The problem of "cost shunting" is again brilliantly illustrated with a homelessness case study. Of course, problems of working across departments is a perennial issue in government but I've seldom seen it put so well

There is (very) light rain in our bit of North Yorkshire. The rest of the family (and the cat!) are all outside marvelling at the sky 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️

Stealing someone's home from under them is audacious, and difficult to comprehend - but it happens (and there's lots of good work now going on to prevent it). Good listen ⤵️ pca.st/episode/2c29...

With 'deed theft' scammers are targeting Black homeowners

Longtime homeowners — often Black seniors — are being tricked into signing away the deeds to their own homes, then getting evicted from them. It's called deed theft, and it's rampant in…

pca.st

If this does happen, can I trademark now the label "Ben Bucks"please. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosper...

Ben Zaranko@benzaranko.bsky.social · 4d ago

Question for the devolution nerds: Ben Houchen won't be allowed to cut income tax *rates*, but what's to stop him using his share of local income tax receipts to send out cheques worth the same amount, as a *spending* programme? Practicalities? Does he lack the required spending powers?

I'm not sure first-time buyers in North Yorkshire would agree that a fall in the values of second homes is a 'disastrous' outcome (if it's actually happened) www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/2642834...

Petition signed by 1,000 people calling for end to North Yorkshire second homes tax

Campaigners opposed to North Yorkshire Council’s double council tax charge on second homes have handed in a petition signed by 1,000 people…

darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk

July's reading. Strong Irish theme - really recommend the Barry and the O'Toole/McBride. Over to France - Ernaux as good as ever. USA: Loaners was heartwarming. Patchett was okay (Ernaux much the better essayist). #booksky

The University and those who enabled this act of cultural vandalism through their silence should hang their heads in shame. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Sunderland's National Glass Centre closes as campaigners leave

The nearly 30-year-old galleries and glassmaking site shuts for the final time amid controversy.

bbc.co.uk

Fantastic groups visiting the museum recently from Utah and Washington, United States, Hamburg, Germany, Berg, Switzerland, Warsaw, Poland and Sao Paulo, Brazil. young people and activists from all over the world, with the energy and creativity to face the challenges we are all experiencing 💜

Really interesting read. I think there's also a need for more political scrutiny? London has 25 f/t Assembly Members. Other places might need fewer - but a dynamic where pols have time to scrutinise properly and active local media would do more for public accountability than armies of auditors.

Jennifer Williams@jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 5d ago

A bit on something that’s worrying me as.ft.com/r/9fe0cfe2-f...

Based on a photograph I took of the National Glass Centre in Sunderland, today's sad closure of this cultural jewel, here re-imagined in the style of Edvard Munch's 'The Scream'. #savethenationalglasscentre #sunderland #culture #glassmaking

The 1919 Housing Act - the Addison Act - received the royal assent on this day in 1919. 176,000 council homes were built under its terms and its standard of high quality housing set a benchmark for decades to come. A 1917 photo of Addison and housing from Newcastle, Lancaster and Winchester.

‘They know the issues, they don’t care’: Living conditions on local authority Gypsy and Traveller sites << important new report from @fft.bsky.social www.gypsy-traveller.org/news/they-kn...

‘They know the issues, they don’t care’: Living conditions on local authority Gypsy and Traveller sites - Friends, Families and Travellers

Today, Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) has released new research documenting the substandard living conditions on local authority Gypsy and Traveller sites. The research, which surveyed residen...

gypsy-traveller.org

Oh, and still almost no *national* media and political coverage… The Tyneside coastal communities, who have been doing back-breaking work round the clock to clear as many nurdles as possible, won’t get answers and a proper clean-up till this spill gets more attention. Read through thread for more.

Alison Stenning@alisonstenning.bsky.social · 7d ago

Litany of failure here from Port of Tyne and companies involved in perhaps worst ever plastic pollution event in UK/Europe: No immediate containment of spillage No mention of spillage in press releases until day 4 *Still* no large-scale clear-up operation Nurdles found 20 miles N and S of Tyne

Had a nosey at the Thames Barrier tonight. My dad and fellow Mackems at Sunderland Forge manufactured some of the parts.

Former Notting Hill Genesis Folio London properties... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Southwark Council leader condemns rises in Bermondsey rents

Residents face Section 21 "no-fault" eviction notices and rent hikes of up to £500 a month.

bbc.co.uk

His story is an important reminder that asylum can be the difference between life and death. 🔗 Watch the full film: www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/support-us/c...

Britain Saved My Life - Refugee Council

For 75 years, the Refugee Convention has protected people fleeing war and persecution. Explore lives transformed by safety in Britain.

refugeecouncil.org.uk

Today is the 75th anniversary of the UN Refugee Convention. To mark this anniversary, we're sharing the remarkable story of how Lord Alf Dubs escaped the Holocaust on the Kindertransport at just six years old.

Investors snap up bundles of UK properties as housebuilders offer discounts Bulk buyers win double-digit reductions while cautious consumers stay on sidelines giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

Investors snap up bundles of UK properties as housebuilders offer discounts

Bulk buyers win double-digit reductions while cautious consumers stay on sidelines

giftarticle.ft.com

🚨 𝟮𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 - 𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘! 🚨 Across a packed day of workshops, discussion groups, exhibitions and speakers, we’ll explore the innovative solutions emerging across the community-led housing sector, as well as the gaps that still need to be addressed. Register here: buff.ly/TeNdXU3

A coalition of Scottish charities, frontline services and academics have called on ScotGov to ‘Build like Burnham’ by delivering at least 15,693 affordable homes a year to end Scotland’s housing emergency - as the new PM pledges a council house building boom down south. Read more: buff.ly/5l2BGbG

📢 Big news: We are delighted to welcome Holly Williamson as our new Chief Executive, succeeding Ben Twomey. A private renter herself, Holly brings a decade of policy, campaigning & legal experience to the role, ready to keep fighting for renters’ rights across the UK. 🏠

Second week of the school holidays and Sunderland's national cultural institution closes for good on Friday, facing demolition. This act of cultural vandalism is brought to you by Sunderland University. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Why did Sunderland's National Glass Centre fail?

Some argue the site was simply given up on, while others say running a regional museum is difficult.

bbc.co.uk

Gone past so many times, never been in. Put that right today. Lovely stuff.

Rough sleeping isn’t inevitable. It can be ended. New PM Andy Burnham has pledged to end rough sleeping. So I’ve added my name with @crisis-uk.bsky.social to show there’s public support for turning this pledge into reality. Will you join me? campaigns.crisis.org.uk/page/195684/...

Add your name: back an end to rough sleeping | Crisis UK

New PM Andy Burnham pledges to end rough sleeping. Let’s show him there’s massive public support.

campaigns.crisis.org.uk

I look forward to contributing to the 472 new affordable homes next time I stay in Edinburgh 🏠🏡🏠 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

How much is Edinburgh's tourist tax and who pays it?

The Scottish capital has become the first city in the country to introduce a charge for overnight stays.

bbc.co.uk

🆕 Great that new PM Andy Burnham is committed to ending rough sleeping. Now Crisis Scotland and Homeless Network Scotland have urged that any funding directed to Scotland as a result is used scale up Housing First - a proven way to tackle rough sleeping. Read our joint statement: buff.ly/HfreFAq

Book 35 of 2026. Really lovely this - the story of Streetbooks, which takes books to unhoused people on a bike in Portland, Oregon. streetbooks.org Two intertwined perspectives - the founder of Streetbooks and a borrower-turned-board member. Combined several of my interests - 4⭐

📢 SMK is hiring an Operations & Systems Manager. A flexible, part-time role supporting our team with systems, operations, technology and organisational culture. ⏰ 18 hrs/week (term-time only) 💰 £34,000 FTE 🗓 Apply by 11 August, 12 noon 🔗 https://smk.org.uk/get-involved/join-our-team/

#NLIHC released today “Out of Reach 2026.” Published annually, #OOR26 highlights the gulf between the wages people earn and the price of modest rental housing in every state, county, and metropolitan area in the U.S. Learn more and read the report here: https://nlihc.org/oor

Really enjoyed this. There's a subway in Northallerton (an underpass, though we have a sandwich joint too) - it fascinates me that someone, some time, thought Northallerton would need grade segregation of people and cars. Kidderminster sounds like the same kind of the same small-town ambition.

John Grindrod@grindrod.bsky.social · 2w ago

Do you know William Mitchell’s Great Wall of Kidderminster? Explore this concrete gem with Mike Parker and I on Monstrosities Mon Amour, half an hour of cheery geekery podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...