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Local Power

Keeping a check on local government spending and its effect on UK communities

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14 network members working on this investigation

89 local stories published as part of this investigation

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19 open resources used in this investigation

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Highlights from the Investigation

04.03.19

Local Power

Revealed: The thousands of public spaces lost to the council funding crisis

Libraries, playgrounds, and community centres are being sold by councils as they struggle to stay afloat, with many using the proceeds to pay for redundancies

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04.12.18

Local Power

The public service gamble: Councils borrowing billions to play the property market

A four-month investigation reveals the steep rise in councils across the country racking up debt to finance real estate purchases

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04.03.19

Local Power

Public spaces are being #SoldFromUnderYou: Why we are investigating the council funding crisis

Behind the Bureau's investigation into the cuts to public servants, services and spaces

Published with

05.03.19

What has your council sold? Search our map to find out

Explore the literal cost of austerity in our interactive map showing more than 12,000 public buildings and spaces sold by cash-strapped councils

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