News-in-Brief

Redbridge Council’s net borrowing increased by £119.48m in 2025/26 compared to the end of the previous financial year, a treasury management outturn report showed.

Lambeth Council is to commission an independent review of its financial management in light of the authority’s “stark” financial challenge. The review will assess

The new chair of the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA), mayor Chris Cooke, is aiming to both protect progress made in ensuring

Council expenditure on temporary accommodation increased by a 1077% in real terms between 2011/12 and 2024/25, according to new analysis. The Local Government Association

Rushcliffe Borough Council has said it has “overachieved against its transformation and efficiency plan target”, but local government reorganisation (LGR) will now become the

Westminster City Council has warned of a “stark” financial challenge as government funding will reduce by 46% over four years, amounting to £100m. The

Shropshire Council is expecting to need less exceptional financial support (EFS) than first forecast, based on tightening financial controls and savings already achieved. But

Devon County Council delivered £17.9m of savings in 2025/26, according to its unaudited statement of accounts for the financial year. The authority said it

Welsh councils have welcomed extra funding for school maintenance and free school meals but stressed that a solution for additional learning needs (ALN) is

LPPI has appointed Faith Ward as strategic adviser as it expands its responsible investment team to accommodate its growth in partner funds. In her

Bill Butler has been confirmed as the first chair of the Local Audit Office, a role he is expected to carry out for the

The Isle of Wight Pension Fund is still debating the issue of joining its new pool LGPS Central, according to its latest Pension Fund

City of York Council has posted a year end budget underspend despite an “extremely challenging” financial outlook. A report to the council’s executive next

The Devon Pension Fund recorded a negative return of -1.6% for the first quarter of this year, attributable to market turmoil stemming from US

The £11bn Lothian Pension Fund has reported annual investment returns of 8.7% in 2025, driven in large part by strong equity performance, according to

Slough Borough Council is assessing whether to wind down or repurpose its struggling wholly owned housing company James Elliman Homes (JEH). A detailed business

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is to move to a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) software system. The authority has selected Unit4’s ‘ERPx’ cloud-native

Somerset Council’s Executive will be asked to approve a package of one-off investment worth £5.3m to strengthen support for children and young people with

More than one in four (26%) council professionals involved in local government reorganisation (LGR) are not confident their new authority will be viable on

Slough Borough Council has outlined how £79.4m could be generated through asset disposals between 2026/27 and 2028/29 in a strategic asset management plan. The

A 12.5% yearly increase in the number of education, health and care plans (EHCPs) issued is “a reminder of the continued rise in need

West Berkshire Council has reported a £5.5m adjusted overspend as its social care pressures continue to rise.  The council's reported deficit in adult social

Worcestershire Council has drawn down £15.4m from reserves to balance its budget, but still met its targeted savings goal for 2025/26, a resources report

Hampshire County Council is to seek a judicial review of the government’s plans for local government reorganisation (LGR) amid concerns over the financial viability

Lambeth Council has forecast a £15.9m general fund overspend for 2025/26 despite improving its financial position by £1.2m since Q3, a report showed.  Despite