• 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: PWLB borrowing reaches £464m, MHCLG returns unspent £817m to Treasury, US firm enters advice market

0
  • by Colin Marrs
  • in 151 News
  • — 1 Mar, 2018

PWLB borrowing reaches £464m in February
Councils borrowed £464m from the Public Works Loan Board during February, according to figures released by the Debt Management Office. The figure is up on January’s £315m. The biggest sum was borrowed by Wolverhampton City Council, which took £50m in three loans with durations of 16, 22 and 33 years.

Highest council tax rises ‘for 14 years’
Council tax payers face the highest rise in their bills for 14 years, according to statistics from CIPFA. The institute’s annual council tax survey found an average council tax increase of £81.05 (5.1%) for next year. Rob Whiteman, CIPFA chief executive, said: “This sharp rise in council tax across the country reflects the enormous financial pressures many local authorities are currently under. Local government has made by far the biggest efficiencies in the public sector since 2010, but now it feels like crunch time, with the consequences of earlier funding cuts really beginning to bite.”

Housing ministry returns cash to Treasury
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has returned £817m of unspent cash to the Treasury. According to website Huffington Post, the money includes £329m for the government’s Starter Homes programme, £72m for affordable homes and £52m for estate regeneration. Labour’s shadow housing secretary, John Healey, said: “If the secretary of state can’t defend his department’s budget from the Treasury he should give the job to someone who can.”

US firm enters council financial advice market
PFM (Public Financial Management), which provides advice to US cities, states, and utilities is set to launch in the UK. PFM said it was entering the market due to a demand for financial advice among local authorities and because of the “changing rules around where local authorities can borrow from, such as alternatives to the PWLB.” The firm added: “PFM works exclusively with government and public sector clients. This means it understands their specific and unique needs, while recognising the pressures under which they operate.”

Liverpool finance chief announces departure
Becky Helland is to step down from her role as Liverpool City Council’s finance director on 11 March, according to reports. The Liverpool Echo said that the announcement was made to councillors in an email from assistant chief executive Catherine Garnell. Hellard joined the council in 2012 and will be replaced by Peter Casterton, according to the report.

LGA says council tax rises won’t protect services
Extra income from council tax rises will not protect services, the Local Government Association has warned. LGA chairman Lord Porter said: “The extra income this year will help offset some of the financial pressures they face, but the reality is that many councils are now beyond the point where council tax income can be expected to plug the growing funding gaps they face. Extra social care funding will be wiped out by the significant cost pressures of paying for the government’s national living wage and extra general council tax income will only replace a third of the central government funding they will lose this year.”

Get the Room151 Newsletter

Share

You may also like...

  • News round-up: No growth for LGPS, Sefton’s £32.5m shopping centre, transparency code, blockchain and pensions News round-up: No growth for LGPS, Sefton’s £32.5m shopping centre, transparency code, blockchain and pensions 18 May, 2017
  • Newham’s special purpose vehicle, council expenditure, pay rises not certain, enterprise zone jobs boost Newham’s special purpose vehicle, council expenditure, pay rises not certain, enterprise zone jobs boost 27 Aug, 2015
  • Liverpool to reopen housing revenue account Liverpool to reopen housing revenue account 22 May, 2019
  • Councils budget for rise in social service spending Councils budget for rise in social service spending 2 Jul, 2019

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Register to become a Room151 user

  • Latest tweets

    Room151 2 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 2 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 3 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 3 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 3 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 3 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 3 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 4 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 1 week 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 2 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 100% business rates retention could create inequalities
  • Next story Countdown to LATIF North treasury conference in Manchester

© Copyright 2021 Room 151. Typegrid Theme by WPBandit.