New Homes Bonus
Districts need more certainty on funding
We need a better idea of proposals and transitional arrangements on New Homes Bonus and business rates, says Simone Hines - and the recent extension of various business rates reliefs are raising tricky questions, she adds.
Jenrick hails 'biggest multi-billion pound spending increase in a decade'
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed what he describes as the ‘biggest multi-billion pound spending increase for councils in a decade’.
Hull’s proactive approach to housing
Trish Dalby outlines how Hull City Council is meeting housing need through a proactive and partnership approach.
Seven Ways to ‘Fix’ £billions of Government Grant Money
Over eight years the local government funding formula has shifted money from poor to rich, from North to South, from inner to outer London and from urban to rural areas, says Cllr Graham Chapman. ‘The poorer the area the more it has lost.’
Spending Round still leaves uncertainties
The proposed threshold of 2% for referenda on 'excessive' council tax increases is a retrograde step, when the principle was 3% for the current financial year, says Ian Miller.
Buckle up, it's going to be bumpy
Louise Round says districts have received small amounts of cash to help with planning for the impact of a no deal scenario, but this in no way compensates for the amount of time this planning is taking.
Housebuilding plans still constrained by affordability
Simone HInes was hoping for confirmation in the spending round that the business rates reset will be deferred until 2021/22 and for measures to improved the ability of local authorities to boost council housebuilding
Districts are still waiting for those funding assurances
The opening of the Treasury's purse since the new Prime Minister came into office may augur well for district councils and the rest of local government, says Ian Miller.
Rebalancing the planning relationship
John Fuller is looking forward to seeing if housing minister Kit Malthouse's hints translate into solutions contained in the expected accelerated planning Green Paper.
'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.
