Councillors
Squeezed Somerset reins in overspend
Under-pressure Somerset CC has reduced its projected overspend in 2018/19 from £3.2m to £2.4m, senior councillors will hear next week.
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.
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.
EXCLUSIVE: The Bucks stops here
Local government secretary James Brokenshire will only invite new unitary proposals in the case of another Northamptonshire CC-type collapse, The MJ understands.
Gwynne: There's been no end to austerity
Opposition politicians have hit out at the Government’s record on funding the sector at the County Councils’ Network conference today.
Government plea after 'devastating' cyber attack
Copeland BC faces having to slash its general reserves to just over the minimum acceptable level unless the Government helps after a ‘devastating’ £2m cyber-attack.
Burns faces possible redundancy
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s immediate past president, Andy Burns, is facing possible redundancy from his day job.
Hodge hits out at funding as he steps down from Surrey
Surrey CC leader, Cllr David Hodge has hit out at the Government for doling out cash to the NHS while cutting council budgets.
Hope for lessons from serious case review
A serious case review is underway after a child died while in the care of Swindon Council.
Labour hits out at housing cash shift
Labour has called for all areas to receive greater Government backing after Whitehall shifted the focus of its housing cash.
Hodge set to step down from Surrey
Surrey CC leader Cllr David Hodge will announce his departure from the crisis hit authority at a full council meeting tomorrow.
Core offer still leaves £33m deficit
East Sussex CC’s chief executive Becky Shaw has laid out a ‘core offer’ that could risk the council’s ‘ability to meet statutory guidance and deadlines’.
EXCLUSIVE: Councillors silenced on secret fiscal devolution report
Senior councillors have been warned not to talk about a secret Local Government Association (LGA) report that models what fiscal devolution might look like, The MJ has been told.
Box faces crisis of confidence
Labour councillors in Wakefield have warned they will lose confidence in their leader Peter Box if he fails to improve children’s services.
Almost 130 roles at risk at city council
Derby City Council could slash its workforce by 128 full-time positions as it tries to fill a £10m funding gap over the next four years, senior councillors have been told.
Minister embroiled in 'Oliver Twist' row
Welsh local authorities have called on the First Minister to consider sacking his colleague in charge of councils after he labelled councillors ‘Oliver Twists’.
A positive intervention
Six months ahead of plan the Government decided commissioners were no longer required in Rotherham. Leader of the council Chris Read outlines the key lessons learned from intervention.
Leader threatens legal challenge over tunnel
Thurrock Council’s leader has threatened a judicial review of Highways England’s plan for a Lower Thames Crossing.
Northamptonshire seeks to stabilise finances
Cash-strapped Northamptonshire CC has agreed a stabilisation plan to help deal with an in-year forecast revenue overspend of more than £20m.
EXCLUSIVE: Peer review watered down under pressure
Liverpool City Council’s corporate peer review was significantly watered down before publication after pressure from the authority, The MJ has learned.