Council Tax
It’s a fiscal drag
If we are ever going to unlock the benefits and freedoms that fiscal devolution could engender in localities, we have to set out what the political problem is, writes Jonathan Werran.
What does our sector want?
It seems the appetite for localism and fiscal devolution is outweighed by fears the burden of care will swallow up all the resources, according to the findings of a survey of chief executives. Heather Jameson reports
Queen's speech: Social care White Paper to be published
The Government has promised to finally bring forward proposals to reform adult social care and will consult on providing councils with the power to introduce an annual 2% precept.
COSLA conference: Ex-minister hints at council tax cap relaxation
A former SNP minister has suggested there could be a relaxation of the cap on council tax.
Spending Round still leaves uncertainties
The proposed threshold of 2% for referenda on 'excessive' council tax increases is a retrograde step, when the principle was 3% for the current financial year, says Ian Miller.
Consultation opens on local government finance settlement
Consultation on the local government finance settlement for 2020/21 has been opened by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Council to consider name change to cut ‘confusion’
Members of Babergh DC will be asked to change the council’s name next month because people struggle with its location and pronunciation.
Data the key to supporting through UC
As Universal Credit replaces Housing Benefit, local authorities will lose access to the rich data that allows them to target support, warns Deven Ghelani.
Preserving the delicate balance
Bob Neill says that in too many cases the delicate balance between recovering what is owed to councils and providing a duty of care to the vulnerable is not being achieved.
Scrap the cap on council tax
Ian Miller issues a call to arms to give councils freedom over council tax rises to truly 'turn the page on austerity'.
London Councils lays out its funding priorities ahead of the spending round
In the run up to the spending round, London Councils sets out its priorities for the capital, including an above inflation increase in local government funding next year and additional investment to close the gap in children's social care funding.
Committee in council confidence risk warning
Confidence in councils to provide vital services is at risk of being damaged, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has said in a damning report released today.
We need a more nuanced conversation around trust
Ben Page says that while trust in central Government has fallen in both Britain and the US since the 1960s, the problem is not new, or acute. It is chronic - and was there 'as money poured in under Blair' and is 'still there as money pours out'.
It's time for a radical rethink on exit payments
The Treasury's proposals for a cap on exit payments need a radical rethink - and ministers must also rapidly address a shopping list of more important issues for districts, says Ian Miller..
Labour report calls for radical tax and planning reforms
Replacing council tax and business rates are among the radical policies proposed in a report commissioned by the Labour Party.
Scottish councils need more power - think-tank
Scottish local government needs a ‘renewal,’ a think tank has urged, with directly elected mayors and complete control over council tax and business rates.
Experts call for revenue-boosting internet tax
Green credits and an internet transaction tax could provide valuable new revenue streams for local government, MPs have been told.
Business rates relief control call
District councils have called for full control over the business rates relief that is awarded in their area amid claims that it is ‘unnecessarily generous’.
Council tax system needs 'fundamental reform'
The council tax system is ‘highly regressive and unsustainable,’ and needs ‘fundamental reform,’ progressive think-tank IPPR has argued.
We need a real debate on local taxes
Piali Das Gupta argues that we need a more sophisticated balance of local revenue sources for local services that would reduce the pressure on any individual tax or set of taxpayers. Many other countries do it – so what are we afraid of?