Budgets
Thurrock braced for coronavirus costs
Thurrock BC is expecting financial pressures next year to further increase, as it struggles to balance the books for 2020/21.
‘The world in Newham will be better’
As the pandemic began to loom, chief executive of Newham LBC Althea Loderick outlined the vision behind the council’s community wealth building three-year Budget. Ann McGauran reports.
Balancing budgets and Beatles
It has been a tumultuous few years for Liverpool City Council. Chief executive Tony Reeves and the new management team are focused on inclusive growth in a city that is rich with culture. Heather Jameson reports.
Critical decisions loom in the children’s care homes sector
Monica Macheng examines the key challenges facing local authorities looking for suitable places for children with increasingly complex needs.
Counties will need to show the new chancellor that the Government will see a return on its investment
It is beyond a doubt that the ascension of Rishi Sunak to the role of chancellor is a positive for local government, says Cllr Carl Les - 'but he is not one who accepts blank cheque arguments'.
Hoping for more certainty in the new funding world
In budget-setting and medium-term financial planning you can continue to see local government doing its best to respond, says Adele Taylor - but she hopes more certainty 'will allow us to create an even more sustainable environment for communities'.
Dorset facing £16m overspend following ‘challenging year’
The council’s expected overspend for the financial year has grown due to increased demand for services.
Council bid to breach accounting rules
A request to the Government for a capitalisation direction has been made by Peterborough City Council.
Retention split negotiations founder on district fears
Talks over future division of business rates foundered over fears district councils could be left worse off, it has emerged.
The positive process of peer review
Tony Kirkham recently took part in a Local Government Association peer review. He says the process was intensive and hard work - but he 'enjoyed every minute'.
Northants targets millions of savings
Northamptonshire CC has published its draft budget for 2020/2021 amid concerns over children's services and roads maintenance.
Blackpool Council announces 75 job losses
Blackpool Council has announced that its new budget proposals will result in 75 job losses as it seeks to close a £5m budget gap.
Stoke-on-Trent warns of job cuts
The council is aiming to make £9.2m of savings next year.
Northamptonshire heading for budget overspend
Officers have forecast a £1.9m budget gap at the end of the financial year due to a failure to realise savings in its children’s services.
Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th is usually seen as an unlucky day, says Tony Kirkham - but he hopes the next one is 'the first step on a safe transition, starting with a budget settlement which leads to a sustainable future for local government'.
Councils ‘set up to fail’ on SEND
A committee of MPs has acknowledged the Government’s proposal for a significant increase in high needs block funding next year - but say it will make little difference without ‘a systemic cultural shift’. Ann McGauran reports.
‘A paradigm shift is what is required’
The unintended consequences of the 2014 SEND reforms are starting to impact on the viability of many councils, according to Ian Thomas. He says Kingston upon Thames RLBC and its partners are focusing on reducing demand through earlier intervention.
Investment is at risk from borrowing hike
Increasing the interest rate on borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board puts much-needed investment at risk and to do it without consultation doesn't say much for the relationship between local government and the Treasury, says Tony Kirkham.
Victims in the line of fire
Local government monitoring officers are increasingly being caught in power struggles between senior officers and are becoming targets for politicians. How should the problem be tackled? Martin Ford reports
Nearly £100m in overpaid benefits owed to Manchester local authorities
Residents owed Greater Manchester’s councils nearly £100m in overpaid benefits at the end of 2018/19, according to the latest Government figures.
