Finance
Government borrowing hits four-year high
The next Chancellor faces a disappointing batch of figures on the public finances with borrowing in June at its highest for that month in four years.
New management model with no chief proposed
Redcar and Cleveland BC hopes to save about £220,000 per year by scrapping its chief executive role as part of a new management model.
Kier dropped from major infrastructure project
The construction firm’s role in the King’s Dyke crossing project has ended following discussions with Cambridgeshire CC and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
Unlawful pensions judgement will apply to local government
Council pension schemes will be affected by a legal ruling that found proposed changes unlawfully discriminatory.
MPs: Government waste strategy overly-prescriptive
The Government’s proposed waste strategy is ‘overly-prescriptive’ and local authorities should be given the freedom to tailor their approach, MPs have said.
Going places
Martin Reeves says despite the Treasury’s positive assessment of the Total Place pilots over a decade ago, the initiative fell off the radar. He calls on the new Prime Minister to ‘reinvigorate a successor’.
The uncertainty principle
Simone Hines says that when the variables are so great – e.g. a full business rates reset or no reset – 'it’s still hard to know where to pitch our financial position to members'.
Standards bearer
As communities secretary James Brokenshire launched a review of the local government audit regime, he spoke to Heather Jameson about his plans to drive governance and performance
Promised housing cash withdrawn
Millions of pounds of housing investment announced with great fanfare by the Government has been withdrawn.
Youth service review launched
A review has been launched into statutory guidance for councils on youth service provision.
EXCLUSIVE: Dawes in 'internal focus' warning
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) top mandarin has warned council chiefs that the department will have an internal focus for a while, The MJ understands.
Watchdog plans audit regulations overhaul
Auditors face tougher ethical rules under proposals put forward by a financial watchdog.
Reading considers action against auditor over accounts
Reading Council has been left with a bill of more than £500,000 as it gets to grips with accounting problems.
Emergency settlement call as councils face financial cliff-edge
Calls have been made by a think-tank for a one-year emergency local government settlement with councils facing a ‘financial cliff-edge’.
Kier share price slumps to new low
Shares in Kier Group fell to a record low this week after two influential fund managers cut their stakes in the outsourcing specialist.
Kent warned over SEND deficit
Members of Kent CC have been warned that the high needs budget deficit will exceed Government limits within a year.
Grenfell insurer makes £7m loss
The insurer for Kensington and Chelsea LBC has taken a £7m hit relating to the Grenfell Tower fire.
Council backs campaign for procurement reform
Oxford City Council has become the first authority to back a fair tax campaign.
Havering 'can look both ways'
Havering LBC’s chief executive has insisted that the council can look towards both London and Essex as it plots a path to the future.
Management review for Stratford
Stratford-on-Avon DC will carry out a review of its management structure after its head of paid service walked out the door after just seven months.