Richard Harbord: Cannock Chase reveals the risks in business rates appeals: Amazon’s victory in a business rates appeal means one Staffordshire council will have to dip into reserves. Richard Harbord discusses the trouble with appeals. The headlines… dlvr.it/RQBT4G

EXCLUSIVE: Bonds agency goes to market with £350m inaugural bond: The UK Municipal Bonds Agency (UKMBA) today launched its long-awaited first bond into the market, ending a six-year wait. In January, Room 151 broke the news that the UKMBA was[...] dlvr.it/RQ2sdz pic.twitter.com/elfC7GOmEs

Edinburgh sets out £2.5bn housing-investment plans: Proposals to invest almost £2bn in delivering new council homes and close on £500m to upgrade existing social-housing and tenant services over the next decade are set to be agreed[...] dlvr.it/RPxzdl pic.twitter.com/1amWnB7cF7

NAO: Councils’ commercial property activity raises questions over prudential framework: The government’s spending watchdog has urged the government to review the regime governing councils’ capital spending, concluding that their activity in the… dlvr.it/RPwqBN

William Bourne: Good Governance Project leaves ‘conflicts’ to be resolved: William Bourne reflects on how the Scheme Advisory Board’s Good Governance Project recommendations could be made more effective. Over the last 10 years governance has probably… dlvr.it/RPtDJB

Shared service venture to create “finance academy” for managers: A back office shared services initiative run by three London councils is to create a “finance academy” to improve budget management and financial control. The move is being made as[...] dlvr.it/RPq6LL pic.twitter.com/xlOIgBAOJs

Warren Buffett’s ESG scepticism: The reaction: At the end of last year Warren Buffett, one of the world’s foremost investors, said it was wrong for companies to impose their views of “doing good” on society. We[...] dlvr.it/RPpWWT pic.twitter.com/KKmM77p4h4

Olympian task: Stepping up at Newham: Last year, Conrad Hall moved from his role as chief finance officer at London Borough of Brent to take on a wider remit as director of resources at the London[...] dlvr.it/RPm2CP pic.twitter.com/UyfZz9grdb

"This could be treacherous territory for the council. The 151 officer doesn't have to please anybody." An interesting take on the role...gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-… I wonder if Mr Bromiley agrees.

Securities lending and short selling: What’s a responsible long-term investor to do?: David Crum looks at a decision by the world’s biggest pension fund to bring a halt to securities lending and how the LGPS should react. At the beginning of December[...] dlvr.it/RPWX03 pic.twitter.com/222reB5nrf

London borough to use housing company to boost constrained HRA output: The London Borough of Barnet has set out proposals to boost its housing stock by channelling additional investment into a registered provider owned by its arm’s-length management… dlvr.it/RPVL5r pic.twitter.com/mAH8zOurn2

County warns of ‘predatory’ loan offers following PWLB rate rise: A county council has warned of “predatory” lenders circling the local government sector in the wake of the government’s decision to raise the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) interest… dlvr.it/RPRlHM pic.twitter.com/LwRMzPQOGA

Northamptonshire set to underspend again despite children’s services pressures: Northamptonshire County Council is on track to underspend on its 2019/20 budget, despite a predicted overspend of £7.5m on children’s services. In August, Room 151 reported… dlvr.it/RPN2yC pic.twitter.com/yA4YxVx5ck

Scottish minister slams Treasury over ‘grin and bear it’ PWLB rate response: The Scottish finance minister has launched a stinging attack on the UK Treasury over their response to two letters she sent them voicing concerns over the impact on Scottish… dlvr.it/RPJMN0 pic.twitter.com/PxC7SXO0od

Building Beautiful Commission seeks funding tweaks and tax breaks: A government commission on architectural design has called for changes to the way public funding is used to aid new-home delivery plus business rates breaks to aid high street shops.[...] dlvr.it/RPHC0y pic.twitter.com/wrdBSD8TU9