Michael Hudson
It cannot be about the way we cut the cake, but the size
With a General Election on the horizon the one thing the sector needs – financial certainty – will be last on the agenda, says Michael Hudson. But it has never been more important for local government to speak with a collegiate voice, he adds.
We have to run councils well
Government needs to engage with the sector and provide greater funding certainty and realism where it is obvious the money is not enough, and councils must ensure all actions are being carried out to balance budgets, says Michael Hudson.
Children and young people in care are at risk of becoming invisible
The Government must 'urgently look at ways to find more funding for children’s care and safeguarding, that will allow us to change the system', says Michael Hudson.
Scaling the annual budget-setting challenge
Michael Hudson looks at the challenges of budget-setting and sets out his top tips for tackling them.
The deals did not add up
Michael Hudson's advice is 'that as s151 officers we are the custodians of the public purse: always ensure you can understand what you are signing off and if not – don’t…'
A broken record
Michael Hudson says that without resolving the outstanding audit issues council s151 officers face the position of not being able to say with confidence that accounts are true and fair by the statutory deadline.
We need a rethink on this year's account deadlines
Michael Hudson calls on the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and CIPFA to think again about this year’s account deadlines.
The case for a budget-setting collective
Michael Hudson looks ahead at planning for 2024-25 budget-setting, and he says we need to do this as a collective and collaborative sector 'working with DLUHC to promote to them and other Government departments how we are leaders of place'.
The inflation explanation
Michael Hudson warns councils will have to cut vital services at a time of unprecedented need if they do not get more funding to reflect inflationary pressures.
