Budget
Care directors 'disappointed' by funding threat
Adult social care directors have been left ‘very disappointed’ after the Government threatened to take away funding from areas that failed to reduce bed blocking.
Tensions rise as NHS fines 22 councils for bed-blocking
The NHS has fined at least 22 councils for bed-blocking and threatened 11 others with charges amid escalating tensions between health and care.
City deals among promises in DUP-Conservative deal
Fresh devolved powers for Northern Ireland form a key part of today’s £1bn deal between the minority Conservative government and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
Hammond hints at easing of austerity
Chancellor Philip Hammond has hinted he could ease some of the financial pressures on local government brought about by prolonged austerity.
Rates relief guidance finalised
Whitehall guidance on its latest business rates relief plan has finally been delivered to councils, allowing town halls to adjust bills for many small businesses.
Corridors of Power
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has a dream in which he presents his third Budget in 2019…
Rural England Budget blow
Rural residents are paying an average of £87 more per head in council tax than their urban counterparts, new figures have suggested.
Health devo put on hold but not dropped
Plans for further health devolution in London have been put back again, but not been dropped, according to sources close to the deal.
Let’s get our voices heard
iMPOWER’s Jeremy Cooper says ‘solving’ the problem of delayed transfers is not as simple as merely throwing £1bn at it.
Johnson: Scotland could use debt as bargaining chip
Scotland could use its share of the national debt as a bargaining chip in the independence debate, according to the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Is social care making progress?
Dr Jonathan Carr-West looks at the major questions the Government’s upcoming green paper on social care funding will have to address.
Walking the commercial tightrope
Today's finance directors must balance the risk between ensuring a sound business case and being prepared to take a punt, writes Pete Moore.
Councils ‘best’ to decide where to spend £2bn for social care
Councils have been told they are ‘best placed’ to decide how to spend the additional £2bn the Government has stumped up for social care.
Short-term objectives reap short-term gains
Tony Kirkham says it is vital councils do not use additional social care cash to put off the evil day.
We need to talk about the state of the state
We are trying to pay for public services with a tax system based on property and full-time employment as we shift to online shopping and the gig economy, writes Heather Jameson.
A new season for London's devolution
John O'Brien says it is too early to tell whether London's latest devolution development has any wider significance for the Government’s approach to the agenda.
The Budget reaffirms the need for fiscal freedom
Bob Neill examines the details of the chancellor’s Budget and looks at why local government needs more fiscal devolution.
Evaluating rate revaluations
Alex Jones urges the Government to move quickly to ensure the business rates system is fairer, more accurate and less volatile.
Will the figures actually add up?
Michael Burton looks at key public finance issues highlighted in the Institute for Fiscal Studies' post-Budget briefing.
Where next for council budgets under siege?
Government policies have done little to ease budget pressures. Norma Atlay asks whether it is time to review the councillor-to-electorate ratio.