Fiscal Freedom
Putting finance on the devolution to-do list
Seeking real fiscal autonomy for local government at times feels as elusive as the end of a rainbow, says Alison Griffin.
Government ignores sugar levy calls
The Government has ignored Local Government Association (LGA) calls for the sugar levy to be spent by councils to tackle physical inactivity.
Next Government urged to look at devolving air passenger duty
The leader of a Labour council in the shadow of Heathrow Airport has urged the next Government to look at devolving air passenger duty (APD).
Craig hails tourist tax 'success'
The leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig, has hailed the UK’s first city tourist tax a ‘success’ a year on from its introduction.
Think-tank's call for landfill tax devolution
A think-tank has called for a portion of the proceeds from landfill tax to be devolved to councils.
Online sales tax not priority for London
London Councils has decided it will not prioritise an online sales tax (OST) as part of its lobbying effort.
Experts in fresh push for fiscal devolution
An independent group of experts is preparing to pile pressure on ministers to back fiscal devolution, The MJ understands.
Fresh wave of devolution could reduce regional inequalities, says report
An overhaul of the local government system and a fresh wave of devolution have been put forward as solutions to regional inequalities in a report.
Land value tax could redistribute billions
A plan to reform business rates could lead to billions of pounds being redistributed from high land value areas to other parts of the country.
‘City region powers can boost growth’
The next Government should devolve fiscal powers to the country’s three biggest city regions in a bid to boost growth, the Centre for Cities think-tank has urged.
Labour regeneration plans will fail 'without radical action'
An incoming Labour government’s regeneration plans will fail without radical action to devolve financial decision-making, researchers have warned.
Welsh councils to wait for tourism tax
Tourism taxes will not be in place in Wales until 2027, the Welsh Government has estimated.
London Councils eyes apprenticeship levy devolution
London Councils has named securing devolution of the apprenticeship levy to its boroughs to fund skills and employment activity as a key short-term priority.
Smith calls for boroughs to be handed vehicle excise duty share
Devolved funding from vehicle excise duty should be allocated directly to the capital’s 32 boroughs instead of via Transport for London (TfL), an influential council leader has argued.
South East Councils to consider devolution of vehicle excise duty
The devolution of vehicle excise duty (VED) will be among the options expected to be considered by a London Finance Commission-style investigation over the coming months.
COSLA and Holyrood strike 'landmark' deal
A pledge for greater fiscal control for councils has been made in a ‘landmark agreement’ between national and local government in Scotland.
'No progress' on devolution to London
The capital appears to have ‘taken a step backwards’ on devolution, a former chair of London Councils has said.
Progress on devolution 'too slow' - LGA vice-president
A Local Government Association vice-president has expressed ‘serious concerns about the Government’s increasing desire to centralise local service delivery across England out of Whitehall’.
Minister visits Edinburgh to mark tourism tax legislation
Public finance minister Tom Arthur visited Edinburgh to mark the publication of a Bill that would allow councils to charge a levy on overnight stays.
Levelling up and devolution 'still too slow'
The gap between the highest and lowest ranked UK cities is narrowing but levelling up and devolution are still too slow, according to a new study.