CIPFA
Coronavirus fraud warning
Finance experts have warned coronavirus could bring an increased risk of fraud.
How critical is the census?
With the next census due to take place next year, just how crucial is it to local authorities’ abilities to plan services? Chris Mahony examines the issues.
Make councils account for extreme investments
Local government needs a new way to hold councils to account when they are making ‘extreme’ investments, finance expert Rob Whiteman has claimed.
Finding our levels
While austerity could be over 'as a process and a direction', the spending spree may not be quite as generous as it first appears – and there will be more devolution deals to come. Heather Jameson digests the Budget with sector experts.
Budget 2020: Public Works Loan Board consultation is welcome
The Chancellor’s announcement of a consultation on revising the terms of borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board is welcome, says Rob Whiteman - but the Chancellor’s fiscal announcements 'didn’t match what we in the sector had hoped for'.
The rising trend of inter-authority lending
With a Treasury review of the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) underway, Andrew Burns looks at some of the other ways in which local authorities can raise funds – including inter-authority lending.
Tackling ‘two-tier’ access to care in Central Bedfordshire
Central Bedfordshire Council is setting up a wholly-owned company to provide local people with access to high-quality care at a reasonable cost. Julie Ogley explains why the approach is needed.
Audit firms look overseas amid shortage
Audit firms are having to resort to recruiting overseas to fill public sector vacancies because of low levels of interest within the UK.
A Budget isn't what's needed
By nature a Budget is short-term, says Rob Whiteman. He argues that while more funding is always welcome it does not solve the systemic funding crises facing many areas of the public sector.
Call for new audit board
An independent review has been urged to back the creation of a board to oversee the local audit system.
Alarm bells over £6.6bn property spending spree
Auditors have suggested an overhaul of council borrowing and investment rules may be needed after ‘alarm bells’ were triggered by billions of pounds of spending.
Jenrick comes under pressure to extend audit deadline
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick is coming under pressure to extend the deadline for council audits to be completed.
The ‘unfair’ funding review needs a bigger cake
The temptation is to launch open season on ‘the other side’ – be that the political or geographical or type of council. But, in reality, the question is how does local government get a bigger cake, says Heather Jameson.
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.
Lancashire first to borrow using municipal bonds agency
Local government’s dormant vehicle for lending councils cash was boosted today after announcing details of its first municipal bond with Lancashire CC.
'One-fifth of audit contracts should be put back out to tender'
The organisation responsible for appointing auditors should take away up to 20% of current contracts from existing suppliers and put them back out to tender, a top accountancy body has said.
Doubts cast over council's £100m investment plan
West Berkshire Council is to review its property investment strategy.
Time for a ‘grown-up’ chat about audit
Serious questions have been raised about the level of failure to complete council audits just one year into the new procurement regime, says Chris Buss. What is going wrong?
Councils are faring well on finance
Last month, CIPFA published its resilience index tool – and the picture for local government is better than expected. Heather Jameson looks at the data.
How will Brexit impact UK public services?
A area of primary concern for CIPFA is the lack of an economic impact assessment on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal, says Rob Whiteman - and without that we are 'flying blind'.