Councils eye collaboration on community bank plans
Local authorities in two different parts of the country are looking to collaborate in their bids to create new community banks to support people in deprived areas and generate dividends.[…]
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Council PWLB borrowing hits record level in August
Borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board hit another recent record high in August, with councils taking £1.983bn in loans. The figure pips March’s figure of £1.93bn, a spree fuelled[…]
How councils can use modular homes to speed up housebuilding
Innovations in housebuilding technology can help councils deliver their ambitious housing targets, says Rosie Toogood, CEO of Legal & General Modular Homes. This article was sponsored by Legal & General,[…]
Thanet urged to clarify s151 officer suspension
Councillors, residents and union leaders have demanded clarity on the decision to suspend Thanet District Council’s section 151 officer. Tim Willis, the director of finance and procurement, was suspended in[…]
Choppy waters: How to be an s151 at a troubled authority
Northamptonshire County Council recently announced the appointment of its fourth finance director in two years. Richard Harbord looks at the challenges of taking over financial leadership at an authority in[…]
Northants faces ‘significant challenge’ to deal with new £35m budget gap
Northamptonshire County Council faces a fresh financial crisis after a £34.9m budget gap for 2020/21 opened up. A review of the council’s medium term financial plan (MTFP) published this week[…]
Councils warn of uncertainty following one-year settlement decision
Councils have warned they need certainty about funding reforms and revenue, following the chancellor’s decision to hold a one-year funding review. Local authorities called for funding to ease cost pressures[…]
One-year settlement decision ‘threatens Fair Funding Review’
The government’s decision to push ahead with a one-year spending review has prompted alarm from local government experts that it could force a delay in the implementation of the Fair[…]
Bonds agency seeks outsourced solution to achieve first bond launch
The Municipal Bonds Agency is set to outsource its management and operations to an external provider in a bid to get its first bond issue off the ground. The agency,[…]
District looks to offload theme park to avoid ‘unsustainable’ costs
Thanet District Council in Kent has agreed to dispose of a theme park it rescued almost a decade ago to stop the attraction from exposing the council to “unsustainable” future[…]
