Budgets and efficiency
Budget 2020: Sunak gambles on capital spending splurge
Despite volatility caused by coronavirus and a sluggish increase in the economy, the chancellor has decided to gamble that a big increase in capital spending will deliver higher growth and productivity by the next election.
Scottish ministers hit out at UK austerity
Scottish ministers have blamed UK austerity measures for the financial difficulties facing councils north of the border.
IfG: Extend outsourcing reforms to councils
Government reforms of outsourcing to avoid another Carillion collapse must be extended to local government where commercial skills lag behind Whitehall, a report from the Institute for Government (IfG) think-tank has said.
Controversial Stoke budget rejected in council vote
Councillors are deadlocked over the budget just a week ahead of the national deadline.
Wright pushed out of Shropshire
Chief executive Clive Wright has been pushed out of Shropshire Council by the leading Conservative group after eight years as head of paid service.
Maintaining performance
The 15 strongest performing councils in adult social care have been highlighted in IMPOWER’s latest productivity INDEX. Ralph Cook looks at the results.
EXCLUSIVE: Council rejects budget control review
Warrington Council has rejected a number of findings from an independent review of its approach to budgetary control.
Further moves to bring troubled housing company in-house
The termination of a housing management contract spanning four local authorities in Kent has moved a step closer.
Councils consider judicial review amid SEND crisis
Councils are starting to talk to lawyers about a potential judicial review of the Government amid a crisis in special educational needs and disability (SEND).
Council pays compensation to Amey after High Court challenge
West Sussex CC has paid £4m in compensation to Amey over a contested highways procurement process.
Davey: SEND crisis could blow up in councils
The acting Lib Dem leader has warned that the crisis in special educational needs and disability (SEND) ‘could blow up in councils across the country’.
Seven out of 10 councils overspend on homelessness
Seven out of 10 English councils overspent their homelessness budgets in 2018/19 by a combined total of nearly £115m, Local Government Association (LGA) analysis has found.
Lancashire on 'solid footing' after service reviews
Lancashire CC finance chiefs believe they are now on a ‘solid footing’ after the council slashed its future funding gap in half.
Row over SNP funding of councils
Local government is ‘treated far better in Scotland than it is elsewhere in the UK,’ the Scottish National Party (SNP) has insisted.
Grenfell council adopts participatory budgeting
The council at the centre of the Grenfell Tower tragedy has used participatory budgeting for the first time as part of a new strategy.
Shining a strong light
The Local Government Association is about to launch a review of its peer challenge process. Paul Marinko asks whether the approach is robust enough to meet the demands of a tough financial climate.
Council on course to meet investment target
South Cambridgeshire DC has revealed it is on course to generate a quarter of cash spent on services through its own investments.
COSLA: Invest in councils before it is too late
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has launched a campaign to persuade finance secretary Derek Mackay to invest in councils ‘before it is too late’.
Reorganisation in Somerset would 'cut waste and save money'
A single, unitary authority for Somerset would deliver a predicted saving of £35-£47m, according to research released today.
March 11 Budget creates 'deep risk' for councils
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has written to the Chancellor warning of the ‘deep risk facing councils’ from delaying the Budget until March 11.