Finance
Council cuts top jobs to close funding gap
Two of Wyre Forest DC’s most senior officers are facing redundancy following a cost-cutting management review.
More than 100 leisure centres could go bust, DCN warns
More than 100 leisure centres in England could go bust due to the coronavirus crisis, district councils have warned.
Croydon to take £70m hit
Croydon LBC is expected to be forced to take a £69m hit to its capital programme after a housing development failed to materialise.
EXCLUSIVE: High needs spending could 'bankrupt councils'
A senior finance director has warned that spending on high needs threatens to ‘bankrupt councils’ as local authorities queue up for a bail out.
Queen's Speech: Controversial voter ID plans roll forward
Voter ID is expected to be introduced by May 2023 after the Government pledged to introduce legislation to ‘ensure the integrity of elections’.
‘Wholesale improvements’ required at Slough
External auditors have issued a scathing report on financial management at Slough BC.
Government criticised over dragging feet on cladding after new fire
The Government has been accused of failing to force developers to take action after a fire broke out at a tower block with Grenfell-style cladding.
Lambeth to reimburse £27m of water bills
The decision follows years of legal wrangling over charges collected on behalf of Thames Water.
Infrastructure services unit sale completes
M Group Services has completed the acquisition of Skanska UK’s infrastructure services operation.
I have a dream (about local government)
Greater powers, more devolution and a fundamental review of local finances have been promised to local government by the Prime Minister himself. John Tizard outlines the wide-ranging policy pledges featured in his recent dream.
Consider the risks of terminating COVID support prematurely
Currently additional COVID support beyond June is in doubt. 'The uncertainty this poses for councils cannot be underestimated', says chief executive of CIPFA Rob Whiteman.
Surge in audit fee variation requests
The number of auditors requesting fee increases for their work has surged, the body that oversees the system has said.
Further delays for social care reform
Social care reform faces further delays after rumours that the chancellor and Prime Minister are concerned at the £5bn bill to fund more generous capping limits.
Parish wins legal challenge against county
Norfolk CC has lost a legal challenge mounted by a parish council after its cabinet acted 'unlawfully' over a planning application.
Council claims sacked director was not performing
Senior officers at a London borough accused of unfairly dismissing a director have told a tribunal she was sacked after failing to meet performance targets.
Town halls told: Don't depend on COVID cash
Councils need to wean themselves of COVID cash to fund social care before it runs out at the end of June, a director has warned.
Devolution call in business leaders' blueprint
Top business leaders have issued a blueprint for recovery that includes more devolved powers for metro mayors, unitaries and counties, and rebranded local enterprise partnerships (LEPs).
Report shows 'accountability vacuum' in council finances
A damning report into citizen’s experiences of scrutinising their councils’ finances has claimed there is an ‘accountability vacuum’.
Addressing the challenges of hybrid working
Tracie Langley says working through COVID-19 has shown how we can deliver in different ways and highlighted some areas that need to be improved if we are to continue to work in a hybrid way.
Newham to appeal LIBOR loan ruling
Newham LBC has been granted permission to appeal after a bid to sue Barclays over loans was rejected by a High Court judge.
