Budgets
Budgeting in volatile times
As we transition to a post-COVID world, councils are going to have to ‘learn quickly in real time’ how to handle levels of demand and price volatility never seen before in the sector, says Gary Fielding.
Hampshire faces £80m budget gap
A consultation has been opened by Hampshire CC on ways to address a budget shortfall.
‘Wholesale improvements’ required at Slough
External auditors have issued a scathing report on financial management at Slough BC.
Councils wait on capitalisation directions
MPs have raised concerns after it emerged councils are still awaiting confirmation on emergency funding.
Now's not the time to be shy
With a Spending Review later this year, local government finance leads should be 'making our case and evidencing what our resources deliver', says Adele Taylor.
Financial collapse at Croydon could have been avoided
Chances to avert the council’s current financial plight were missed, its leader has admitted.
Scottish pandemic recovery prospects ‘severely eroded’
The prospects for post-pandemic recovery in Scotland have been 'severely eroded' by funding constraints, councils have said
One eye on the data, the other on the future
Tony Kirkham explains why the delivery of this year's budget at Newcastle City Council will be the most difficult one he has worked on in his 32 year career.
Croydon granted capitalisation request
Croydon LBC has been granted a capitalisation direction just days before it was due to finalise its budget for the forthcoming year.
Section 25 statements provide crucial context
Tracy Bingham underlines the importance during these times of Section 25 statements made by chief finance officers. They offer an indicator 'for elected members for how financially secure (and indeed insecure) their council is or could be in the future'.
'Good settlement fails to make up for austerity'
The Welsh Government has confirmed funding for councils, with the publication of the final local government settlement.
A crucial step for Luton’s recovery
Luton BC’s capitalisation direction will allow the council to temporarily borrow money to fund services until its commercial revenue recovers, says Cllr Hazel Simmons.
Warwick to overhaul climate change plans
Warwick DC is to redraw its plans to tackle climate change after abandoning a green tax referendum.
Oxford urged to halt property investment
The Labour administration has rejected calls to scrap £20m spending plans.
White van man on... budgets
It’s that time of year again when the snowdrops fade, the daffs start to emerge, the days get longer – and councils have to spend their leftover budgets quick before 5 April.
Lancaster mulls tax increases and drawing on reserves
Successive tax increases and use of reserves have been proposed to close Lancaster City Council’s budget gap.
Councils mull raids on reserves and job cuts
Gateshead MBC is considering cutting up to 155 jobs and North Yorkshire's reserves will take an £8m hit under budget proposals.
Councils grapple with multi-million pound budget deficits
Councils are mulling service cuts and council tax rises as they attempt to balance next year's budgets.
Welsh councils' funding boosted by 3.8%
Welsh councils’ funding package of £6.3bn next year is ‘as good a settlement as I can offer,’ local government minister Julie James has said.
Questions over settlement boost
The scale of the increase in core funding in the local government finance settlement claimed by ministers has been questioned by finance experts.
