Finance
Senior ministry officials to be quizzed by MPs
Senior government officials will be hauled in front of MPs next week after a rare move from the Public Accounts Committee.
Spending review: Treading water next year is our best hope
Chair of SIGOMA Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton says Spending Review 2020 is a missed opportunity ‘and will mean the best that many of our councils can hope for next year is treading water’,
Spelthorne undergoes finance peer review
A council branded reckless for excessively borrowing to buy up commercial property has undergone a finance peer review from the Local Government Association (LGA).
Spending review: Rishi delivered what we needed, stability
In a time of financial uncertainty, the chancellor's Spending Review delivered basic stability. Now county councils need to be at the heart of levelling up, says Cllr David Williams
Spending review: The road ahead is still paved with uncertainty
The efforts of local government during the pandemic have been astounding, which makes the public sector pay freeze much harder to swallow, says Cllr Sharon Taylor.
Sunak unveils a Spending Review for jobs, public services and infrastructure
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a £4bn levelling up fund as part of a Spending Review which he claimed offered ‘huge investment’ in jobs, public services and infrastructure.
Spending Review: £2.9bn 'restart programme' to help unemployed
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a three-year £2.9bn ‘restart programme’ to help more than one million people unemployed for more than a year find work.
Croydon's property firm ‘entirely dependent’ on council funding
Croydon LBC has come in for heavy criticism over the performance of its property company.
Councils still hungry for cash despite winter grant scheme
Councils that want to use the new £170m COVID winter grant scheme to stop children going hungry during school holidays may need more cash, the Government has been told.
EXCLUSIVE: Stretched councils rumbled over identical financial returns
Councils have been reminded to regularly update their monthly financial returns to Whitehall after stretched teams were caught submitting the same numbers each time.
Auditors probe gagging orders
Auditors have delayed signing off Thanet DC’s 2019/20 accounts while they investigate the council’s use of gagging orders in resolving grievances.
Early days for motion
It was a heartfelt message of thanks to local authorities that went out from Green Party MP Caroline Lucas.
Sunak to re-write Green Book to level up the North
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce plans to re-write the Green Book in the spending review this week, as part of the Government’s commitment to levelling up.
Leisure centre collapse warning
Under-pressure leisure centres will go under without further rescue funding on top of the £100m already pledged by the Government, district councils have warned.
Crisis-hit Croydon approves action plan
Croydon LBC has approved an action plan to put ‘strong financial management and governance right at the heart of the organisation’.
LGA presses to move powers out of London
Moving powers from the capital to the regions is more important than moving civil servants, the chair of the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.
What can we take away from Croydon’s s114 notice?
It’s immediately clear from Croydon LBC’s section 114 action that local government must recognise and respect their collective responsibility for maintaining a council’s financial health, says Rob Whiteman.
Green energy deal 'could be blueprint' for other councils
A £40m green energy deal could provide a blueprint for local authorities seeking to reduce carbon emissions and cut costs, according to the City of London Corporation.
Government accused of 'political' COVID funding
Officers at Hampshire CC have accused the Government of awarding funding based on politics rather than financial need.
Government stop-gap on SEND deficits
Treasurers have welcomed a second government attempt to deal with spiralling special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) deficits but have stressed it is ‘not sustainable’.
