Auditors are taking a close interest in the accounting for companies owned by councils. David Green looks at the elements that attract attention. Council-owned companies have been in the news[…]
Collapse of the Bremen-based Greensill Bank has hurt a number of German local authorities. David Green argues their troubles deserve close attention. You may not have heard of Greensill Bank[…]
David Green asks whether new borrowing rules should prompt lenders to reassess the risk of doing business with councils. There are two main reasons why an organisation might default on[…]
David Green writes that the alternative to extending statutory overrides will be “no good for local or central government, nor their taxpayers”. Local authorities are drawing up their revenue budgets[…]
Long-term fixed rate loans may be low risk but, argues David Green, the lowest risk comes with a portfolio including a “decent proportion” of short-term borrowing. A recent Room 151[…]
The summer is nearly over. David Green writes that treasurers can look forward to a conclusion on the PWLB consultation, government action on commerical investments, the impact of negative interest[…]
PWLB borrowing may be blocked, but there are other ways to access credit. David Green surveys the options. As the consultation on PWLB future lending terms draws to a close,[…]
The future lending terms of PWLB is under review with the possibility of a ban on borrowing for commercial investment on the horizon. David Green argues some “fundamentals” need resolving[…]
An increase in PWLB rates has seen treasury officers deluged with offers of credit from the private sector. David Green writes local authorities should take care with the money they[…]
The government has finally lost its temper with ever increasing borrowing by local authorities and has added 1% to Public Works Loans Board interest rates. Anecdotally, much of this recent[…]
