MPs demand “urgent” action to repair local government audit
Members on the public accounts committee say the audit market is at risk of collapse while the system is close to “breaking point”. Audit of councils has long been a[…]
Author: Gavin Hinks
Inflation spike creates watching brief for treasury officers
A recent rise in inflation has local government treasury leaders thinking about interest rates, writes Gavin Hinks. Should local government be worried about rising inflation? The increasingly shrill reports about[…]
Income losses and lack of data hamper Whitehall’s support of councils in the pandemic
MPs point to problematic information and the loss of income as major obstacles for local government finances after Covid-19 hit. A report from MPs underlines what many local government finance[…]
Impact Awards: Shortlist revealed
CCLA/Room151 Impact Awards move to the next stage with publication of the finalists. The shortlist is out. Entries for the inaugural CCLA/Room151 Impact Awards have been sifted and sorted and[…]
Treasurers can expect low yields despite inflation spike
Inflation means low yields for treasury assets with further headwinds in need of a government plan. Treasurers can expect yields on their assets to remain low despite inflation. That forecast[…]
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 the work of Plymouth City[…]
Room151 panel backs unitary councils and devolution
Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to local government, according to Sir Bob Kerslake, chair of the Peabody Trust, but “ …we need to move to unitary government and[…]
FDs’ Summit experts defend councils as MPs label property investment ‘risky’
As Room151’s FDs’ Summit conference explores local government’s investment in commercial property MPs once again lable it a “significant risk to government”. Once again MPs have taken aim at local[…]
‘Chasing yield’ not the best strategy as negative rates loom
Recent speculation that the UK may be heading toward negative interest rates prompts questions at LATIF for treasury officers managing local authority funds. Speculation is rife that the UK may[…]
PWLB makes “seismic” rate cut as Warrington opts for bond issue
Additional research: Atharva Deshmukh. As the chancellor delivered his spending review the local government borrowing terrain was rocked by a PWLB rate cut of 100bps despite bond issues showing signs[…]
