New Homes Bonus
'Endangered' district councils in uncertainty warning
‘Considerable uncertainty’ around funding from 2020/21 is having a ‘direct negative impact’ on ‘endangered’ district councils.
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.
Brokenshire in trade-offs warning
Local government secretary James Brokenshire has warned that trade-offs will be necessary in the fair funding review.
Let's work as one sector on fair funding
Jill Penn says we're nearing the time when we will be discussing the next part of the fair funding debate with our county colleagues. Her hope is that we can continue to work as one sector - and with a clear focus on our residents
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.
LGA puts 2019/20 funding gap at £3bn
Councils face an overall funding gap of more than £3bn in 2019/20, the Local Government Association (LGA) has told Whitehall.
Spending Review must reward the importance of districts
In a post-Brexit world it will be vital to refocus on the importance of district councils in supporting residents and local economies, says John Fuller
What about that medium term financial strategy?
Any future funding settlement needs to recognise homelessness and problem prevention in some way, says Jill Penn
Budget brought welcome support to district economies
The Budget brought welcome support to district economies, but we will need to look closely at the final Letwin review to ensure council's negotiating power on delivering homes is not bogged down in the need for primary legislation, says John Fuller
EXCLUSIVE: Future of new homes bonus cast in doubt
The future of the £7bn New Homes Bonus is in doubt, after Treasury ministers revealed they believe the policy has failed.
LGA's pre-Budget play in war against austerity
Smith Square has begun drawing local government’s battle lines as chancellor Phillip Hammond comes under renewed pressure to loosen his grip on council finances.
LGA in New Homes Bonus warning
Government plans to raise the 0.4% threshold for the New Homes Bonus (NHB) in 2019/20 risks ‘putting the brakes on housebuilding schemes and growth-boosting projects,’ Smith Square has warned.
New Homes Bonus 'in the mix'
The New Homes Bonus may continue beyond 2020, Whitehall sources have suggested.
Ministers to 'review local government taxation'
Senior ministers have told the sector they are in favour of looking at local government taxation, The MJ understands.
Spending Review to decide bonus future
The future of the New Homes Bonus rests on next year’s departmental spending review, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has confirmed.
Government pushes ahead with New Homes Bonus changes
The Government has decided to push ahead with a raft of controversial changes to the New Homes Bonus (NHB), The MJ has learnt.
Housing is a national priority - don't discourage districts
Cllr John Fuller makes an impassioned plea to the Government not to reduce the new homes bonus, warning it would prevent planning authorities from playing their role in the Government's housebuilding agenda.
Look long-term: Cut the benefit bill by investing in social housing
Michael Burton puts forward the case for the Government to remove the shackles on council housebuilding.
Scorn for Bourne’s £1bn
Government figures claiming councils can raise £1bn through the social care precept are massively inflated from the sector’s calculations, it has emerged.
Only Surrey’s spending power ‘above national average’
All two-tier areas in England but one have a core spending power below average, representing an annual £1.9bn funding gap, new calculations have revealed.