Commercial investment
Nottingham in bid to 'stabilise' energy company
A new management team has been installed at Robin Hood Energy and governance of council-controlled companies is being overhauled after the company was threatened with having its licence revoked.
Doubts cast over council's £100m investment plan
West Berkshire Council is to review its property investment strategy.
Sutton set to take full ownership of outsourced education company
An independent report has found that the company had ‘moved away’ from the council’s ‘ambitions and values’.
Stoke-on-Trent warns of job cuts
The council is aiming to make £9.2m of savings next year.
Council buys office block 150 miles away
South Somerset DC has paid £9.7m for an office block 150 miles away in Welwyn Garden City as part of its latest commercial investment.
Council to pilot climate change bond
A council is to launch a climate change bond to fund green initiatives.
Council told to urgently overhaul company
Gloucester City Council’s arms-length market company lacks accountability and clarity of purpose, an independent review has found.
London borough rejects insourcing children’s services
Kingston LBC had considered returning services from a wholly-owned company when their contract ends in 2021.
Bexley slashes development company housebuilding target
Bexley LBC’s wholly-owned housing company has more than halved the number of homes it plans to deliver.
Future Forum North: Call for councils to ‘bust down housebuilding cartel’
Local government has been urged to take on private housebuilders to unleash financial and social benefits.
Don't seek to frustrate legitimate use of powers by the back door
Councils must have regard to the MHCLG guidance on investments, says Ian Miller. But a power to give guidance 'is not a power to limit councils' statutory powers by diktat', he adds.
We need a sector-wide perspective on PWLB rate increase
The sector might ask itself if a 'small' rate increase in the cost of loans from the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) back to 2018 levels was the worst thing that could have happened,says Abdool Kara.
CIPFA in further property investment crackdown
The prudential code has been further clarified to ‘ensure that responsible decisions are made with transparency and financial sustainability in mind’.
Hackney to launch energy company
Hackney LBC is to launch its own energy company in a bid to reduce the borough’s carbon footprint.
North Yorkshire expands commercial operations
North Yorkshire CC’s trading arm has acquired a company that will allow it to expand into the rest of Yorkshire and beyond.
Pint sized proposal
Internet trolls often unfairly criticise councils for being unable to organise a, erm...drinking session in a brewery.
No date for replacing EU investment funding
More details of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) have been revealed by local government secretary Robert Jenrick but there is still no timetable for its introduction.
Isle of Wight looks for trading company partner
Norse is the hot favourite to partner Isle of Wight Council in launching a new trading company.
Treasury hikes PWLB rate amid investment fears
Councils’ investments plans have been dealt a blow as the Treasury announced a rate hike to the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB).
Council energy supplier threatened with licence revocation
Nottingham City Council-owned Robin Hood Energy missed a deadline to pay watchdog Ofgem £9.4m.