CIPFA
Sunak warned of greater future costs without public service investment
Chancellor Rishi Sunak must swiftly invest in public services hit hardest by the pandemic or face much greater costs down the line, a report has warned.
LGA: External audit firms need to address their shortcomings
Town hall leaders have said external audit firms ‘need to address their shortcomings’ to improve the timeliness of audits.
Raising council tax is a 'threat' not an opportunity, says Whiteman
Government plans to give councils the option to raise council feels more like a ‘threat’ than an opportunity, finance expert Rob Whiteman has said.
Future Forum: Whiteman accuses some councils of going too far
Some councils borrowing excessively for commercial activity are going too far, the chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has warned.
Leeds’ way to sustainable change
Cllr James Lewis outlines how the national flagship £40m district heating network in Leeds is supporting the city’s aim to become carbon neutral by 2030.
A first step on the road to reform?
The plan for health and social care plan does nothing to address the challenges faced by the sector, including increasing demand, unmet need and ever-tightening budgets, says Dr Eleanor Roy
The importance of being prudent on investment
Richard Lloyd-Bithell explains why CIPFA's new Treasury Management and Prudential Codes 'continue to uphold a key principle of the prudential agenda: that borrowing primarily for return investment is not permissible'.
Investing to deliver clean and green streets in Birmingham
Despite the city’s well-publicised challenges Birmingham City Council has taken the bold decision this year to invest a further £7.2 million into services as part of its Cleaner Greener Streets campaign. Cllr John O’Shea explains.
Top MHCLG man to speak at Future Forum
The top official at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is to be a keynote speaker at The MJ’s Future Forum next month.
Call for fair funding for Scottish councils
Councils should not have their ‘hands tied’ by funding constraints, the Scottish Government has been told.
Reflecting on our financial sustainability story
Adele Taylor says that in a year when income, expenditure and support from central Government 'has never been more unpredictable and volatile, we ended up in a better position than we may have imagined'.
Government threatens borrowing cap return
The Government has threatened to apply statutory borrowing caps on councils that continue to expose themselves to excessive risk.
Adjusting our approach to ESG treasury management
CIPFA will be working to strengthen treasury management practice by including updates on environmental, social and governance related matters to the existing risk management section of its treasury management code, says Rob Whiteman.
Getting back in the groove
As the country prepares to open up to gatherings again, Heather Jameson rounds up last week’s major annual virtual conferences – and finds an air of optimism within the sector despite the challenges ahead.
A pop at Parliament
It’s all the in timing.
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.
Half may miss September audit deadline
A top auditor has predicted that as many as half of councils may miss this year’s September 30 audit deadline.
Health and care improvement starts locally
Local health and care organisations must seize the initiative to improve people’s lives rather than waiting for the next overhaul by national government.
Councils 'broadly support' focus of Health and Care Bill
Councils ‘broadly support’ the focus of the Health and Care Bill introduced into Parliament today on improving the health and wellbeing of the population, says the Local Government Association (LGA).
Section 114 chief: We will not be the last
Slough Council’s chief executive this week urged other sector bosses to ‘trust your intuition’ to avoid their local authority following in her Section 114 footsteps.
