News-in-Brief

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) should strengthen its long‑term sustainability through a medium‑ to long‑term financial strategy aligned with strategic priorities, according to a

Brighton & Hove City Council has identified a borrowing need of £53m to support its 2025/26 capital programme, and £74m for 2026/27 to 2028/29.

Councils’ annual school transport costs for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) could reach £3.4bn by 2030/31, £1.4bn more than last

North East Derbyshire District Council’s total borrowing increased by £15.4m in the first three quarters of 2025/26 to £176.7m, as part of its strategy

The Isle of Wight Council has applied for exceptional financial support (EFS) to avoid the need for a section 114 notice. A draft 2026/27

Trafford Council has said it will need to externalise its borrowing requirement over the next three years to prevent its current under borrowed position

Cumberland Council is reviewing potential actions to ensure its final budget remains “robust and sustainable” in light of increased demand in children’s services. At a meeting

Somerset Council will ask the government to publish its fair funding review findings and “explain how this is in any way fair funding”. The

London CIV has appointed a former Tesco Pension Investment executive to lead its operational capabilities, marking its third senior hire from the corporate defined

Southampton City Council has said it will no longer need exceptional financial support (EFS) from government after publishing its draft 2026/27 budget. The authority

West Devon Borough Council has described the government’s fair funding reforms as “anything but fair” after seeing a reduction of just under £0.3m (7.5%)

North Yorkshire Council has stressed how “critical” it is that the government provides clarity and detail in the forthcoming schools white paper “to make

The financial risk Trafford Council is exposed to “has never been greater”, according to a report outlining the authority’s final revenue budget proposals for

Former ACCESS partner fund East Sussex Pension Fund is forecasting higher costs as it prepares to join a new investment pool under the government’s

The £1.4bn London Borough of Hounslow Pension Fund, part of the London CIV pool, is considering reducing its equity allocation following recommendations from its

“Serious concerns” have been raised about the direction of travel for rural service funding following the final local government finance settlement. The Rural Services

Wirral Council has confirmed that a request for £6m of exceptional financial support (EFS) has been submitted to government. With reserves at “critically low” levels and

Nottingham City Council has ruled out a maximum 4.99% council tax increase for 2026/27 after a “much fairer” funding package in the local government

The government has confirmed that up to £63m in new capacity funding will be made available to help councils deliver local government reorganisation (LGR) as the decision

West Berkshire Council’s financial challenge would be “solved” by the formation of a new Ridgeway Council – in which it would combine with Vale

South Gloucestershire Council is to review its existing savings plans to set “new and realistic” targets as the authority used reserves to set a

With the Brunel pool wrapping up its activities, Avon Pension Fund has appointed a former Brunel manager to lead its investment team The £6.3bn

Auditors have warned of “significant weaknesses” in Wirral Council’s financial sustainability. Issuing four statutory recommendations as part of the audit of the authority’s 2024/25

Clwyd Pension Fund, part of the Welsh Pension Partnership pool, has pledged to triple its investments in climate solutions by the end of the

Cheshire East Council has confirmed that its request for additional exceptional financial support (EFS) remains on the table after its plea for council tax