Treasury
Cost of living crisis loomed large at The MJ Forum
Heather Jameson says it was clear from The MJ Future Forum that the sector is facing a massive agenda. 'But what is perhaps more of a surprise is how little the Queen’s Speech addressed the main issues and captured the zeitgeist of the forum.
'There's no more cash' warns Clarke
There will be no more cash to bail out public sector budgets hit by soaring inflation Treasury chief secretary Simon Clarke has warned.
1.3m families to miss out on council tax rebate
Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) figures suggest that around 1.3m families risk missing out on the Government’s £150 council tax rebate to help with energy bills.
Spring statement: Sunak to tackle cost of living pressures
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to tackle increasing pressure on household budgets when he makes his Spring Statement today.
Rising interest on debt blows hole in public finances
Rising debt interest has knocked a hole in the public finances before Chancellor Rishi Sunak announces a spring statement already under pressure due to the Ukraine crisis.
Goodbye to ...
The MJ highlights a tumultuous year for local government still impacted by the global pandemic, and not helped by a lack of funding and clarity. Martin Ford and Ann McGauran report.
Social care reforms ring alarm bells for council finances
Michael Burton says the Government's decision to rush through last-minute changes watering down the cap on social care costs for poorer householders rather than letting them be properly debated will cause long term damage politically and financially.
Care needs cash to reform
If the Government is serious about reforming social care, it has got to get serious about funding it, says Stephen Chandler
Just what does the Spending Review mean for local government?
Adrian Jenkins gives his verdict on how local government fared in the Spending Review: not bad, but not brilliant.
Spending Review fails to deliver for local government or levelling up
Despite heralding the largest increase in core funding for councils in a decade, the chancellor has failed to deliver sustainable funding for local government, says Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton
Budget 2021: Council tax cut will leave councils struggling, says IFS
The Government’s move to lower the threshold of council tax increases before a referendum is ‘surprising’ and will leave councils struggling, finance experts have claimed.
Budget 2021: Highways face funding cut in Budget
National Highways is facing a major funding cut of some £3.4bn after today’s Budget, with the total for the second Road Investment Strategy (RIS 2) dropping dramatically from the £27.4bn announced last year to £24bn.
Is there much rigour to the Spending Review?
The District Councils’ Network’s clear requests include a year-on-year, real-terms increase in Government-funded spending power across the Spending Review, with the certainty and stability of a multi-year financial settlement, says Ian Miller.
Pursuing happiness
At last, the Treasury wants us all to be happy, says Dan Corry. ‘A brilliant early sign that the Treasury means this is if the forthcoming and long-awaited multi-year Spending Review pushed these concepts hard’, he adds.
Chancellor faces tough call on on care, pensions and welfare
Chancellor Rishi Sunak will need to make a series of tough choices this autumn, the Resolution Foundation think-tank has said.
Government set to hike NI to pay for care and health
Government is set to plough ahead with plans to raise national insurance to fund health and social, with an announcement expected next week.
Just when you thought it was safe
The first multi-year public finance settlement for many years might not answer every question, but could clear the decks for what lies beyond the deep blue sea of the next General Election, says Jonathan Werran.
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.
Treasury launches consultation for business rates revaluations every three years
The Treasury has made further moves towards business rates revaluations taking place more frequently.
We must stop the Treasury tail wagging the Government dog
Graeme McDonald senses 'much of Whitehall has a greater understanding of our challenges than for many years, but is handcuffed by the inflexible, rigid approach imposed by a shortsighted Exchequer'.
