Finance
Row holds up Better Care Fund plan
A multi-million pound dispute means Cornwall Council and the NHS Kernow care commissioning group have yet to sign off their Better Care Fund (BCF) plan for this year.
Minister backs council finance review
A full review of council finances will take place in Northern Ireland after minister Conor Murphy endorsed the proposal.
Understanding the impact of funding care
Finance directors now need a good grounding in adult social care if they are going to understand the implications on the budget, says Adele Taylor
Pressure grows on government over funds announcement
Scotland’s council leaders have called for the UK Government to announce the outcome of applications to the community renewal and levelling up funds without delay.
Warrington rebuffs call to end energy investment
Opposition members at Warrington Council have urged the authority to end its investment in a green energy company as the sector is engulfed in crisis.
Cornwall overspend poses ‘serious financial risk’
The council is on course to overspend its budget by around £18m by the end of the financial year.
Levelling up 'must start with councils'
A panel of experts has agreed council funding is key to addressing regional inequalities.
Slough approves asset fire sale
Crisis-hit Slough Council has approved plans to flog around £600m worth of assets as it battles to get its finances under control.
Leicestershire faces worsening financial crisis
Leicestershire CC has said factors such as COVID-19 have left it facing a worsening financial crisis.
Hughes hints at multi-year funding settlement
Junior minister Eddie Hughes has attempted to reassure councils that a multi-year funding settlement may be approaching.
Commission calls for shift of focus in levelling up
The Commission into Prosperity and Community Placemaking has concluded investment should be made in local neighbourhoods rather than grand infrastructure projects.
Chief and leader at odds over government intervention request
Tensions between Thanet DC’s chief executive and leader have erupted into the open after the latter asked the Government to intervene in the council.
Sheffield budget overspends 'not sustainable'
Members told financial support from the Government is needed as the authority heads for a £43m overspend.
IPPR calls for new ‘proportional’ property charge to replace council tax
The Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) has called for a new ‘proportional’ property tax to replace the ‘unfair and outdated’ council tax.
Row over extra social care funding
The Welsh Local Government Association has hit out at the ‘insulting and unsubstantiated comments’ of Care Forum Wales following the announcement of extra funding for the country’s councils.
Short-changed again
Clive Betts warns that with little clarity on how much extra money will be spent next year, there is the prospect of social care unravelling unless councils receive more money to fill the existing funding gaps.
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
Council to review development company
Cambridgeshire CC has brought in external consultants to look into its development company.
Stalemate over audit timeliness
The organisation responsible for appointing local government auditors has admitted it can do little to improve the timeliness of opinions.
Councils could lose COVID cash over lack of data
English councils have been warned future funding to help reduce the spread of coronavirus could be at risk unless they provide accurate data on spending.
