Spending Review
Spending Review poses 'challenge' for fair funding
A minister has said a one-year settlement for local government would pose a ‘challenge’ for implementing the fair funding review in 2020/21.
Spending Review must meet costs of refugee resettlement
Local government has cautiously welcomed the Government’s commitment to continue resettling refugees after a flagship scheme ends next year.
It’s a good time to lobby
Dan Corry says that while the policy world is currently in something of a stasis lock, politically we’re seeing major realignments, with new battlefields – or at least new fronts – opening up everywhere.
The art of budgeting
We need to know what extra money we are going to get in the Spending Review, not just a continuation of funding streams such as the Improved Better Care Fund (IBCF), says Tony Kirkham.
United view?
Chair of the LGA Lord Porter says the smaller unitaries have ‘probably a larger number of councils close to the edge’. But as Ann McGauran reports, it may be hard to generalise about the financial health of this ‘disparate group’.
Council preparations for Brexit 'hampered' by Whitehall
Whitehall’s lack of focus and co-ordination ‘hampered’ councils’ preparations for Brexit in the run-up to April 12, a Local Government Association (LGA) report has said.
'You can't cut what you don't have!'
We need the sort of detailed analysis carried out by PriceWaterhouseCoopers for the County Councils ' Network, which uses evidence to project 'spending need' over the period 2015-25, says Richard Flinton.
Porter in top up cash call
Councils will need a cash top up if the political turmoil forces the new Prime Minister to delay plans for a three-year Spending Review, Local Government Association (LGA) chairman Lord Porter has warned.
Care provider warns of sector collapse unless action is taken
The executive director of Mears Alan Long sets out what he believes is needed to save a domiciliary care sector in crisis:
Funding’s stark reality needs an honest debate
The IFS concluded in its report that local government finances are broken and we need a national discussion on whether to raise taxes or cut services. Heather Jameson says the sector needs to be honest and open about the debate.
MHCLG staff return to usual roles after Brexit build-up
Most Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) staff have returned to their usual roles as the department’s efforts switch back to the domestic agenda.
Fair funding review 'credibility' warning
The fair funding review could ‘lack credibility’ unless the Government steps up efforts to gather the most up-to-date data.
Ministers need to be mindful of the poll tax debacle
That an 'apparently esoteric' local government finance issue could bring down a powerful Prime Minister such as Margaret Thatcher should be taken seriously by today's government, says Michael Burton.
What is local government really worth?
Does all the ambition for local government come down to core service and self-sustainability, asks Heather Jameson. Where is the full funding, fiscal freedom and the local discretion?
Crafting a solution for our sector’s funding
What the whole local government sector needs most is ‘stable, future-proofed planning’, says Rob Whiteman, and a one-year delay to the outcome of the fair funding review could be part of this process.
Reviews are a chance for us to come together
The County Councils’ Network (CCN) has released a new report on councils’ finances. Simon Edwards says it shows all councils need a significant injection of resources, and that its members face ‘a particularly severe set of circumstances’.
The self-sufficiency myth
Marsham Street appears not to understand the drivers of demand or the pressures local services are under, county finance chiefs have told MPs.
Central-local relations at 'all-time low' - study
The relationship between Whitehall and councils has broken down, with local leaders feeling ‘disrespected and marginalised,’ according to a think-tank behind a major new report published today.
Keep making the investment case for prevention
John O'Brien says that whether we end up with a one year Spending Review or a longer one, it's important to make the wider investment case for preventative services programmes such as Troubled Families.
Redressing the balance
Localis’s report Hitting reset – a case for local leadership puts the argument for a complete transfer of powers from Whitehall to the local state. Ann McGauran reports