Finance
IFS: National Care Service could exacerbate service quality differences
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned Scotland’s planned National Care Service ‘could exacerbate rather than reduce differences in service quality’ across the country.
Inflation to wipe out 40% of public spending growth
Higher inflation is to wipe out 40% of the planned growth in public sector funding over the next three years leading to a £44bn shortfall, according to a study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).
Tory-led council given green light to take legal action against Government
Medway Council has been given permission to take legal action against the Government over its refusal to take on any more unaccompanied asylum seeking children.
Warrington's £60m investment to be scrutinised behind closed doors
Details of a £60m green energy investment by Warrington Council will remain under wraps despite being called in by opposition councillors.
Devon facing £40m budget overspend
‘Unprecedented’ financial pressures have left Devon CC facing a £40m budget gap by the end of this financial year.
‘Uncertainty’ over Nottingham intervention
Ministerial upheaval has left Nottingham City Council uncertain of its future amid the threat of Government intervention.
Sunak claims credit for diverting funding from deprived areas
Tory leadership candidate Rishi Sunak spoke of 'undoing funding formulas' in a speech caught on camera.
Government not even close to ‘rescuing’ social care
The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee said billions of pounds ‘urgently’ needed to be injected into the system to meet both short-term and long-term needs.
Scottish council asks for help to fill £14m budget gap
West Dunbartonshire's leader Martin Rooney has written to the Scottish Government appealing for further funding.
Welsh secretary pans tax raises for second homes
New Welsh secretary Robert Buckland has spoken out against ‘punitive’ plans to charge more council tax for second homes.
Councils’ crossroads between a rock and a hard place
A week on from the local government employers’ pay offer and the full impact on hard-up councils has started to emerge. After more than a decade of austerity, transformation and cutting services to the bone, it is hard to see how local government will balance its books this time.
Back to the dark days
Councils face a return to the darkest days of austerity as a triple whammy of pay rises, inflation and growing need hits
Districts to lobby over inflation pressures
A survey has been carried out by the District Councils’ Network (DCN) on the impact of inflation.
Capital borrowing falls by a fifth in two years, data reveals
Councils’ prudential borrowing for capital expenditure has fallen 22% in two years, official data confirmed.
Cultural issues exposed at Liverpool
Problems at Liverpool City Council have been laid bare by fresh developments highlighting how executives and politicians faced cultural issues that led to government intervention.
Councils face asset sale clampdown
Communities secretary Greg Clark is writing to councils today to confirm a tightening of rules under which authorities could previously sell assets to companies they control.
Councils left 'in the dark' on funding
Turmoil at Number 10 means councils will have to wait for details on next year’s funding arrangements.
Warrington could take £18m hit
The council is facing losses of up to £18m from the collapse of Together Energy.
Slough's financial challenge 'unprecedented'
Commissioners at Slough Council are set to be given powers over recruitment after finding it was unable to turn around its finances quickly enough.
Liverpool finances still at risk, say auditors
The financial stability of Liverpool City Council is still a risk, according to an interim report from auditors Grant Thornton.