CIPFA
100% business rates retention legislation dropped
The Local Government Finance Bill has been dropped from the legislative programme, leaving plans for business rates retention in limbo.
Bristol battles to save £5m
Bristol City Council has made a raft of proposals for how to save more than £4.7m.
Politics is never about a single isolated issue
I don’t think anyone can really suggest UK politics lacks excitement right now. The past 12 months have provided one surprise after another, the latest being the new Conservative/DUP arrangements.
Sector demands clarity after hung Parliament
Local government figures have demanded clarity on the future of public services after Theresa May’s hopes of a majority were dashed.
‘Create STPs as statutory bodies’
Sustainability and transformation partnerships (STP) should be created as statutory bodies, finance experts have urged.
Thurrock rapped over failed court case
A council that tried to prosecute a trio over allegations of a ‘very large scale fraud’ to generate income has been scolded by a court.
Clear framework will ‘aid devolution’
County councils and experts have welcomed a Conservative Party manifesto pledge to create a devolution framework and ditch the mayoral requirement for rural areas.
Rebooting the devolution agenda
Sean Nolan looks at the results of the English mayoral elections and assesses what is next on the agenda.
Vigilance urged after cyber hack
Councils cannot be complacent and must continue to invest in cyber-security to cope with the sort of attack that paralysed NHS IT systems, experts have warned.
Councils counter warnings about property plan risks
Key figures have hit back at warnings councils could go bankrupt if the sector’s increasing involvement in the property market goes wrong.
‘Delay rollout of 100% rates retention by at least a year’
The rollout of 100% business rates retention should be pushed back by at least a year, the chair of the Communities and Local Government Committee has urged.
Finance officers must be prepared for General Election shocks
Councils need to ensure their budgets are resilient, whatever the outcome of the General Election, warns Rob Whiteman.
CIPFA warning over voluntary mergers
Councils will be unable to cover the costs of voluntary mergers in Wales using their reserves, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance (CIPFA) has warned.
CIPFA warning as General Election called
MPs should not use the snap General Election to make ‘undeliverable promises’ about the future funding of public services, experts have warned.
Scorn for Bourne’s £1bn
Government figures claiming councils can raise £1bn through the social care precept are massively inflated from the sector’s calculations, it has emerged.
BREAKING: Council suspends chief Suarez
Cheshire East Council has suspended its chief executive Mike Suarez while an independent investigation is undertaken.
Fighting fraud through collaboration
Fraud is a serious issue for local government. Rachael Tiffen says setting up a sector-led counter fraud standard has proven to be a shining example of collaborative working.
Whitehall may step in over authorities’ commercial deals
The Government may intervene to lower the risks associated with the increased commercial activities of local authorities, it has been suggested.
In the same boat?
Dan Peters talks to key figures in the sector about the future for health and social care integration and whether the Government’s National 2020 target is feasible
Brexit: The next chapter for local government
The prime minister triggered Article 50 last week, firing the UK into one of the most crucial periods of its modern history. Mark Conrad investigates the risks and opportunities for local government as the country negotiates its exit from the EU