Finance
Nottingham uncovers serious finance error
Nottingham City Council is taking urgent action after uncovering a serious accounting error while it battles with its failing finances.
Call for minimum funding 'floor'
Hampshire CC’s leader has called for the introduction of a funding ‘floor’ to ensure all councils receive a minimum level of core spending power.
Cornwall plans to cut 400 jobs
The cuts are part of plans to save £55m in order to balance the council’s budget in 2022-23.
Commissioners sent in to struggling Slough
The Government has sent commissioners in to struggling Slough Council in a bid to turn around its failing finances.
Statutory recommendation threat dropped
Warrington Council has escaped the threat of a statutory recommendation being issued by its external auditor Grant Thornton.
Government can’t keep ‘flying blind’ on council finances
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is 'licking its fingers and sticking them in the air in an attempt to test the temperature of local authority funding', says Heather Jameson.
'Tis the season to be merry - and for change
There has never been a more exciting time to be a procurement expert in the public sector, says Rob Whiteman.
Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig need to cut Peppa Pig some slack
Did the secretary of state Michael Gove signal last week that some functions or powers are going to be stripped away from districts and gifted to elected mayors, asks Ian Miller.
Government hauls in auditors after 'flying blind' accusation
Ministers have today convened an emergency meeting with local government audit firms amid fears Whitehall is ‘flying blind’ over council finances.
Government launches MRP crackdown
Councils will be prevented from using capital receipts to replace minimum revenue provision (MRP) under plans to improve local government debt management, Whitehall officials have revealed.
Croydon could face second public interest report
Grant Thornton has been looking into the redevelopment of the Fairfield Halls arts centre by the council-owned firm Brick by Brick.
White van man on... Government spending
I wouldn’t want to be a government bean counter. Everywhere you look there’s bottomless pits or, to mix my metaphors, cuckoos with huge open jaws are demanding ever more grub even though the nest is brassic.
Crowdfunding’s hive of activities
Cllr Jenny Forde explains why, as COVID-19 struck, Cotswold DC chose to work with funding platform Spacehive, and offers five top tips for successful crowdfunding.
Slough goes back to basics for financial health
There are no quick fixes to Slough’s financial problems, but the council is committed to achieving the improvements residents have every right to expect, says Steve Mair.
Spinning plates to balance budgets
How do we reduce budgets that have been baked into service provision forever to pay for a step change in direction, asks Tracie Langley.
CCN conference: Senior officer in financial collapse warning
The countdown is on before some councils face financial collapse due to a change to children’s services accounting rules, a senior finance expert has claimed.
LGA warning over soaring care costs
Soaring adult and children’s care costs mean councils could ‘soon fail to support everyone they need to,’ town halls have warned.
Johnson survives social care rebellion
Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night survived a sizable rebellion against his social care funding plan.
Gove backs Housing First
New communities secretary Michael Gove has indicated his support for the rolling out of Housing First.
Lambeth is already stepping up on climate action
Lambeth will release its borough-wide Climate Action Plan next month. It is vital that our Government recognises that local councils must be at the centre of the campaign against the climate crisis, says council leader Cllr Claire Holland.
