Reserves
Angus may use COVID reserves to plug budget holes
Angus Council may use reserves put aside for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic to plug looming holes in its budget over the next two years.
North Yorkshire reorganisation to cost millions
North Yorkshire CC has committed millions of pounds of reserves towards the costs of local government reorganisation in the county.
Shetland's reliance on reserves 'not sustainable'
Shetland Islands Council is expected to fall back on more than £29m from its reserves to balance this year’s budget.
Councils will continue to draw on reserves, predicts Moody's
Many councils will continue to draw on their reserves to manage the uncertain funding environment and offset budgetary pressures, international ratings agency Moody’s has predicted.
Raid on reserves will hit hard on council cash
As the Treasury threatens to raid reserves, Heather Jameson warns the 'snapshot' figures could have a long term impact on councils as we head for the spending review.
EXCLUSIVE: Councils push back over reserves raid threat
Council chiefs have pushed back as the Treasury eyes up the sector’s reserves in the run up to this year’s Spending Review, The MJ understands.
Cardiff boosts reserves in pandemic
Cardiff City Council’s reserves increased by £48m despite the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
Thanet facing £700k legal bill
Cash-strapped Thanet DC is facing legal costs of more than £700,000 as it grapples with disciplinary and grievance procedures.
Tackle high needs before it is too late
Lorna Baxter says the statutory override in place until March 2023, which allows for a negative high needs reserve is 'not even a sticking plaster - frankly, it’s bonkers. The money has been spent'.
‘Wholesale improvements’ required at Slough
External auditors have issued a scathing report on financial management at Slough BC.
Lambeth to reimburse £27m of water bills
The decision follows years of legal wrangling over charges collected on behalf of Thames Water.
What can be learnt from the recent Public Interest Reports?
Paul Dossett of Grant Thornton UK considers the key lessons for local government that have emerged from the recent Public Interest Reports.
Lancaster mulls tax increases and drawing on reserves
Successive tax increases and use of reserves have been proposed to close Lancaster City Council’s budget gap.
Council warned not to overly rely on reserves
Auditors have warned Sutton LBC to be careful about relying too much on its reserves to offset current and future demand and cost pressures.
What can we take away from Croydon’s s114 notice?
It’s immediately clear from Croydon LBC’s section 114 action that local government must recognise and respect their collective responsibility for maintaining a council’s financial health, says Rob Whiteman.
Peterborough reserves near exhaustion
The council has taken a financial hit of £38.9m due to the coronavirus crisis.
Remove the ring fences
Councils are prevented from focusing on key priorities due to ringfences or restrictions on things such as the housing revenue account, says Tony Kirkham. If these were eased temporarily, councils could act in a more agile way, he adds.
Future Forum: Business rates retention is doomed
Moves to fund local government using the proceeds from business rates are ‘doomed,’ according to a financial expert.
IFS finds £2bn budget black hole
Councils face a budget black hole of £2bn this year due to unfunded coronavirus costs, a new study has found.
Council may have to issue s114, warns CIPFA
Windsor & Maidenhead RBC may not be able to set a legal budget in future years and may have to issue a Section 114 notice, finance experts have warned.
