Treasury
Is there much rigour to the Spending Review?
The District Councils’ Network’s clear requests include a year-on-year, real-terms increase in Government-funded spending power across the Spending Review, with the certainty and stability of a multi-year financial settlement, says Ian Miller.
Pursuing happiness
At last, the Treasury wants us all to be happy, says Dan Corry. ‘A brilliant early sign that the Treasury means this is if the forthcoming and long-awaited multi-year Spending Review pushed these concepts hard’, he adds.
Chancellor faces tough call on on care, pensions and welfare
Chancellor Rishi Sunak will need to make a series of tough choices this autumn, the Resolution Foundation think-tank has said.
Government set to hike NI to pay for care and health
Government is set to plough ahead with plans to raise national insurance to fund health and social, with an announcement expected next week.
Just when you thought it was safe
The first multi-year public finance settlement for many years might not answer every question, but could clear the decks for what lies beyond the deep blue sea of the next General Election, says Jonathan Werran.
Raid on reserves will hit hard on council cash
As the Treasury threatens to raid reserves, Heather Jameson warns the 'snapshot' figures could have a long term impact on councils as we head for the spending review.
Treasury launches consultation for business rates revaluations every three years
The Treasury has made further moves towards business rates revaluations taking place more frequently.
We must stop the Treasury tail wagging the Government dog
Graeme McDonald senses 'much of Whitehall has a greater understanding of our challenges than for many years, but is handcuffed by the inflexible, rigid approach imposed by a shortsighted Exchequer'.
Experts urge action on care on eve of PM's crunch meeting
Social care leaders have written to the Prime Minister, chancellor and health secretary, demanding a resolution to the adult social care crisis on the eve of a top level crunch meeting tomorrow.
Playing it long
A Localis policy webinar on long-term local government finances indicated strategic pragmatism will be order of the day for the sector until the mid-2020s, writes Jonathan Werran.
A delicate balance
Whether it will achieve its lofty, yet nebulous, objectives and relentless focus north of the Watford Gap, the Government’s levelling up agenda has a long way to go. Martin Ford reports.
Levelling up fund faces legal challenge
The Government could face legal action over its ‘troublingly opaque’ allocation of the Levelling Up Fund.
A tale of two Budgets?
While the Budget delivered an economic quick fix, critics have highlighted its silence on support for public services and rising inequality, and a ‘scattergun’ approach to levelling up. Heather Jameson reports.
BUDGET 2021: Sunak warns of pain to come
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a budget to protect ‘livelihood and jobs’ – with a warning of public finance pain to come.
BUDGET 2021: Sunak's lifeline for workers and business
Rishi Sunak’s Budget is expected to provide a lifeline for workers as the furlough scheme is extended to September while the universal credit £20 uplift could also be prolonged for six months.
Sunak to reveal £5bn for high streets
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected announce a further £5bn to rescue high streets in the Budget on Wednesday.
'Amazon tax' will make matters worse, says MP
Adding an online sales tax to a broken business rates system will only make matters worse, a Conservative MP who is pushing to scrap business rates has said.
Fixing the fiscal flaws
Last week saw the Treasury put a pause on business rates billing until after the Budget. But the March announcement is unlikely to address the bigger issues facing council tax and business rates. Heather Jameson reports.
Treasury in property tax rethink
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is believed to be rethinking property taxes – including council tax and business rates – in a bid to balance the books post-COVID.
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
