The chancellor Philip Hammond attempted to put some optimism in his latest statement but, says Richard Harbord, there was little to lift the gloom for council finances. This was Philip[…]
Section 114s were introduced to beef up the powers of the s151 officers. But they can be a “career limiting move” and potentially indicate a failure of “cooperative working” inside[…]
It’s nothing short of miraculous that some local authorities remained ‘sustainable’ in 2017, writes Richard Harbord who looks back on a year that saw an increase in officer investigations and[…]
Local authorities up and down the country should be finalising budgets that offer a clear route to the future. That would be the case, argues Richard Harbord, if it wasn’t[…]
As we move nearer to the autumn budget, the excitement begins to mount and the rumours about its content come thick and fast. When the big day arrives it is,[…]
My book of choice this summer, working as I have throughout August, was published in 1888 and deals with the introduction and amendments to the Local Government Act 1888. Lucky[…]
The summer is here but this is usually a busy time for finance departments as they gear up for the next budget. Richard Harbord says the burden of producing[…]
I am avoiding any comment on the election. Whatever will be ,will be and whatever will be will not help local government over much. There are however an interesting number of[…]
As we start the new financial year it is obvious that things are not likely to get any easier for section 151 officers. Although it will be much more of the[…]
I suppose that most people would regard the 2017 and last ever spring budget to be a little bland. It confirms the decisions already taken about indexation of tax[…]
