Finance
'Critical' to maintain progress, Dundee told
A finance watchdog has said Dundee City Council is ‘well-run’ but ‘long-standing difficulties remain’ to be tackled in its improvement journey.
Nottingham issues s114 notice
Nottingham City Council has issued a section 114 notice after failing to deliver a balanced budget for the current financial year.
Surge in costly care placements
The number of children’s care placements costing £10,000 or more per week has soared by more than 1,000%, a new survey has revealed.
Unions plan for January pay claim
Local government trade unions are aiming to submit their next one-year pay claim in January, The MJ understands.
Council reprimanded after suffering Cyber attack
Gloucester City Council has pledged lessons will be learnt following a reprimand from a data watchdog over a Cyber attack.
MPs warn services on ‘knife edge’
MPs have warned key services are on a ‘knife edge’ due to the poor financial health of councils in England.
Challenging times
Behind the headlines on finances, councils are grappling with protecting services and regenerating communities, writes Sheila Oxtoby.
Retrograde step away from cities
Marvin Rees laments the lack of support for cities in the Autumn Statement.
Powering ahead in the West Midlands
The West Midlands Combined Authority is to receive a departmental-style single funding settlement from Government that will enable it to deliver prosperity for local people in the years ahead, writes Laura Shoaf.
The Autumn Statement leaves councils to solve their own problems
Few expected the King’s Speech and Autumn Statement to be the silver bullet that solved local government’s problems, says Graeme McDonald, but there is nothing to change the big picture
London borough applies for capitalisation direction
Havering LBC is to apply for a capitalisation direction as it bids to avoid issuing a section 114 notice next year.
Councils welcome PWLB rate extension
Councils have welcomed chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s decision to extend preferential Public Works Loan Board borrowing rates for Housing Revenue Account (HRA) expenditure.
MPs press Government to resolve audit crisis
The Government should show more urgency in tackling the local audit crisis, a committee of MPs has said.
Fewer than 100 homes for refugees are occupied
Fewer than 100 homes acquired using a fund to support English councils obtain housing for those fleeing conflicts have been occupied, according to the latest figures.
London Councils to step back support for land value tax plans
London Councils is expected to distance itself from backing the idea of a land value tax when its leaders meet next month.
Town halls still battling cost hikes
Councils are continuing to battle with the impact of cost increases on budgets despite consumer inflation falling by half since earlier this year, says the leader of England’s county treasurers.
Autumn Statement: Hunt devolves but councils face new costs
The chancellor has unfrozen housing benefits and announced positive devolution news in his Autumn Statement, but signalled tighter public spending despite raising the National Living Wage.
Autumn Statement: Hunt announces surprise LGPS plan
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced a surprise target to ensure all Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds are invested in asset pools of £200bn or more by 2040.
Autumn Statement: Unprotected departments face further cuts
So-called ‘unprotected’ Whitehall departments face further budget tightening despite a pledge in the Autumn Statement to increase public sector productivity.
Autumn Statement: Living Wage hike places council budgets under pressure
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has confirmed the biggest-ever hike in the UK minimum wage – but the move places strained council finances under fresh pressure.
