EU
Red tape risk to levelling up
New rules around subsidies risk holding back levelling up efforts, according to analysis published today.
Minister visits Edinburgh to mark tourism tax legislation
Public finance minister Tom Arthur visited Edinburgh to mark the publication of a Bill that would allow councils to charge a levy on overnight stays.
Pay 'putting off potential new finance recruits'
Lower levels of pay in the public sector are discouraging finance professionals from entering local government and could hinder its capacity, experts have warned.
Calls for UKSPF funding flexibility
Local government has asked Whitehall to reprofile cash from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), allowing greater flexibility over when money is spent following delays to allocations.
Council capacity to respond to cost of living 'highly limited'
Local government officers feel their hands are tied in how much support they can realistically provide to their communities, a think-tank has found.
Whitehall unit targets council websites
Council websites are being disproportionately targeted by a Whitehall unit tasked with monitoring their accessibility, new figures have revealed.
Fears over Procurement Bill red tape
The Government has rejected concerns that new procurement rules will create more red tape for local authorities.
Government sign-off required to 'unlock' UKSPF
Councils will have to draw up investment plans to access the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF), the Government has revealed.
Spending Review is another missed chance on ‘levelling up’
While we still await detail behind the Spending Review headlines, what we do know raises serious questions about the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda, says Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton.
EXCLUSIVE: Questions over taskforce purpose
Local government associations have called for ministers to define the purpose of a new taskforce ahead of April’s launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), The MJ understands.
Committee calls for urgent consultation on UK Shared Prosperity Fund
Local authorities in Scotland should be consulted on how much funding they will receive under the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), MPs have said.
New subsidy rules unveiled
New rules on the awarding of subsidies by local authorities to businesses have been unveiled to MPs following Brexit.
Staying local but going global for investment
Just because we are no longer in the EU does not mean European investors have lost interest in the UK, says Michael Burton - and there is a strong argument to saying the UK's regions should be scaling up their lobbying presence there, and elsewhere.
Brussels bases to remain open despite Cornwall closure
Local authorities with a post-Brexit Brussels base have re-committed to the idea despite Cornwall Council starting the process of closing down its European office.
'Thousands' at risk as EU settlement deadline looms
Birmingham City Council has urged the Government to extend the deadline for the EU Settlement Scheme as thousands of people in the city are thought to remain undocumented.
AstraZeneca jab 'safe and effective,' council chiefs insist
Council chiefs have urged residents to have the ‘safe and effective’ AstraZeneca jab amid an investigation into the possibility of a link with blood clots.
BUDGET 2021: New freeport sites confirmed
Chancellor Rishi Sunak closed his Budget speech today with a commitment to eight new freeport sites - international gateways that will enjoy a raft of tax breaks from later this year.
Spending Review: UKSPF to reach £1.5bn a year
The value of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will reach around £1.5bn a year on average, chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced.
Care home occupancy down over Grim Reaper fears
People are reluctant to put their relatives into care homes because they think the ‘Grim Reaper is waiting at the gate,’ a senior councillor has warned.
Think-tank issues warning on Brexit readiness
Local authorities and the devolved nations risk being overwhelmed by Brexit as they are trying to deal with the COVID-19 crisis, a think tank has claimed.