Business rates
Levelling up requires ‘meaningful’ devolution, business group says
Business leaders have called for ‘meaningful decision-making powers’ to be devolved to local authorities to help boost left-behind regions.
Call to end £250m business rate loophole
A campaign to end a loophole which is estimated could cost councils a massive £250m in lost business rates revenue has been backed by senior politicians.
Autumn Statement: not what it says on the tin
Kate Ogden says it seems likely either taxes will have to rise further, borrowing will have to rise, or the range and quality of public services provided will have to fall.
Autumn Statement: Business rates measures to be fully funded
Plans to extend business rates relief will be fully funded for local authorities, the small print of the Autumn Statement has confirmed.
Is it time to remove the reins on local government finances?
Centralisation clearly isn’t working for England, so could radical plans for fiscal devolution be the solution, asks the ICAEW’s Alison Ring.
Land value tax could redistribute billions
A plan to reform business rates could lead to billions of pounds being redistributed from high land value areas to other parts of the country.
Councils are heading for the end of the line
There’s no time to lose. Financial pressure is mounting on councils and, says Andrew Blake-Herbert, long-term solutions need to be found to fix funding disparity.
High quality properly funded services must underpin levelling up
Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton says local government funding needs a reset of business rates growth, an update of the data used in the formula and certainty with multi-year settlements if it is to achieve a more resilient long-term footing.
Transforming Belfast: the power of innovation-led prosperity
By aligning strategy and investment, Belfast is increasingly globally visible as an innovation economy, says Sam Markey. He outlines the city’s transformation journey.
Throw a lifeline – business rates reform and high streets renewal
A fringe panel event in Liverpool next week will focus thinking on what system of business taxation for local government a Labour Government could put in place, says Jonathan Werran.
Council finance risk from VOA reclassification
Council incomes could be hit if a Government agency moves to reclassify asylum hotels as domestic properties.
A clear medium-term financial plan requires certainty
Tracy Bingham wonders if many future Best Value failures will be in councils whose circumstances can be traced back to inadequate funding policy.
Government heads off business rates review
A bid to secure a review of business rates in the House of Lords has failed.
Combined talents
Combined authorities are the default option for optimal devolution – but Amardeep Gill and Jonathan Werran ask if we should be talking about their potential role as prime movers in public service reform, economic transformation and infrastructure.
Councils call for ministers to think 'more radically' on short-term lets
Whitehall proposals to regulate short-term holiday lets fail to deliver what is needed to tackle housing shortages and ministers should think ‘more radically,’ councils have said.
The uncertainty principle
Council finances are fragile after 13 years of cuts and an extended period of uncertainty, and multi-year settlements would be a key way to make progress, says Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton.
Labour pledges to revitalise high streets
Labour will today promote its plan to revitalise ailing high streets through a £700m fund to help small businesses with soaring energy bills.
Giant county unitaries run counter to people power
The challenge to the new unitaries is to prove that, far from being a distant monolith, they can indeed be a force for localism, says Sam Chapman-Allen.
Budget 2023: The austerity elephant
Forced cutbacks and savings from councils over the next few years risk outweighing the new regeneration projects and partnerships announced this week, says Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton.
Future Forum: LGA hopeful over finance reform
Hopes for a large-scale reform of council funding have been raised by the Budget, according to a senior sector figure.