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There are a number of key things that ADEPT, in support of the LGA submission to HM Treasury February 2014, would like Government to consider as part of their Budget Announcement on 19 March:

1. More flexible ways to borrow money such as the establishment of a Municipal Bonds Agency for Councils to fund major infrastruct ure projects in addition to those already available. We would also like to see more freedoms and flexibilities by removing some ring-fenced funds to allow for better value and greater local choice.
2. Removal of the Housing Revenue Account borrowing ca p . The Government’s Autumn Statement announcement was welcome but more can be done to help stimulate the housing market.
3. The creation of an emergency highways maintenance fund is strongly supported. ADEPT already works with Defra, DCLG, the LGA and t he Environment Agency through the Local Adaptation Advisory Panel but the recent storm surges and flooding further highlight the importance of infras tructure resilience.
4. Longer term budget/funding certainty for local authorities.
   In addition to these measures we would also like to see the following:
5. More freedoms and flexibilities with regard to the single local growth fund to enable local leaders and businesses to drive, and derive benefit from, growth at the sub-national level. Flexibility between capital and revenue funds as well as financial years would help to improve value for money.
6. Accelerated funding and a reduction in ad-hoc competitive bidding processes to enable local authorities and LEPs to fast-track infrastructure projects which release homes and jobs. In particular we would like to see an accelerated release to local bodies of the £250m which has been earmarked for extending superfast broadband coverage. The recent allocations are welcome but the proce ss to get this funding out to local bodies needs to be accelerated.
7. Encouragement, bold measures, and new financial incentives, which encourage all local authorities to reinvest funding raised through mechanisms such as New Homes Bonus and Business Rates retention into long-term capital programmes to stimulate growth. Longer term certainty of such mechanisms would give local authorities confidence to borrow or cash flow major infrastructure.
8. Commitment to explore and develop a guarantor/bo nd arrangement to de-risk Revolving Infrastructure Funds for investors relating to future repayment mechanisms.
9. Commitment to introduce measures which discourage ‘land-banking’ and delays in delivery of extant permissions. This could include tax breaks or other fiscal incentives to encourage developers and landowners to release banked land and implement planning approvals.
10. Commitment to tackle the flaws in the local gov ernment funding system which mean that upper tier authorities in fast growing areas are financially worse off becaus e of growth and to help address opposition that this creates from the public to new development.
11. ADEPT supports a diverse energy supply framework and recognise the importance of new nuclear and other energy sources, including shale gas extraction where appropriate. However, while the 100% business rate retention for shale gas extraction schemes announced earlier in the year was seen as a step in the right direction, local communities need to see more local benefit if schemes are to be accepted.
12. The concessionary fares scheme accounts for a disproportionate of current public transport spend. ADEPT offers to work with government to establish a new regime for concessionary funding that is comprehensive, fair and affordable. This could include freedoms such as allowing user contribution s.