Budget
Breathing space for next Chancellor
The public finances continue to be robust, offering the next Chancellor scope for tax cuts or spending increases in the Budget though total debt continues to rise.
Porter in top up cash call
Councils will need a cash top up if the political turmoil forces the new Prime Minister to delay plans for a three-year Spending Review, Local Government Association (LGA) chairman Lord Porter has warned.
EXCLUSIVE: MHCLG to make 'compelling case' for more funding
Local government minister Rishi Sunak has vowed that his department will ‘make a compelling case’ for more funding ahead of this year’s Spending Review.
Northamptonshire budget process a ‘rollercoaster’
The chief executive of Northamptonshire CC said the council’s budget was prepared with the speed of a rollercoaster.
Ministers accused of 'irrational policy-making'
Ministers have been accused of irrational policy-making by funding prevention in the NHS while forcing councils to focus on acute statutory services.
Scottish budget defeat looms
The Scottish National Party is facing defeat over its budget this week after a row over local government funding.
Surrey CC plans full 2.99% council tax hike
Financially troubled Surrey CC has outlined plans to raise council tax by the maximum 2.99%.
LGA puts 2019/20 funding gap at £3bn
Councils face an overall funding gap of more than £3bn in 2019/20, the Local Government Association (LGA) has told Whitehall.
Councils need to take a considered approach towards the vulnerable
Matthew Drage of Huntswood outlines how local authorities can ensure they are treating the most vulnerable in society fairly when dealing with arrears and collections
Let's build on the positives of 2018
Director of the CCN Simon Edwards says that while the latest fair funding consultation is on a positive trajectory there is still a way to go to reset an opaque and unfair system.
COSLA demands talks after warning of budget threat to jobs
Scottish councils have renewed calls for talks with Holyrood today after likening the latest finance settlement to ‘running towards a cliff edge’.
Ministers say funding situation will soon improve - but councils are more uncertain
Is it the 'worst secret Santa ever' or 'recognition that the Government has listened on a number of issues'? Dan Peters examines views on the provisional local government finance settlement.
Councils to take £200m hit under Scottish budget proposals
A row has broken out over local government funding in the Scottish Government’s proposed budget.
Councils may have to hand back grant
Some of the extra £55m Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) announced by the chancellor in the Budget may have to be handed back by councils.
Future Forum North: 'Government still doesn't think sector is efficient'
Whitehall remains unconvinced that local government is as efficient as it can be, Smith Square’s deputy chief executive, Sarah Pickup, has said.
What should councils do?
Tough decisions will have to be made on budgets in town halls across the country, says Dan Corry – but his plea is to try to focus on providing the right culture for the longer-term.
Let's have fiscal levers for local areas
The Government should take steps to enable local areas to fund services through various fiscal levers and such flexibilities would not cost it a penny in extra grant, says Ian Miller.
Call for public expenditure presentation overhaul
Next year’s Spending Review should overhaul the presentation of public expenditure within the Government’s fiscal documents to bring it line with other countries, a new report has urged.
Crunching those numbers in super-quick time
The skill finance teams need in their DNA is 'to be able to do that quick and dirty analysis almost immediately', says Adele Taylor.
Brokenshire: 2019 will be turning point for local government
Next year will be a ‘turning point’ for local government, communities secretary James Brokenshire has told the County Councils’ Network conference, with the Spending Review and changes to the finance regime.