Business
KPMG criticised for rejecting Northamptonshire public interest report pressure
Northamptonshire CC’s commissioners have criticised the council’s former auditors for deciding not to issue a rare public interest report.
Outsourcers change coronavirus policy
Outsourcer Amey has U-turned to give full pay to workers off sick with coronavirus or those self-isolating during the current health emergency.
Councils start to pay out business grants
Thousands of small firms have begun to receive £25,000 cash grants from councils as part of a £22bn government package in response to COVID-19.
Transparency tools made available to pension schemes
The first standalone system to provide information on costs from different investment managers to every local government pension scheme (LGPS) and pool has been made available.
Care providers in law change call
Care providers have pleaded with Prime Minister Boris Johnson to change the law to boost staff numbers in the sector during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Gateshead to look at bring housing back in-house
Gateshead MBC is to formally consult on proposals to bring its housing services back in-house.
Finance directors told to get cash to firms quickly
Whitehall officials have suggested that English council finance directors redeploy resources and take on temporary staff to ensure businesses receive promised government grants quickly.
Manchester to create housing company
Manchester City Council is to create its own development company in a bid to meet ambitious housing targets.
Local government spends £3.8bn with strategic suppliers
The Government’s strategic suppliers received a quarter of their public sector income from local authorities last year, new figures have revealed.
Coronavirus forces developers to down tools
Infrastructure and development projects are beginning to stall as construction firms cease work in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
Union and council end dispute amid coronavirus crisis
Trade union Unite has said its dispute with Veolia over holiday pay for refuse staff working at Tower Hamlets LBC has been resolved.
Tourist attraction firm expected to miss next council loan deadline
The company behind Brighton’s 450-foot tall seafront attraction is expected to miss its next loan payment to Brighton & Hove City Council.
Union brands protective promise 'too little too late'
Trade union Unite has branded the Government’s promise that social care workers would have full protective equipment in a week as ‘too little too late’.
Government working to ensure 'networks remain resilient'
The Government has said it is ‘in regular contact’ with broadband and mobile operators to make sure ‘networks remain resilient’ during the coronavirus pandemic.
Make payments to suppliers quickly, councils told
The Government has told the public sector to make payments to suppliers quickly to maintain cash flow and protect jobs amid the coronavirus crisis.
Firms say government needs to do more
Key firms providing services to councils have welcomed measures to mitigate the damaging effects of the Covid-19 crisis but said more needs to be done.
Race to implement economic support package
Council finance officials and civil servants have raced to work out how to implement the Government’s enhanced package of economic support for coronavirus-affected businesses.
Buoyant tax income ahead of coronavirus crisis
The last set of public finance figures before the Government’s £350bn injection to combat coronavirus’ economic impact shows a buoyant month for tax income.
Cratus creates coronavirus hotline
Cratus Communications has created a hotline service for council leaders and chief executives to help them through the Covid-19 crisis.
McLaughlin & Harvey wins Commonwealth council contract
The contract to redevelop a stadium for the 2022 Commonwealth Games has been awarded by Birmingham City Council to McLaughlin & Harvey.
