An effort to reduce the accounts preparation burden on local authorities in the midst of coping with the Covid-19 crisis was recently abandoned. Stephen Sheen looks at the implications. This[…]
Its the time of year when finance teams focus on their statement of accounts. Stephen Sheen argues that pushing back the deadline for audited accounts is not enough. There is[…]
A decision over a third runway at the country’s biggest airport means section 151 officers must consider climate issues when they draw up their spending plans. Helen Randall explains why.[…]
Budgets have been compiled but how will local authorities confront funding gaps? And will they continue with commercial investments or focus on other priorities, like local housing? We asked the[…]
Outcome based budgeting offers opportunities to uncover vital insights. Rebecca Hellard reveals her experience. I was recently asked about my current challenges and concerns. I like to turn these into[…]
Central government is implementing measures to confront the coronavirus outbreak. David Hill works through the questions local authorities will need to address as the virus spreads. The coronavirus is dominating[…]
Peterborough City Council has revealed plans to use £7m of capital receipts to help balance its in-year revenue budget and 2020/21 spending proposals – despite controversy surrounding similar moves in[…]
The fees council pay for their external audits are set to be frozen for the second year running despite increasing cost pressures on audit firms, according to the body responsible[…]
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[…]
The National Audit Office has backed down on a proposal to allow the introduction of new reporting criteria for local authority audits during the lifetime of a new Code of[…]
