Finance Settlement
Ministers say funding situation will soon improve - but councils are more uncertain
Is it the 'worst secret Santa ever' or 'recognition that the Government has listened on a number of issues'? Dan Peters examines views on the provisional local government finance settlement
Finance settlement: Government floats commercialisation crackdown
Whitehall is considering a crackdown on councils that excessively borrow for commercial reasons as it continues to restrict council tax rises.
Social care Green Paper delayed again amid Westminster turmoil
Turmoil in Westminster has piled further uncertainty onto local government, with the social care Green Paper the latest casualty.
Like Mariah Carey, it may be prudent to not want a lot for Xmas this year
Despite a number of minor successes, the position of the sector as it approaches the end of the year remains precarious, according to Abdool Kara
Future Forum North: 'Government still doesn't think sector is efficient'
Whitehall remains unconvinced that local government is as efficient as it can be, Smith Square’s deputy chief executive, Sarah Pickup, has said.
Brexit debates delay provisional finance settlement
Tomorrow’s provisional local government finance settlement has been delayed – just weeks after Whitehall agreed to bring it forward and fix a date.
An independent view of finances is crucial
With the final settlement, budget-setting and the Spending Review all on the horizon, an independent view of finances is crucial, according to Heather Jameson.
Local government hits out at Dawes
Local government has hit out at its top mandarin after she claimed councils were still sustainable as they only needed to provide statutory services.
Let's explore obvious ways of reducing uncertainty
Searching for certainty in an uncertain world may be a fool's errand, according to Abdool Kara. But he believes there are some obvious ways of reducing uncertainty and they should be explored to help preserve services for the most vulnerable.
Brokenshire: We need to raise our game and get London building
Housing secretary James Brokenshire has criticised London boroughs after statistics showed a ‘mixed picture’ across the capital in the number of additional homes in 2017/18.
Finance settlement to be brought forward
Whitehall has agreed to bring forward the local government finance settlement after an independent review.
The waiting game
The challenge for national Government is how funding can be moved across to the local government sector and councils in Norfolk have presented their case and are waiting for the settlement announcement, says Jill Penn
EXCLUSIVE: Future of new homes bonus cast in doubt
The future of the £7bn New Homes Bonus is in doubt, after Treasury ministers revealed they believe the policy has failed.
What to expect from the Spending Review
Next year’s Spending Review is likely to be one of the toughest since it was first introduced in 1998. In its first critical study of the review process, Whitehall-watcher the Institute for Government, suggests the approach the Treasury should adopt. Michael Burton reports on its conclusions.
Leading the charge
As the sector prepares to make its case with Whitehall about the future of local services at the forthcoming Society of Local Authority Chief Executives’ annual Summit next month, Dr Martin Reeves puts forward his vision for the future.
Essex councils clash over business rates retention pilot
A bid by Essex’s local authorities to pilot a business rates retention project worth up to £20m could be torpedoed by Thurrock Council.
MHCLG consults on proposals to resolve negative RSG
Marsham Street has come up with plans to plug a £153m financial hole faced by councils next year.
Government announces business rates review
Communities secretary Sajid Javid has announced a review of the business rates system will be led by Andrew Hudson.
Javid orders review after second finance mistake
The Government has ordered a review after being forced to admit a second mistake in as many months in the way it calculates council payments.
Timetable will plunge sector into 'crisis management'
Local government would be thrown into a period of ‘crisis management’ under the Government’s current fair funding timetable, Whitehall has been warned.