Treasury
Levelling up fund faces legal challenge
The Government could face legal action over its ‘troublingly opaque’ allocation of the Levelling Up Fund.
A tale of two Budgets?
While the Budget delivered an economic quick fix, critics have highlighted its silence on support for public services and rising inequality, and a ‘scattergun’ approach to levelling up. Heather Jameson reports.
BUDGET 2021: Sunak warns of pain to come
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a budget to protect ‘livelihood and jobs’ – with a warning of public finance pain to come.
BUDGET 2021: Sunak's lifeline for workers and business
Rishi Sunak’s Budget is expected to provide a lifeline for workers as the furlough scheme is extended to September while the universal credit £20 uplift could also be prolonged for six months.
Sunak to reveal £5bn for high streets
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected announce a further £5bn to rescue high streets in the Budget on Wednesday.
'Amazon tax' will make matters worse, says MP
Adding an online sales tax to a broken business rates system will only make matters worse, a Conservative MP who is pushing to scrap business rates has said.
Fixing the fiscal flaws
Last week saw the Treasury put a pause on business rates billing until after the Budget. But the March announcement is unlikely to address the bigger issues facing council tax and business rates. Heather Jameson reports.
Treasury in property tax rethink
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is believed to be rethinking property taxes – including council tax and business rates – in a bid to balance the books post-COVID.
Spending review: Rishi delivered what we needed, stability
In a time of financial uncertainty, the chancellor's Spending Review delivered basic stability. Now county councils need to be at the heart of levelling up, says Cllr David Williams
Sunak unveils a Spending Review for jobs, public services and infrastructure
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a £4bn levelling up fund as part of a Spending Review which he claimed offered ‘huge investment’ in jobs, public services and infrastructure.
Sunak to re-write Green Book to level up the North
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce plans to re-write the Green Book in the spending review this week, as part of the Government’s commitment to levelling up.
HOUSING: You get what you give
Localis chief executive Jonathan Werran asks what the inability to deliver a multi-year finance settlement means for housing recovery.
Cities issue stark finance warning
The Core Cities have written to the Government, warning they face Section 114 notices unless the gaps in funding are addressed.
Chancellor announces new support package for businesses
The chancellor Rishi Sunak has increased support for workers and jobs hit by tougher COVID-19 restrictions following a barrage of protests from businesses, particularly those in Tier 2 areas.
Where are the homes this winter?
COVID has shown we need even more affordable housing and further government initiatives to tackle rising levels of homelessness made worse by the pandemic’s economic impact, writes Robert Pollock.
Finance that’s fit for the future
If we had a more mature central and local governance relationship we could consider a more enduring settlement that enshrines the diversity and sustainability of local government finance, says Jessica Studdert.
What’s the recovery position?
The chancellor has opened the door to a less generous funding settlement for public services, but will he end up turning his back on a slash-and-burn approach? Martin Ford reports.
Most councils will find a way to balance their books
What the sector will be announcing in the coming months are cuts to spending plans, says Tony Kirkham - meaning reduced services and jobs at the time when they should be supporting people and businesses.
Investing in people’s futures now
Disappointed not to have been given a nod last week in the chancellor’s summer statement? Sir Bob Neill says it should be seen as a prologue to the autumn Budget.
OBR issues warning on soaring care and council costs
Soaring costs for adult social care along with indebted local authorities struggling to balance their budgets post-virus are among the key risks to the Government's spending plans warns the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) today.
