Business rates
It’s only a win if everyone succeeds
For SIGOMA members – unitary and metropolitan councils across England – funding service fairly is the key, says Sir Stephen Houghton.
MPs call for urgent finance reforms
Councils should be given more flexibility to raise their own taxes and social care funding urgently needs to be reformed, MPs have said.
EXCLUSIVE: Councils push back over reserves raid threat
Council chiefs have pushed back as the Treasury eyes up the sector’s reserves in the run up to this year’s Spending Review, The MJ understands.
Treasury launches consultation for business rates revaluations every three years
The Treasury has made further moves towards business rates revaluations taking place more frequently.
Call for council powers on short-term lets
Oxford City Council has pressed the Government for new laws around Airbnb-style short-term lets.
The financial hole is not as deep as it looks
We can say with confidence that the hole councils are in is not as deep as it looks, says Rob Whiteman - 'but we still have a tremendous amount of work ahead to ensure the financial sustainability of councils, moving forward'.
Call for holiday homes clampdown
Council leaders in Wales are asking for new powers and stricter taxation on holiday lets.
EXCLUSIVE: Finance reforms in 2022-23 'challenging but possible'
Government officials believe it is still possible to introduce much-anticipated finance reforms to the sector in time for the next financial year, The MJ understands.
Green light for councils' legal action worth £10m
Legal action that could see an estimated £10m business rates windfall paid to councils has been cleared for a hearing.
Levelling up needs long-term approach
A shake-up of local government funding is required to achieve a levelling up of the country, a new report has concluded.
Scotland 'should grasp nettle' of council tax reform
Holyrood should go further in overhauling taxation, research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has concluded.
Let's see what happens on longer-term funding
Lorna Baxter gave evidence at the Public Accounts Committee in response to the NAO report on local government finance during COVID. She says there is acknowledgement that the longer-term funding and distribution mechanism needs to be addressed.
Care Act easements end
Emergency powers allowing councils to suspend Care Act requirements during the pandemic have been scrapped.
Government rules out COVID-19 business rates appeals
Local authorities will be allocated a £1.5bn funding pot to help businesses affected by COVID-19.
Opposition to greater council control of business rates
The prospect of handing more powers over business rates to local government has been given a frosty reception, according to responses to Government consultation on the issue.
Holiday homes tax loophole to be closed
The Government has announced a clampdown on tax breaks for second homes
NHS backs down over business rates
NHS trusts have withdrawn their appeal against a High Court ruling that said they were not eligible for business rates relief.
Future Forum North: 'Business rates will be like Tudor beard tax'
A senior finance director has said ‘anachronistic’ business rates are ‘going in the direction of the Tudor beard tax’.
At the right level
As the heart of the UK's knowledge and biotech economies, Oxford urgently needs urban leadership powers to deliver regional growth crucial to national renewal and recovery, writes Jonathan Werran.
Pandemic forces finance reform rethink
Whitehall plans for local government finance reform were thrown into doubt this week after civil servants indicated the pandemic would force them to rethink.
