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Scotland: plan to replace councils with ‘six to ten’ regional authorities

Scotland’s 32 councils could be replaced by six to ten regional authorities under plans for a dramatic shakeup being considered by the Scottish Government.

Governance by Kerry Lorimer

Funding

Call to devolve £5bn in local taxes to mayors

News-in-Brief

Bolton eyes £14m temporary accommodation investment

S114 warning from ‘extremely fragile’ Worcestershire

Council audit fees set to rise by 3%

Richmond expecting £24m of external borrowing in 2026/27

Basildon reserves could be ‘largely exhausted’ in plugging projected 2026/27 budget gap

Border to Coast appoints head of Real Estate

LGR reaction, debt backlash and EFS worry: Room151 survey highlights revealed

The biggest risks in local government finance, a backlash over debt write-offs as part of LGR, and a distaste for EFS were revealed in Room151’s annual treasury and finance survey.

Treasury by Jason Holland

(Tina Miguel photography)

Funding

LGR ‘pause and review’: the real story of what happened

Funding

Scottish local government reform could be ‘pie in the sky’

Partner

China: efficiency is redefining AI leadership

Roundtable reports

LGPS

Room151 and Schroders launch fourth annual LGPS Investment Survey

With the Fit for the Future reforms entering into force, it is time for us to take the temperature of the industry on the impact of reforms and key investment challenges.

LGPS by Guest Contributor

(Construction site of new houses in Sunderland city centre)

Funding

EFS: ‘doing the right things should be rewarded rather than punished’

Government must tailor the support available to cash-strapped councils to ensure it accelerates – rather than impedes – their recovery, according to the finance lead at Barnet Council.

Funding by Kerry Lorimer