MHCLG
Portsmouth leader 'shocked' at Brexit port funding
The leader of a council covering a ‘vital’ freight port has expressed his shock at the funding allocated to his authority.
Business rates 'creaking at the seams'
Business rates as a tax is ‘creaking at the seams and in need of reform,’ London Councils has told the Government.
EXCLUSIVE: Sector fumes over lack of pre-Brexit briefing
Councils have threatened to walk away from Government attempts to engage with them on Brexit amid growing frustrations about the response to their concerns.
MPs pile pressure on Government over business rates reform
MPs have urged ministers to assess specific proposals for reforming business rates by the autumn.
DCN calls for rates retention delay
The District Councils’ Network (DCN) has called for a one-year delay in the implementation of 75% business rates retention until 2021/22.
Business rates plans are 'confusing and imprecise' - finance experts
Finance experts have hit out at Government plans for business rates retention, claiming they are ‘confusing, imprecise and internally inconsistent’.
Campaigners press for audit legislation review
Campaigners have pressed for review of the five-year-old Local Audit and Accountability Act to ensure it works ‘in the interest of local citizens’.
Cook boils over about 'crippling' uncertainty
Stockton-on-Tees BC’s leader, Cllr Bob Cook, has damned the ‘crippling’ uncertainty surrounding how local government will be funded in future.
EXCLUSIVE: Down to the core
Six out of 10 senior council figures admit their authority is now only delivering a basic core offer of service, The MJ and LGiU think-tank’s annual local government finance survey has revealed.
EXCLUSIVE: MHCLG to make 'compelling case' for more funding
Local government minister Rishi Sunak has vowed that his department will ‘make a compelling case’ for more funding ahead of this year’s Spending Review.
EXCLUSIVE: Chiefs' no-deal Brexit capacity warning
Council capacity will be stretched under a no-deal Brexit scenario, local authority chief executives have warned the Government.
Brokenshire in trade-offs warning
Local government secretary James Brokenshire has warned that trade-offs will be necessary in the fair funding review.
Local government director general to leave ministry
The director general of local government Dr Jo Farrar is to leave the ministry later this year, it has been announced.
By no means fair enough
Tony Kirkham is concerned that the desire to deliver fair funding could end up being something we started but couldn't finish.
MHCLG: Councils are not doing enough to prepare for Brexit
Councils are not doing enough to prepare for Brexit and need to step up their game, the concerned Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has told sector figures.
EXCLUSIVE: Brokenshire gets Brexit breakdown from chiefs
Chief executives have told communities secretary James Brokenshire Whitehall needs to be more joined up between departments and in its communications with councils over Brexit.
Making a case for smaller Government
Simon Parker says it’s time for smaller, reformed central Government departments – and fewer of them – and a thorough debate about whether the nation can afford such large Government when frontline services are being slashed.
Doubt over New Homes Bonus payments
A minister has refused to guarantee that £500m of New Homes Bonus payments due to councils will be honoured.
MHCLG finds extra £20m for Brexit
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has found an extra £20m to help councils with Brexit after only winning £35m from the Treasury.
LGA faces financial headache
Smith Square has acknowledged the financial challenges it faces as it freezes subscriptions while grappling with declining Government grants and a pension scheme deficit.