Local authorities in England have spent billions on commercial property since 2015. Changes in work-from-home patterns due to coronavirus could see rents from retail and office property fall - putting councils and therefore taxpayers at huge financial risk. We were joined by councillors Gerald Vernon-Jackson (leader of Portsmouth City Council) and Ferris Cowper (former leader of East Hampshire District Council) to discuss councils investing in commercial property. Both panellists are passionate advocates of council investments and the thought provoking webinar discussed the pros and cons of these taxpayer-funded portfolios.