Loans
Isle of Wight debt accounts for 42% of annual budget
Isle of Wight Council has insisted it borrows to invest in essential projects after revealing its debt amounts to 42% of the authority’s annual budget.
Plymouth reaches impasse with auditor
Auditors could issue a qualified opinion on Plymouth City Council’s accounts after questioning its methods to pay off a multi-million pound pension deficit.
Warrington prepares for £3m increase in debt interest payments
Debt-ridden Warrington BC has admitted it will be hit by a £3m bill to refinance a £110m Government loan.
Council loan at risk after culture trust goes bust
A trust created in Coventry to secure the legacy of its year as City of Culture in 2021 has gone into administration, putting a £1m council loan at risk.
Woking warns of possible section 114
Woking BC has warned it is ‘in the territory’ of issuing a section 114 as it struggles with more than £2bn of debt.
Brighton grapples with 'high risk' loan
Brighton & Hove City Council will have to put aside millions of pounds every year to cover a loan labelled ‘high risk’ by auditors.
Cash-strapped council dumps LOBO loan
Cash-strapped Liverpool City Council is to swap £65m of loans for £107m of debt in order to cut interest payments.
Newham to appeal LIBOR loan ruling
Newham LBC has been granted permission to appeal after a bid to sue Barclays over loans was rejected by a High Court judge.
Councils' loans legal action fails
Councils are considering whether to appeal after a High Court judge threw out a bid to sue Barclays over a number of loans.
Northampton accepts censure over loan
Northampton BC has accepted a public interest report that heavily criticised its financial governance but warned its response will be ‘limited’.
Councils bail out airport
Local authorities are among the shareholders that have been asked to provide loans to Birmingham Airport as it suffers from COVID-19 restrictions.
Clobbered by COVID
Chair of the Local Government Association's Resources Board Cllr Richard Watts argues that central Government must ensure authorities receive ongoing and consistent funding to enable them to keep supporting their communities.
The rising trend of inter-authority lending
With a Treasury review of the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) underway, Andrew Burns looks at some of the other ways in which local authorities can raise funds – including inter-authority lending.
Government to review Public Works Loan Board
Two departments are looking at the ‘rates and flexibilities’ the lender offers councils.
Treasury hikes PWLB rate amid investment fears
Councils’ investments plans have been dealt a blow as the Treasury announced a rate hike to the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB).
Council to save £143m after ending LOBO loan
Newham LBC is expected to save £143m after successfully terminating its Lender Option Borrower Option (LOBO) loans with NatWest bank.
Council LOBO loans to be wound down by RBS
Controversial LOBO loans worth £1bn issued to councils by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) are reportedly to be wound down.
Leicestershire CC recovers £5m loan from struggling Northants
Leicestershire County Council has recovered its £5m loan to cash-strapped Northamptonshire after concerns the latter would not be able to repay the money.