Recommendation 128

Successfully managing or regenerating commercial properties requires a specific set of skills. Representatives from Spelthorne Borough Council emphasised the need for internal experts with commercial expertise and mindset. 264 We heard concerns about the skills and capacity within local authorities, although this was mostly focused on placemaking and planning skill sets. 265 Last year, research by Public Practice found that 66 per cent of local government placemaking professionals felt they lacked sufficient time and skills to deliver on their authority’s strategic objectives and that this limited the ability to develop effective partnership working. 266