Boston

06/25 Croydon calls for debt write-off following Woking and Thurrock decisions

05/25 West Lindsey appoints Peter Davy as new s151

03/25 The case against investing in defence stocks

01/25 South & East Lincolnshire LATCo reports £29m of savings

05/24 Levelling Up Partnership funding approved at five councils

11/23 Concern raised over reliability of data and expertise of council-run firm providing financial services

04/23 Harbord: moving faster on pooling ‘a step too far’

03/23 What was in the Budget for local government?

11/22 Local government’s bewilderment over business rate changes

11/22 Autumn Statement: the uncertainty continues

11/22 DLUHC: the right team at the right time?

09/22 DLUHC: the departmental in-tray

06/22 Children’s social care: a radical review, but is it realistic?

05/22 Mixed reaction to proposed government intervention powers

05/22 Queen’s Speech: an ambitious plan hampered by omissions

04/22 Don’t expect an infrastructure levy any time soon

03/22 Spring Statement: local government’s levy lottery

02/22 Levelling up and the LGPS

01/22 Richard Harbord: a lack of New Year resolution

11/21 Richard Harbord: What will happen with business rates?

10/21 Spending review: A lift from grant funding, rising gilt prices and inflation worries

10/21 Skills in short supply for local government audit

08/21 Richard Harbord: ‘Effective governance’ the key to commercial activity

06/21 Income losses and lack of data hamper Whitehall’s support of councils in the pandemic

05/21 Richard Harbord: September accounts sign-off a ‘fantasy’ at many councils

04/21 Richard Harbord: Further signs that local government finance is failing

03/21 Budget 2021: A missed opportunity while bidding could prove a strain

01/21 Richard Harbord: Delayed “capital determinations” make section 25 opinions a new crunch point

11/20 Richard Harbord: Croydon’s 114 notice hold lessons for all councils

10/20 Without a ‘generous’ settlement the risk of section 114s looms large

04/20 Richard Harbord: Covid-19 presents a challenge to financial resilience

02/20 Richard Harbord: Cannock Chase reveals the risks in business rates appeals

01/20 Commercial income could be excluded from council funding calculations

11/19 Council finance settlement timing “up to new government”

10/19 Hard choices: how the PWLB rate rise could hit councils’ service budgets

10/19 PWLB rate hike sends shockwaves through council finance sector

10/19 Rise in council spending on land and buildings slows

09/19 Choppy waters: How to be an s151 at a troubled authority

08/19 Council reserves rise to record levels

06/19 Spending Review uncertainty leaves fair funding reforms in balance

05/19 Lincolnshire set to create legal services company

02/19 A busy and unpromising timetable for local authority finances

01/19 Little time left for detail needed over funding

12/18 Provisional settlement does nothing to help local authorities

12/18 Provisional local government settlement pushed back by Brexit vote

11/18 50 authorities miss accounts deadline, says PSAA report

09/18 Why ministers are deaf to local government warnings on finance

06/18 Richard Harbord: Commercialisation ushers in significant governance challenges

05/18 Richard Harbord: A resounding status quo for policy after local elections

03/18 Richard Harbord: A spring statement with little to offer local government

02/18 Richard Harbord: Section 114s challenge reluctant members to address budgets

01/18 Richard Harbord: 2017, a miracle or just horrible?

12/17 Business rates and council tax offerings in Javid settlement get mixed reception

11/17 Richard Harbord: We have a clear strategic process…except for all the uncertainty

10/17 Richard Harbord: a clear vision needed for local government

09/17 LGA argues business rates retention ‘insufficient for sustainable funding’

09/17 Trend for longer term cash holdings to impact treasury investment strategies

09/17 Richard Harbord: The post-holiday horizon is rates retention, restructuring and reserves

07/17 Richard Harbord: Pension board scrutiny can improve governance

06/17 Shock election result leaves local government fumbling in the dark

04/17 Richard Harbord: Commercialisation brings its own risks

04/17 Richard Harbord: Budget difficulties — it’s not all about social care

03/17 Spring Budget: Social care funding pledge meets with scepticism

03/17 Richard Harbord: Budget 2017, not such a bad day for local authorities

02/17 Richard Harbord: Would government help a council facing financial failure?

02/17 Easing impact of revaluation could undermine business rates devolution

01/17 Richard Harbord: Slow work on business rates and Surrey’s council tax referendum

01/17 Poor and rich councils set to clash over business rates devolution

01/17 Richard Harbord: Goodbye 2016, and a not so warm welcome to 2017