SIGOMA
Budget leaves councils in peril
Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton says many will highlight that cuts in local government spending mean the return of austerity – ‘but council leaders will know that it never went away’.
The impact of ending the Household Support Fund would be disastrous
The Household Support Fund is a crucial way for councils to help residents with the costs of living and should be top priority in the upcoming Budget, says Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton.
What are the chances of a Budget boost?
New SIGOMA analysis highlights the huge decline in funding in recent years and the sector desperately needs a boost, says Heather Jameson. 'But the chances of one arriving in a tax-slashing pre-election Budget are slim.'
Councils face new era of austerity
Local government could be left to shoulder the burden of public sector cuts in a new age of austerity, experts have warned.
Cuts put hard squeeze on most deprived councils
New analysis reveals upper tier local authorities in the most deprived decile have seen a real-terms cut in their core spending power of more than a quarter since 2010-11, says Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton.
14 years on: The ‘winners’ and ‘losers’
New data shows how £13.9bn of cumulative cuts in local authority funding in the 14 years since 2010-11 have hit the sector. Ann McGauran and Maks Wieczorski report.
Axing fund would be 'disastrous,' Hunt warned
The impact of ending the Household Support Fund would be ‘disastrous,’ urban councils have warned.
A hike too far?
The Government has allowed some authorities to hike council tax while refusing Somerset Council’s bid to take the same step. Meanwhile, the system remains ‘highly regressive’. Ann McGauran reports.
MPs demand fundamental reform of council funding
The Government has been urged by a cross-party committee of MPs to address the ‘out-of-control financial crisis’ gripping councils.
Stormy waters ahead
Mark Conrad talks to three major groups of councils about what the provisional finance settlement means for each of them, and he considers the outlook for 2025 and beyond.
Policy statement brings little Christmas cheer for councils
The local government finance policy statement confirmed sector fears that there is no new money for the sector at a time when many councils are near breaking point, says Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton.
Meet the Department for Levelling Down
Calling an entity a Levelling Up Department, doesn’t make it level things up, especially when its efforts are tokenistic and subject to political interference, says Cllr Graham Chapman.
Sector unites in plea to chancellor
The local government sector in England has put out a call to Jeremy Hunt to ‘address the significant financial challenges faced by councils’.
Councils set out Autumn Statement priorities
The Government is facing calls to provide emergency funding for children’s social care in this week’s Autumn Statement.
How government can support the retention of essential service delivery
Senior consultant at CIPFA Penna Karima Dakhama looks at how local authorities through innovation can ensure the retention of essential service delivery across the UK.
DLUHC blasted over levelling up failure
The levelling up department has been blasted for failing to deliver its remit by a senior sector figure.
King's Speech light on local government solutions
The Government has vowed to increase economic growth – but warned the Treasury would prioritise cutting inflation over investments and borrowing – in its Parliamentary programme.
Bradford latest to issue section 114 warning
Bradford City Council has warned it may become the latest to declare an emergency section 114 notice unless it takes urgent action to cut spending.
Let there be fireworks on funding
As we look towards this month’s Autumn Statement, it is clear the sector needs it and the settlement to respond to local government's challenges, says Tracy Bingham.
High quality properly funded services must underpin levelling up
Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton says local government funding needs a reset of business rates growth, an update of the data used in the formula and certainty with multi-year settlements if it is to achieve a more resilient long-term footing.
