Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was fast off the blocks and on the move in his first few days in the job. He went straight to the site of the largest new freeport, dropped into a biosciences lab, and ended at a towns funded area where homes, transport and jobs were on the agenda. 

Shuffling and Spending
The Prime Minister has a new, longer catch phrase: build back better post pandemic.  He used it as he wielded the axe in last weeks’ Cabinet reshuffle, which saw Robert Jenrick out and Michael Gove in at the (newly named) Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.. There’s a new Minister for Levelling Up as ‘rising star’ Kemi Badenoch MP takes on the job and retains her Equalities brief. 

Autumn is upon us. Parliament opens for legislative business again today and we're sharpening our pencils for a packed schedule of work right through the season. With party conferences, the Government's Autumn Statement, and a Comprehensive Spending Review set to make announcements on UKSPF, there's a lot to play for in the run-up to Christmas.

Welcome to the latest edition of Communities that Work News. This fortnightly e-shot reaches across our membership and our subscribers to cover topics including News, our key areas of work and policy interests, our member news and upcoming events.

Welcome to the latest edition of Communities that Work News. This fortnightly e-shot reaches across our membership and our subscribers to cover topics including News, our key areas of work and policy interests, our member news and upcoming events.

Welcome to the latest edition of Communities that Work News. This fortnightly e-shot reaches across our membership and our subscribers to cover topics including News, our key areas of work and policy interests, our member news and upcoming events.

Welcome to the latest edition of Communities that Work News. This fortnightly e-shot reaches across our membership and our subscribers to cover topics including News, our key areas of work and policy interests, our member news and upcoming events.