Budgets and efficiency
Councils will continue to draw on reserves, predicts Moody's
Many councils will continue to draw on their reserves to manage the uncertain funding environment and offset budgetary pressures, international ratings agency Moody’s has predicted.
No pay-out for suspended director
Croydon LBC’s suspended executive director of place has resigned with no pay-out, The MJ understands.
Ongoing channel shift is the future
'I think we need to focus on putting more time, effort and thought into our digital channels and only help customers in person when they really need us', says chief executive of East Hampshire DC and Havant BC Gill Kneller.
Walsall's £29m savings plan suffers delays
The council’s flagship £28.9m savings programme has been hit by delays as COVID-19 continues to take its financial toll on the sector.
Warrington faces £40m savings target
Warrington Council will have to make savings totalling more than £40m over the next four years, senior councillors have been told.
Environmental health risks being 'hollowed out'
More than half of English councils are not taking on environmental health trainees and apprentices due to funding and capacity issues, a survey has found.
Cardiff boosts reserves in pandemic
Cardiff City Council’s reserves increased by £48m despite the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
Hampshire faces £80m budget gap
A consultation has been opened by Hampshire CC on ways to address a budget shortfall.
LGA in 'unsustainable' warning after children's services overspend
Derbyshire CC, and Ealing and Croydon LBCs recorded the biggest children’s services overspends in the latest data available, analysis has found.
Six steps to smarter surplus resale
Finlo Corrin of Liquidity Services outlines some steps on how to maximise your recovery returns.
Council cuts top jobs to close funding gap
Two of Wyre Forest DC’s most senior officers are facing redundancy following a cost-cutting management review.
Council claims sacked director was not performing
Senior officers at a London borough accused of unfairly dismissing a director have told a tribunal she was sacked after failing to meet performance targets.
Building back better and fairer
Tameside MBC’s Budget and focus on Inclusive Growth offers a platform to work together to seize an opportunity to build a new and better future, argues Cllr Oliver Ryan.
Planning is the key to success
Cornwall Council's finance team has delivered a huge amount during the past year, says Tracie Langley. The team is already thinking about how to improve next year’s budget setting and monitoring processes, she adds.
Councils left seriously underfunded, NAO finds
Coronavirus has left local authorities seriously underfunded and facing budget cuts unless the Government can create a long-term financial plan for the sector, a study from the National Audit Office (NAO) has warned.
Employers branded a 'disgrace' over pay delay
Council employers have been branded a ‘disgrace’ after they said they would not respond to a union pay claim until after the May 6 elections.
Public health commissioning move 'illogical'
A suggestion from the body representing NHS trusts that the commissioning of key public health services should be removed from local government is ‘illogical,’ councils have said.
Conservative call to ring-fence budget for councils
A new Barnett-type formula should be introduced that would legally mandate the Scottish Government to deliver a ring-fenced percentage of its budget to councils, Conservatives have argued.
Surrey boroughs consider merger
Guildford and Waverley BCs are looking to combine management teams and services in a move driven by ‘brutal’ funding cuts.
Finance chiefs' rates warning
Potential cuts to the rateable values of business properties in light of COVID could have a ‘catastrophic’ impact on council budgets, London finance chiefs have warned.
