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The government has ruled out setting up a new Audit Commission-style watchdog to oversee scrutiny of council finance – seemingly irrespective of the findings of the Redmond review. A formal[…]
The government should replace the “broken” business rates system with a new model that maintains income for local authorities, according to a report by Parliament’s Treasury Select Committee. In a[…]
The government’s hike in the Public Works Loan Board rate was “ideological”, “perverse” and “punishing” according to experts speaking this week. The government shocked the sector in October by putting[…]
Funding to replace EU grants for major projects could be better for councils after Brexit, the communities secretary has pledged. In his last appearance before MPs ahead of the general[…]
The Local Government Association has protested to two Whitehall departments about the impact on councils of delays by auditors in preparing their accounts. LGA resources board chair Richard Watts told[…]
The Public Works Loan Board rate rise (PWLB) will add £18.9m to the cost of servicing Manchester City Council’s planned borrowing for capital projects, reducing its future borrowing capacity, it[…]
Cash is being diverted from key council services to pay for Brexit preparations, according to a survey of council chiefs. Think tank the New Local Government Network (NLGN) found that[…]
Thanet Council has reinstated its section 151 officer following his suspension. Tim Willis, the council’s deputy chief executive, was suspended in August without public explanation by the Kent authority. The[…]
Almost nine in ten councils are planning to push ahead with planned capital projects despite the Public Works Loan Board rate rise – with more than half set to seek[…]
Two London boroughs have been chastised by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for mistakes in pursuing business rate debts. In separate reports the ombudsman found both Haringey and[…]
