IT’S not often that local authorities are accused of being innovative!

But that description can certainly be applied to Bournemouth’s proposal, approved by cabinet, to create a bank lending to small businesses and private individuals for mortgages. This means that instead of sitting around earning not much, £15m of council balances will be used to boost the local housing sector and the wider economy. The proposal has a clear strategy and will help to underpin the council’s housing and regeneration objectives. Who knows, Bournemouth could become the council that likes to say yes.