Spending Review
London leaders call for 'proper' debate on funding
Central Government needs to have a ‘proper conversation’ on public sector funding and put councils on a sustainable footing for the future, London Councils chair, Cllr Peter John, has told The MJ.
Brokenshire: We need to raise our game and get London building
Housing secretary James Brokenshire has criticised London boroughs after statistics showed a ‘mixed picture’ across the capital in the number of additional homes in 2017/18.
Troubled Families funding could be extended beyond 2020
Funding for the Troubled Families programme could continue beyond 2020 after it was found three-quarters of councils are poised to make early intervention cuts.
The trouble with troubled families
In the melee of the adult social care cash crisis, rising children’s services pressures and pothole funding chasms, Troubled Families budgets have been low down the list of priorities, writes Heather Jameson
The risk from cuts
Children’s social care has become more efficient since 2010, but Graham Atkins argues this will be difficult to push further and cuts to wider services risk increasing demand
Kid’s care on a cliff edge
Following a report by ADCS that initial contacts made to children’s social care have increased by 78% over 10 years, Martin Ford finds out how council specialists are addressing the pressures to keep delivering as budgets dwindle
EXCLUSIVE: Streeting calls for new Parliamentary campaign
Local Government Association vice-president Wes Streeting has called for a cross-party coalition of MPs to campaign for a major and urgent increase in council funding.
SENDing a message to government
With two councils awaiting the outcomes of judicial reviews into their plans to cut back spending on SEND services and a possible legal challenge for central government, Ann McGauran asks if more cash will be found to deal with 'a sense of crisis'
With no long term solutions, the Budget is more trickery than treats
Rather than offering the long-term funding needed by public services, the chancellor dressed up short term cash splurges as the easing of austerity, says Rob Whiteman
Balanced Budget as we live in hope for jam tomorrow
It may have been billed as the Budget to end austerity, but the chancellor’s speech was not exactly jam today, says Heather Jameson. More like a thin spread of cheap margarine for now, with the hope of a good strawberry crop in the spring
Look at the Budget's fine print
It's the fine print in a Budget that needs the most careful attention, and it's time to ramp up further the campaign for local services, says Martin Reeves of SOLACE
Hammond gently loosens the purse strings
With extra wriggle room from better-than-expected tax and spending figures, the chancellor was able to spread some largesse to cash-strapped councils in his Budget, especially in social care, highways and the high street. Michael Burton reports
The money messages may be getting back to the centre
The accusation from local government that it is seldom listened to by central government has some merit, says Simon Edwards - but he believes key recent announcements do suggest that perhaps some of the messages from councils are cutting through.
Budget must give cities new chances for growth
Hopefully the Budget will shed light on the future direction of cities' finances, particularly with a Spending Review looming says Andrew Carter.
SOLACE Summit: Dawes rejects NHS cash grab idea
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) top civil servant has encouraged council chief executives to be bold in their asks from Whitehall.
The dilemma facing the chancellor in the Budget
Never have expectations from the Budget on 29 October been so high, explains Michael Burton - and never has the chancellor’s influence over events that will effect his forecasts been so low
A sticking plaster on social care?
Health secretary Matt Hancock’s social care cash announcement at the Conservative Party conference was overshadowed by the Prime Minister’s housing announcements, but Ann McGauran asks if it goes far enough
Neighbourhood services a 'serious concern'
A new report has highlighted 'serious concerns' over the future quality of neighbourhood services unless councils receive adequate funding in next spring's Spending Review.
MHCLG rejects performance call
Marsham Street has rejected MPs’ call to publish a regular breakdown of council performance across a range of services.
London Councils calls for cross-departmental look at pressures
The Government should heed the advice of other departments beyond the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) when it comes to making spending decisions, London Councils has argued.