Finance Settlement
Whitehall remains tight-lipped about 2018/19 rates pilots
Whitehall has refused to disclose details of discussions it has had with potential rate retention pilot areas that could test the new system from 2018/19.
Javid ignores calls for more council funding
Whitehall has ignored local government’s calls for new council funding in 2017/18, leaving senior sector figures ‘hugely disappointed’.
LGA: Council tax rises will not stop deep cuts
Council tax rises designed to tackle the social care funding crisis will not prevent deep cuts to other local public services, town halls have warned.
Javid denies Surrey 'sweatheat deal' after sector backlash
Sajid Javid has denied the Government struck a secret deal with Surrey CC after a bombardment of calls from opposition politicians and local government groups.
Money talks
Dan Peters reveals the results of the latest LGiU/The MJ annual finance survey which give a stark warning for the future unless drastic action is taken.
Scottish council funding row escalates
The Convention Of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has escalated its argument with the Scottish Government over local government budgets.
Vital decisions are shunted into the next Parliament
Public finances have found themselves some breathing space in the fallout of the EU referendum, but Michael Burton warns this will only push difficult decisions into the next Parliament.
Call for Whitehall to ‘publish grant details’
A council has vowed not to give up its quest to get the Government to publish details about the allocation of its £300m transitional grant.
Finance settlement consultation offers no room for movement
Councils have been told that there is ‘little chance of any movement’ during the local government finance settlement consultation, The MJ understands.
LGA backs districts following Whitehall raid on NHB budget
The Local Government Association (LGA) has backed furious districts angry after Whitehall raided the New Homes Bonus (NHB) budget to help prop up social care.
EXCLUSIVE: Lack of confidence in adult social care strategy exposed
The true scale of feeling across local government about the escalating social care crisis is revealed by the results of an exclusive survey.
Not settling for less
After the finance settlement consultation deadline, Sam Clayden speaks to some of the authorities that rejected the four-year deal and examines the reaction
Bold steps for radical reform
Counties will be at the forefront of in the search for innovative, sustainable solutions for social care, writes Cllr Paul Carter.
Time for a new age-related tax to fund social care
The finance settlement did not ward off calls to adequately fund social care. Michael Burton says it is time for the Government to bite the bullet and implement a new tax.
NHB changes ‘will damage districts’
The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for transitional funding for authorities hardest hit by New Homes Bonus (NHB) reforms amid fears some districts could be ‘destabilised’.
Javid: Social care crisis not all about cash
Sajid Javid has insisted social care is ‘not all about money’ as demands to tackle the current funding crisis continue.
The NHB reforms are unfair and counterproductive
Cllr Sharon Taylor reacts to the Government's finance settlement consultation.
NHB reforms 'could hit housing growth'
Reforms to the New Homes Bonus (NHB) outlined in the provisional local government finance settlement will stunt future housing growth, the District Councils’ Network (DCN) has warned.
Housing humbug
Christmas is known as a time of goodwill and all that, fa la la la la, la la la la.
Curse of the cliché
It is not major government announcements themselves in which Diary most revels.