PAC
Government is failing to set out councils' role in delivering net zero, say MPs
MPs have hit out at the Government’s ‘apparent lack of urgency’ in clarifying how it will work with local government to achieve net zero.
Working group to be formed on council data requests
The Government is to form a working group to understand what data it is ‘feasible’ for councils to report to Whitehall more frequently.
The levelling up of local government funding is long overdue
The system for funding local services is desperately in need of root and branch reform and a half-hearted fair funding review will just store up even bigger problems for the future, says Chris Tambini.
New accountability body 'stops short' of Audit Commission reinvention
Plans for a body to oversee the accountability of local government stop just short of re-inventing the Audit Commission, according to experts.
EXCLUSIVE: Government has no action plan for improving children's social care
The Government has admitted it does not have a single detailed action plan to deliver high-quality care to all children despite previously claiming one existed.
Auditors in levelling up warning
The Government’s levelling up plans could be undermined by Whitehall failure to monitor what works when investing in local areas, auditors have warned.
Hillier rages over 'chronic' lack of funding
A ‘chronic’ lack of funding for council services amid soaring demand means many communities face a ‘long slog’ out of the COVID-19 pandemic, MPs warned today.
Levelling up transparency call amid funding row
Whitehall officials were this week facing renewed pressure over how the Levelling Up Fund was doled out amid allegations about the allocation of public funding.
Levelling up: extreme measures
Dan Peters looks at the list of performance indicators chosen by Government for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and asks just how well is it performing so far.
A late-notice, short-term and partial settlement poses problems
There may be a clue about why the sector only has a one-year settlement in the lack of announcements around the fair funding review, the overdue business rates reset, and the delayed levelling up White Paper, says Abdool Kara.
Local audit’s perfect storm
The chair of the Public Accounts Committee has suggested the volume of late audits means Whitehall is ‘flying blind’ on council finances. Will the situation improve any time soon and how concerned is the sector? Naomi Larsson reports.
Powers warning ahead of new deals
A new report today warns areas reluctant to accept directly-elected leaders in the next wave of devolution deals may be offered ‘fewer powers and flexibilities’.
Government can’t keep ‘flying blind’ on council finances
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is 'licking its fingers and sticking them in the air in an attempt to test the temperature of local authority funding', says Heather Jameson.
Government hauls in auditors after 'flying blind' accusation
Ministers have today convened an emergency meeting with local government audit firms amid fears Whitehall is ‘flying blind’ over council finances.
Government launches MRP crackdown
Councils will be prevented from using capital receipts to replace minimum revenue provision (MRP) under plans to improve local government debt management, Whitehall officials have revealed.
Call for clarity in homeless support
Whitehall mandarins have been confronted over councils’ frustration in supporting homeless people with no recourse to public funds (NRPF).
Top mandarin admits state of audit 'deeply concerning'
Permanent secretary Jeremy Pocklington said there was no ‘magic bullet’ to rectify the sector's issues.
MPs say Test and Trace was expensive failure
The NHS Test and Trace (NHST&T) was an expensive flop that relied too much on consultants and did not stop the spread of coronavirus, MPs have said.
EXCLUSIVE: Government admits Everyone In data gap
The Government has admitted it has no idea how many rough sleepers housed under Everyone In have returned to the streets.
Kerslake: Government must act now on rough sleeping
Strides made to end homelessness during the pandemic could be lost if the Government does not act now, a major new report on rough sleeping has concluded.
