• Home
  • About
  • 151 IMPACT AWARDS
  • Subscribe
  • Conference
  • Events Calendar
  • Webcast151
  • MOTB
  • Log In
  • Register

Room 151

Impact Awards –>
  • Treasury
  • Technical
  • Funding
  • Resources
  • LGPS
  • Development
  • 151 News
  • Blogs
    • David Green
    • Agent 151
    • Dan Bates
    • Richard Harbord
    • Stephen Sheen
    • James Bevan
    • Steve Bishop
    • Cllr John Clancy
    • David Crum
    • Graham Liddell
    • Ian O’Donnell
    • Jackie Shute
  • Interviews

News Roundup: EU structural funds, devolution, tax raising, business rates, pensions advisory board

0
  • by Editor
  • in 151 News
  • — 5 Mar, 2015

Councils lose EU funds fight
A coalition of nine councils in Merseyside and South Yorkshire have lost their court battle with the government over their allocation of European Union structural funds. The nine authorities claimed that they had received an unfair cut of 61% in funding for 2014-2020, compared to other similar regions of the UK  hit with a 5% cut. However, the Supreme Court rejected their case by a 4-3 majority.

Commission highlights devolution benefits outside cities
Too much of the current devolution debate is focused on cities, according to a commission which reported this week. The Independent Commission on Economic Growth and the Future of Public Services in Non-Metropolitan England, said that devolving skills and training spending to non-metropolitan areas could generate £8.7bn each year for the national economy. Meanwhile, savings from adopting more effective ways of working across the range of public sector organisations could be worth £12bn over five years, it said.

“Unprecedented pressures” for Scottish authorities
Scottish councils face pressures from next year on a scale not previously experienced, according the country’s Accounts Commission. In its annual report, the commission called for difficult decisions on spending to be taken now to avoid storing up problems for the future. Douglas Sinclair, chair of the commission, said: “Regular reviews of governance are essential due to continuing changes in council staff, management and political structures and delivery models, such as the use of arm’s-length external organisations and the new health and social care partnerships.”

Businesses back local business rate decisions
More than two-thirds of UK businesses agree that councils should be able to set business rates locally in discussion with local businesses, according to a survey. Polling for the Local Government Association, by pollster ComRes, found 68 per cent of businesses across the UK agree that business rates should be set locally in discussion with local businesses. Just 7% of businesses surveyed disagreed.

No new tax-raising powers for councils
The government has set itself against giving new tax-raising powers to local authorities. In its response to a communities and local government select committee report on devolution, it said: “There is a difference between policies which increase the burden of municipal taxation, and those which allow councils to share from the proceeds of enterprise and economic growth. The first ultimately hinders economic growth, the second encourages it.” It also said that it had no plans to allow the local setting of business rate levels.

Scales takes up West Sussex role
Former London Pensions Authority chief executive Peter Scales has been appointed as the chairman of West Sussex County Council’s new pension advisory board. Scales is one of the first people to be appointed to such a role, which was introduced in an attempt to improve governance of local government pension schemes. Scales is currently a senior adviser at investment firm AllenbridgeEpic.

Barnet appoints joint venture partners
London Borough of Barnet has appointed two development firms as partners on the Brent Cross South regeneration scheme in London. The council granted planning permission last year for a new neighbourhood of 7,500 homes on a 78ha site. It will put land into the joint venture with Argent and Related Properties contributing expertise and investment.

Worries raised over Birmingham partnership
Birmingham City Council should scrap its joint venture with Capita to provide its IT services unless it can attract other clients, according to a councillor. According to councillor Ken Wood, a member of the contracts and partnership scrutiny committee, unless the Service Birmingham vehicle is selling services to other agencies the joint venture arrangement is a waste of time, according to the Birmingham Post.

Councils set to create “coordination company”
A new “coordination company” could enable joint working arrangements between South Northamptonshire Council and Cherwell District Council. The two authorities have agreed a deal after a two month consultation on the draft business case. The company, owned by the two authorities, would coordinate services, in conjunction with employee mutual or council-owned companies.

MPs call for equity in public health funding
Funding for public health is falling short of needs for a third of local authorities, according to the House of Commons’ public accounts committee. A report from the PAC said 51 out of 152 upper tier authorities received 20% above or below their fare share, taking into account their relative needs. Committee chairwoman Margaret Hodge said: “The department should set out clear plans for how quickly it will move local authorities to their target funding allocations for public health…”

Share

You may also like...

  • Scotland investigates potential for LGPS infrastructure pool Scotland investigates potential for LGPS infrastructure pool 22 Feb, 2018
  • Councils could face ‘additional’ intervention if borrowing rates continue Councils could face ‘additional’ intervention if borrowing rates continue 28 Mar, 2018
  • Local Pensions Partnership launches with FCA approval and an eye on treasury assets Local Pensions Partnership launches with FCA approval and an eye on treasury assets 13 Apr, 2016
  • Council services hit by  failure of funding regime for child asylum-seekers Council services hit by failure of funding regime for child asylum-seekers 27 Jun, 2019

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Register to become a Room151 user

  • Latest tweets

    Room151 4 days ago

    Impact Awards: Liverpool’s cafe culture and Warrington’s investment in homes: The CCLA/Room151 Impact Awards showcase  finance teams with a direct impact on their local communities and the environment. This week we spotlight Liverpool City Council’s… dlvr.it/RxJsKb pic.twitter.com/dEYpaz6HP0

    Room151 4 days ago

    Doing something in #localgov #finance for housing or regeneration? Check out the 'Place Shaping' category room151.co.uk/impact-awards/… sponsored by @31tenConsulting in the CCLA/Room151 Impact Awards. #timetoenter !! pic.twitter.com/dU99vE6Wws

    Room151 5 days ago

    Doing something in #localgov #finance for Adult Social Care & Health? Check out the ASC&H category room151.co.uk/impact-awards/… sponsored by Fundamentum Social Housing REIT in the CCLA/Room151 Impact Awards. #timetoenter !!

    Room151 5 days ago

    Doing something in #localgov #finance for the environment? Check out the 'carbon management' category room151.co.uk/impact-awards/… sponsored by @ACSLLP in the CCLA/Room151 Impact Awards. #timetoenter !!

    Room151 5 days ago

    So what are the seven categories for the CCLA/Room151 Impact Awards? Here they are room151.co.uk/impact-awards/… #localgov #finance #outcomes

    Room151 5 days ago

    Why should LGPS be concerned about rising inflation?: The impact of the coronavirus pandemic, lockdown and wider economic uncertainty created  deflationary pressures which raise important considerations for the Local Government Pension Scheme writes… dlvr.it/RxF7Fs pic.twitter.com/JlcjROBIpz

    Room151 6 days ago

    JOB ALERT: LPFA Finance Director vacancy: London Pensions Fund Authority Finance Director and s151 Officer Competitive salary and benefits The largest Local Government Pension (LGPS) provider in London with around £6.5 billion of assets and 135[...] dlvr.it/RxBdJP

    Room151 6 days ago

    Richard Harbord: Further signs that local government finance is failing: The crisis in Liverpool and a fix for education budgets are further indication that local government finance is in need of a root and branch review. Even for those students[...] dlvr.it/Rx9PSV pic.twitter.com/sAanC2gEyu

    Room151 2 weeks ago

    Impact Awards: Finance helps launch school meals company and support business during lockdown: The CCLA/Room151 Impact Awards will showcase the way finance teams have a direct impact on their local communities and the environment. This week we spotlight… dlvr.it/RwnlF4 pic.twitter.com/AJhne1MVG4

    Room151 2 weeks ago

    "This work has made a vital, practical contribution to ensuring people have been supported through the pandemic." #impact #151awards #covid #s151 room151.co.uk/treasury/impac… #impactcasestudies #councilfinancemakesadifference

    Room151 2 weeks ago

    room151.co.uk/impact-awards/ #passiton #localgov #s151 #151awards pic.twitter.com/A0uO0dwBkM

    Room151 2 weeks ago

    Financial pressures loom for 2023 and beyond: Kate Ogden writes the government has addressed most of the short-term Covid-19 financial pressures facing English councils, but problems loom in 2022-23 and the years following. As we enter the[...] dlvr.it/RwfDsz pic.twitter.com/hpv2R09w75

    Room151 3 weeks ago

    Calling all #localgov finance officers and #s151s room151.co.uk/impact-awards/ It's the #151Awards Thanks to the @LGALocalism for helping us get the word out along with all the LA treasury societies. pic.twitter.com/Nkal9BrH1J

  • Categories

    • 151 News
    • Agent 151
    • Blogs
    • Chris Buss
    • Cllr John Clancy
    • Dan Bates
    • David Crum
    • David Green
    • Development
    • Forum
    • Funding
    • Graham Liddell
    • Ian O'Donnell
    • Interviews
    • Jackie Shute
    • James Bevan
    • Jobs
    • LGPSi
    • Mark Finnegan
    • Recent Posts
    • Resources
    • Richard Harbord
    • Stephen Fitzgerald
    • Stephen Sheen
    • Steve Bishop
    • Technical
    • Treasury
    • Uncategorized
  • Archives

    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
  • Previous story Orkney diversifies oil wealth fund
  • Next story Chris Buss: 151 officers, strategic development and local skills – part two

© Copyright 2021 Room 151. Typegrid Theme by WPBandit.