Finance
Watchdog concerns over sustainability and services at Highland Council
The Accounts Commission expects the council to ‘demonstrate improvement in the next 12 months’ by implementing a series of recommendations made by Audit Scotland.
Row over SNP funding of councils
Local government is ‘treated far better in Scotland than it is elsewhere in the UK,’ the Scottish National Party (SNP) has insisted.
Deputy hits out at 'flawed' business rates system
Cannock Chase DC has expressed disappointment in the way Amazon-style warehouses are treated under the business rates system after it was hit by a revaluation.
Council insources 'unsustainable' care service
Bath & North East Somerset Council has decided to bring in-house adult care services following the termination of an ‘unsustainable’ outsourcing contract.
Unions criticise 'unnecessary' pay offer delay
The three unions representing council workers today criticised ‘unnecessary delays’ after local government employers failed to make them a pay offer for 2020/21.
Ofsted chief in 'blind spots' warning
Ofsted’s chief has warned of ‘blind spots’ in the children’s services inspection system that could mean youngsters are ‘potentially coming to significant harm’.
LEPs start to buckle after overlap threat
Local enterprise partnerships (LEP) are finally succumbing to a threat by ministers to withhold funding from them if they refuse to remove overlapping boundaries.
Exploring all the options
The ‘radical rethink’ needed to reform the adult social care system calls for bold decisions, full exploration of all the options – and a funding solution that may need some manoeuvring around manifesto pledges on tax, says Cllr Dave Fothergill.
Supporting rising stars pays dividends
Adele Taylor says she has been fortunate in her career to be advised and mentored by senior officers who encouraged her to get out and network. She has continued that tradition now that she is able to support the rising stars of the future.
Brum to save millions from up-front pensions payment plan
Birmingham City Council will pay three years of pension fund contributions up front to save more than £17m, senior councillors agreed this morning.
Dozens of children in care sent north of border
English councils are sending children in care hundreds of miles from their homes to secure accommodation in Scotland, new research has revealed.
Councils ‘unfairly disadvantaged’ in asylum-seeking system
Two councils have pleaded with neighbouring authorities to step-up to take in more unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC).
Pressure on Government grows over schools grant deficits
Pressure is growing on the Department for Education (DfE) to take responsibility for growing dedicated schools grant (DSG) deficits as the number of councils reporting them rises.
Hull bids to pilot Universal Basic Income
Councillors voted to establish a steering group and seek support from the Government.
Kier shares surge on trading update
Investors have issued a vote of confidence in Kier’s efforts to turn around the business with a jump in its share price.
Grenfell council adopts participatory budgeting
The council at the centre of the Grenfell Tower tragedy has used participatory budgeting for the first time as part of a new strategy.
Councils losing £250m a year through business rates avoidance
Councils are losing £250m a year due to businesses avoiding paying their rates, new research has found.
Scottish Government resists business rates devolution plan
Public finance minister Kate Forbes has hit out at opposition proposals to devolve control of business rates to Scottish local authorities.
Scottish City Deals ‘lack aims and objectives’
Watchdogs have questioned the transparency and oversight of Scotland’s £5.2bn City Deals.
A wealth of benefits
Community Wealth Building is too commonly seen as ‘local procurement’, but this seriously misses its breadth and potential impact, believes John Tizard.