Finance Settlement
Uncertainty does not bode well for the settlement
Michael Burton says 'the prosaic matter of local government finance seems to be taking a back seat'. Will new chief secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak finally be able to deliver on his February promise 'to get more certainty'?
West Midlands scrap plans for business rates hike
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has ruled out a rise in business rates for the region.
How can the financial settlement meet its deadline?
The clock is ticking on the countdown to publication of the financial settlement for 2020/21, says Michael Burton - but the timetable is 'spectacularly complex'.
LGA asks for review of revaluation deadline change
Proposed changes to business rates revaluations would prove ‘incredibly problematic’ for councils, it has been claimed.
Spending Review poses 'challenge' for fair funding
A minister has said a one-year settlement for local government would pose a ‘challenge’ for implementing the fair funding review in 2020/21.
Give cities the discretion to manage their finances
Andrew Carter says the spending cuts borne by cities for a decade need to end - but they need more control over how they raise and spend money locally if they are to build a sustainable long-term financial future.
Spending report attacks 'unambitious' ministry
Marsham Street has ‘an unacceptable lack of ambition’ for local government – with no aspiration for improving finances beyond merely ‘coping’, according to a scathing Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report.
Let's work as one sector on fair funding
Jill Penn says we're nearing the time when we will be discussing the next part of the fair funding debate with our county colleagues. Her hope is that we can continue to work as one sector - and with a clear focus on our residents
Northamptonshire given permission for extra council tax increase
Northamptonshire CC has been given the freedom to increase council tax by 2% more than other local authorities without holding a referendum, it was announced today.
Let's move away from these short-term patches to funding
The decision in the provisional local government finance settlement to allocate the social care support grant solely according to the adult care needs formula is a curious one, says John O'Brien
LGA puts 2019/20 funding gap at £3bn
Councils face an overall funding gap of more than £3bn in 2019/20, the Local Government Association (LGA) has told Whitehall.
How to make friends and influence central Government
Does the provisional finance settlement indicate an end to austerity? Will some councils lose out from the fair funding review? Dan Peters puts the crucial questions to local government minister Rishi Sunak
Cracking the code
The complexity of the budgetary challenges faced by English councils has raised the alarm within the sector about its ability to resist future financial shocks. Will CIPFA's new resilience index help? Ann McGauran reports
Brokenshire: No community will be left behind with Brexit
With only a few months to go before we officially leave the EU, secretary of state for Housing, Communities and Local Government James Brokenshire says 'its time to unite and prepare to make the most of the opportunities on the horizon'.
Post-2020 cuts warning
Many council services could face further cuts beyond 2020 with local tax revenues unlikely to keep pace with rising spending pressures, the independent economics think-tank, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), has said.
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.