Budgets and efficiency
Doing things differently
In the face of never-ending pressures councils are continuing to seek out ways to do things differently. But beneath the inevitable positivity is there a negative side to differentiation which could weaken prospects for councils? Paul Marinko reports
Bridging the budget gap
We haven’t even closed down the 2023-24 accounts yet and we are already starting to plan our 2025-26 medium-term financial strategy, says Tracie Langley.
Scottish councils’ debt is one-and-a-half times funding
The debt of councils in Scotland is more than one-and-a-half times the latest local government funding settlement, the Scottish Conservatives have found.
'Simply not enough money in sector,' says outgoing leader
The outgoing leader of Nottingham City Council has said there ‘simply isn’t enough money’ in local government to ‘run the services our citizens depend on’.
Retrograde is no way to fund financial recovery
If councils call out the Government for glossing over the facts, they must ensure terms such as balancing the budget and capitalisation are not matters of ‘spin’, says Rob Whiteman.
Reimagining council operations: Hunt vs. Logic
Claire Agutter says councils can navigate financial challenges by adopting robust strategic planning systems, implementing effective risk management, and prioritising service integration.
Homelessness inquiry launched by NAO
The National Audit Office (NAO) has launched an inquiry into homelessness as the issue piles pressure on squeezed council budgets.
Governing the local AI revolution
A nuanced approach to governance is needed to successfully navigate the challenge of integrating AI within local authorities, say Amardeep Gill and Jonathan Werran.
A conspiracy of silence
Both Conservatives and Labour have been coy about how they intend to improve public services, reduce taxes and raise living standards as Michael Burton reports.
Good councils make effective use of consultants
'While it’s easy to dismiss reports criticising spend on consultants it is worth reflecting on what consultants bring to our organisations, whether we are clear on their purpose and ensure we focus our spend in those areas that rebuild capacity at a time when it is most needed,' says Graeme McDonald.
Revolutionising temporary workforce solutions
The approach taken to temporary workforce management within councils often falls short in several critical areas. Here, chief executive of West Midlands Employers Rebecca Davis discusses why collaboration among local authorities and agencies is key in tackling this issue.
'Housing emergency' council calls for Whitehall action
A council that recently declared a housing emergency has written to six Whitehall departments, urging them to ‘take decisive action’ because the situation is deteriorating.
Let's start the debate on what the nation wants councils to do
Local government cannot go on delivering more and more for less and less, says leader of Buckinghamshire Council, Martin Tett.
14 councils ‘likely’ to issue s114s next year
More than half of councils are likely to issue a section 114 notice within the next Parliament unless funding is reformed, senior local authority figures have warned.
Heseltine and Clark hit out over LEPs
Two former Conservative Cabinet ministers have hit out at plans to wind up England’s 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP).
Vote planned for first UK coastal tourism tax
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) hoteliers will vote on the introduction of a tourist tax in April as the authority withdraws direct funding amid budget pressures.
Senior Nottingham councillors refuse to back budget cuts
Senior members of cash-strapped Nottingham City Council have refused to recommend a report that proposed £20m in budget cuts.
Call for Hunt to lift benefit subsidy cap
Councils have called for the cap on housing benefit subsidy that councils receive to be unfrozen amid warnings about the ‘spiralling increase’ in temporary accommodation (TA).
DLUHC claims four-day week council saw spike in agency staff
South Cambridgeshire DC’s controversial four-day week trial is under fresh scrutiny after data revealed a spike in agency work and opponents challenged costs.
Making the case for councils
Local Government Association chair Cllr Shaun Davies sets out his key asks of the chancellor in the forthcoming Budget.