Budgets and efficiency
Northamptonshire library closures ruled 'unlawful'
The decision to close 21 council-run libraries in Northamptonshire was made unlawfully, a court has ruled.
Pinch point
The battle for extra cash is on as local government struggles to balance the books and councils struggle to survive. With a Spending Review and Budget to come, Heather Jameson looks at the immediate future for the sector.
Whiteman: NHS will benefit most from Spending Review
Councils were this week warned not to expect a significant windfall in next spring’s Spending Review by the man who represents local government finance officers.
Children's services: the lives behind the numbers
Behind talk of crisis and budget pressures are children, families and our workforce. It is time to speak loud about it, says Robin Tuddenham.
Participatory budgeting 'outstanding success'
Independent research has found Dundee City Council’s participatory budgeting (PB) was an ‘outstanding success’ that should act as an inspiration to other local authorities.
London boroughs: Our SEND budgets are unsustainable
Gerald Almeroth warns that councils in the capital are facing a growing shortfall in funding for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Peers suggest senior management restructure
Local Government Association peers have suggested there is an ‘opportunity to rethink’ Shropshire Council’s senior management structure.
Hammond’s big tax and spend dilemma
Latest figures show borrowing continuing to fall, which is good news for Chancellor Philip Hammond as he prepares his autumn Budget. However the Office for Budget Responsibility’s analysis of the headwinds ahead paints a gloomy picture of the impact of age-related cost pressures. Michael Burton reports
Zahawi fails to commit to new funds
Children’s minister Nadhim Zahawi has declined to support strict targets and fresh cash for early intervention work to reduce the number of kids in care.
Districts' ability to invest in infrastructure is curtailed by borrowing caps
Cllr John Fuller argues for a new funding approach in the forthcoming spending review that retains current incentives as well as including a prevention precept.
A fork in the road to austerity
Could CIPFA’s plans to create a financial resilience index for councils help rescue local government from further catastrophe? Nathan Elvery explains why he thinks a ‘traffic light’ rating could be heading down the wrong road.
Budget gap doubles at Lewisham
Lewisham LBC’s budget gap has more than doubled following an ‘unprecedented’ overspend.
Council calls for asylum review
Portsmouth City Council’s leader, Cllr Gerald Vernon Jackson, has urged a review of the system for local authorities dealing with unaccompanied children seeking asylum.
Somerset CC's leader denies Section 114 is 'on horizon'
Somerset CC's leader, Cllr David Fothergill, has denied the council is about to issue a Section 114 notice and has promised the council will deliver a balanced budget.
Nottinghamshire leader steps up unitary push
Nottinghamshire CC’s leader has stepped up her push for a unitary council to cover the county.
Funding call to end 'postcode lottery'
MPs today called for more funds to help end a so-called postcode lottery for children’s services.
Goodwill hunting
A new Localis report suggests ministers should lift the cap for council tax referendums and let local people put their money where their heart is, writes Jonathan Werran.
Cash collection made simple
Councils could bring in vital extra funding if they apply behavioural insights to revenue collection argues Tim Pearse
Education secretary appears at ADCS conference for first time in a decade
Provision for care leavers and children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) dominated a speech by education secretary Damian Hinds.
Building the evidence base for a long-term settlement
James Maker says Northamptonshire CC’s mismanagement of austerity should not prevent us talking about the latter more openly.