Funding
Council grants oversight ‘not fit for purpose’
The governance of grants worth millions to registered housing providers by Bristol City Council has been heavily criticised by internal auditors.
Slough to make £200m capitalisation request
Slough Council is to ask the Government for a further capitalisation direction worth as much as £200m.
Dorset to grapple with £8m budget gap
Overspends in care services have left Dorset Council facing a budget gap totalling £8.3m by the end of the financial year.
Reorganisation: modernise or be damned
The distraction of reorganisation may be a step too far. Or it may be the big bang needed to transform local government, says Heather Jameson.
It’s only a win if everyone succeeds
For SIGOMA members – unitary and metropolitan councils across England – funding service fairly is the key, says Sir Stephen Houghton.
Keep up COVID funding to end homelessness, says Kerslake
Ending homelessness is possible, but the Government needs to keep up funding or face a post-pandemic surge, an independent commission concluded.
Unravelling the knot of education, health and care plans
Leo Jones lays out the deeper challenges that need to be recognised and addressed if the SEND review is going to tackle the complex problems behind rising numbers of education, health and care plans.
It’s not all about the money
It is dangerous if we let the discussion about the reform of social care become exclusively about funding, says Dr Jonathan Carr-West.
Councils will continue to draw on reserves, predicts Moody's
Many councils will continue to draw on their reserves to manage the uncertain funding environment and offset budgetary pressures, international ratings agency Moody’s has predicted.
The public understands there has to be a way to foot the social care bill
What is concerning about the last few days’ debate on social care reform is just how narrow it has become, says Heather Jameson.
Authorities get fit for 2030
Local government needs to accelerate change and grasp the opportunities offered by devolution if they want to stay relevant in 2030, says Paul Deegan.
System reset required: go to settings
As the APSE Local Government Commission 2030 launches its findings, Paul O’Brien says we need a big bang reset to resolve the issues facing local authorities.
Who will crack care?
The Government must raise enough funding to end the unsatisfactory adult social care system and ensure a skilled workforce is both attracted and retained, writes Sir Bob Neill.
Levelling up will not work without sustainable council funding
Rhetoric and big cash injections for large infrastructure projects are not the answer to the urgent issues councils and communities are facing, says Dr Arianna Giovannini.
Commission calls for funding reset
Local government needs a ‘funding floor’ at an agreed percentage of national income, a report on the future of the sector has said.
Walsall's £29m savings plan suffers delays
The council’s flagship £28.9m savings programme has been hit by delays as COVID-19 continues to take its financial toll on the sector.
PM plans national insurance rise to fund social care
Ministers are believed to be planning a national insurance rise to fund adult social care.
Scottish councils receive £3bn housing grant
Local authorities in Scotland are to share more than £3bn of funding in a bid to increase the delivery of affordable homes.
Minister fends off towns fund criticism
The Government aims to detail how the success of the towns fund will be judged before the summer recess.
Local government funding cuts have ‘probably cost lives,’ study warns
Cuts in local government funding over recent years have probably cost lives and reduced life expectancy, academics have warned in a new study.
