Business
Local authority business provision ‘lacks transparency’ - MSPs
Scottish MSPs have criticised a local authority scheme that aims to help businesses grow for lacking ‘transparency, accountability and alignment’.
Amey facing £200m Birmingham divorce bill
Amey may have to pay more than £200m to extricate itself from its troubled 25-year PFI contract with Birmingham City Council after years of legal difficulties, according to national newspaper reports.
Calls to end Trafford-Amey joint venture following investigation
Trafford MBC has been urged to end its joint venture contract with Amey over ‘poor performance’.
Brokenshire in trade-offs warning
Local government secretary James Brokenshire has warned that trade-offs will be necessary in the fair funding review.
Call for tourism tax review
An inquiry into cultural investment in cities has called for a UK-wide review of the benefits of a tourism tax.
Auditor warning over Spelthorne spending
Auditor KPMG has warned of a ‘significant risk’ in the way Spelthorne BC controversially bought a BP business park for £385m.
Falkirk to develop pioneering poverty project
A tool to help tackle poverty is being developed by Falkirk Council and IT firm thinkWhere.
EXCLUSIVE: Sector organisations to meet after high-profile chief departures
Talks have started between two local government organisations after two high-profile chief executives parted company with their council just months after being appointed.
EXCLUSIVE: LGA hit by unexpected £1m insurance bill
Smith Square faces an unexpected bill of up to £1m to cover the start-up costs of the insurance venture it has formed with 14 councils.
Grenfell and Carillion prompt Freedom of Information call
A watchdog has called for an extension of the Freedom of Information Act to cover outsourcers and other providers of public services.
Big audit firms may quit market
Larger audit firms may quit the local government market in the long-term, an independent review has found.
Mursell to leave Kier
Kier has announced that chief executive Haydn Mursell will leave the business ‘with immediate effect’.
LGA backs audit fee freeze despite pressure
Smith Square has backed holding external audit fees for local government at a lower level despite pressure for a price hike to improve quality.
Construction firms make shortlist for high-value contracts
Six more firms will be in the running for multi-million pound construction projects after being added to the North West Construction Hub (NWCH).
LGA to build case for tourism tax
Smith Square is to commission further research as it looks to build a ‘very strong case’ for a tourism levy that could generate £12bn.
Creating the space for businesses to flourish
Mike Dawson describes how Tewkesbury BC has delivered a UK-first in providing a business growth hub within its own offices where businesses can access support and advice
NAO calls for 'stronger leadership' from MHCLG
The Government must improve oversight and transparency over local authorities to ensure their financial sustainability, the National Audit Office (NAO) has said.
Transformation savings at risk
The transformation programme underpinning Surrey CC’s return to financial sustainability has ‘a medium to high risk of slippage,’ the troubled county’s auditors will warn councillors today.
Care Management Group sold for £200m
A care provider has been sold in a multi-million pound deal, with another company expected to be flogged in the coming months.
Building handover after council loan deadline missed
A state-of-the-art commercial workspace will be handed over to a council after one of the UK’s largest not-for-profit enterprise agencies missed the deadline for repaying a £2.75m loan.