Policy
Government to push ahead with 75% rates retention in 2020/21
Whitehall will push ahead with plans to implement 75% business rates retention in 2020/21 despite calls for a one-year delay, The MJ understands.
Government review to look at council audit response
The Government will use its planned review of a key law to look at how councils respond to issues identified by auditors, The MJ has learnt.
Kara: Financial sustainability about more than just money
The key ingredients of financial sustainability have been outlined by a senior sector figure speaking at The MJ’s Future Forum.
Local income tax best bet for fiscal devo - IFS
Local income tax would be the best option for fiscal devolution if the Government wanted to hand more powers to local authorities, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) argued today.
Fraction of new fund available to councils
Councils will only be able to get their hands on part of the Government’s £1.6bn funding boost to deprived communities.
NLGN in fresh fiscal devolution call
Only full fiscal devolution with comprehensive tax-raising powers at a local level will deliver the change communities crave, a report by the NLGN think-tank has urged.
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.
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’.
Concerns raised over waste consultation length
Concerns have been raised that the consultation period on three major pieces of policy could be slashed from the standard 12 weeks.
Union dilution warning over merging of roles
The union that represents senior local government managers has called for the independent roles of chief financial officer and chief executive to be kept separate.
Brokenshire slams door on One Yorkshire plan
Communities secretary James Brokenshire has told regional leaders that their plans for a One Yorkshire metro mayor fails to meet the Government’s devolution criteria.
Think-tanks float extra council tax flexibility
Local government faces another period of tough budget settlements but could be granted more freedom to raise local revenues, according to a report on options for this year’s Spending Review by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and the Institute for Government.
Ministers accused of 'irrational policy-making'
Ministers have been accused of irrational policy-making by funding prevention in the NHS while forcing councils to focus on acute statutory services.
Cities have borne brunt of austerity - report
Cities have borne the brunt of austerity, a report out today has warned.
EXCLUSIVE: Councils warn Whitehall of Brexit risks
Councils this week started to formally inform Whitehall about their Brexit risk assessments amid fears of crime spikes, public demonstrations and food bottlenecks.
MHCLG churn 'damaging institutional memory'
Whitehall is suffering from ‘collective amnesia’ due to high staff turnover that is wasting millions of pounds, according to a study today from the respected think-tank the Institute for Government (IfG).
LEPs face Government action if they ignore framework
The Government has threatened to withhold or withdraw funding and responsibilities from local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) that fail to comply with a new framework.
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.
Government could face legal challenge over SEND
Families have officially launched a High Court legal challenge against the Government’s special education needs and disabilities (SEND) funding policy.
Brokenshire announces homelessness hubs
Communities secretary James Brokenshire has announced a network of 11 homelessness ‘hubs’ across England to tackle rough sleeping.