Finance
EXCLUSIVE: Ministers to redraw LEP boundary map if edict ignored
Ministers have told local enterprise partnerships (LEP) they will redraw the boundary map early in 2020/21 if they fail to reach a deal on removing overlaps.
Council bid to breach accounting rules
A request to the Government for a capitalisation direction has been made by Peterborough City Council.
Pressure mounts for extension of Grenfell cladding fund
MPs have called for more funds to be released to pay for the replacement of flammable cladding on high-rise buildings.
Councils consider judicial review amid SEND crisis
Councils are starting to talk to lawyers about a potential judicial review of the Government amid a crisis in special educational needs and disability (SEND).
Jenrick activates Bellwin after storm
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick has activated the Bellwin scheme, providing emergency financial assistance for councils affected by Storm Dennis.
Demand led, resource constrained: SEND is broken
Outraged at the Government's call for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities financial recovery plans, Ian Thomas explains why it is the funding that is flawed, not the execution.
Alarm bells over £6.6bn property spending spree
Auditors have suggested an overhaul of council borrowing and investment rules may be needed after ‘alarm bells’ were triggered by billions of pounds of spending.
'Low pace' of London pension pooling could increase fees
London’s boroughs could have to pay an extra £20,000 fees for a collective investment vehicle (CIV) to make up for the ‘low pace’ of pooling.
Essex challenges evidence base for Basildon unitary bid
Essex CC’s leader has questioned the benefits of Basildon BC’s pursuit of unitary status.
Local authority borrowing: a re-think
Neil Waller and Andrew Scopes outline alternatives to Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) funding, urging councils to take into account costs, timing implications and additional legal responsibilities.
Finance settlement pulled for new terror law
Tomorrow’s local government finance settlement has been pulled to make way for emergency legislation to end the automatic early release of terrorists.
Retention split negotiations founder on district fears
Talks over future division of business rates foundered over fears district councils could be left worse off, it has emerged.
Ministers urged to embrace ambitious devolution agenda
The UK’s biggest cities have urged ministers to embrace an ambitious devolution agenda and not ‘merely level up’ powers across the country.
Treasury could rake in £80m from PWLB rate hike - LGA
The Treasury could benefit from an £80m windfall from controversially increasing the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) interest rate by 1%, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.
'Hidden cuts' in Scottish Budget
Council leaders have complained about ‘hidden cuts’ in a Scottish Budget that will deliver £11.3bn for council services in 2020/21.
Gwynne calls for Government to scrap fair funding review
Shadow local government secretary, Andrew Gwynne, has called for the Government to scrap its fair funding review.
The positive process of peer review
Tony Kirkham recently took part in a Local Government Association peer review. He says the process was intensive and hard work - but he 'enjoyed every minute'.
Debt-hit Northern Ireland council votes for ‘urgent assistance’
Causeway Coast & Glens BC has voted to bring in independent financial advisers after confirming total borrowing of £71.1m.
Glasgow praised for delivering £500m equal pay claims
Scotland’s local authority watchdog has praised Glasgow City Council for successfully delivering a project to finance £500m in equal pay claims.
Council pays compensation to Amey after High Court challenge
West Sussex CC has paid £4m in compensation to Amey over a contested highways procurement process.