Whitehall
Committee calls for Government action on council debt chasing
Councils have been found to use ‘heavy-handed’ tactics to chase council tax debts, according to a report by MPs.
MPs in waste clarity call
England’s town halls cannot prepare for forthcoming waste reforms – including procurement - until ministers provide certainty over the impact on council coffers, MPs have warned.
Is regulation restricting our freedom to deliver?
If you sit round the council board table today, you might see your chief executive scratching their head over the Office for Local Government (Oflog) and your housing director getting to grips with the Social Housing Regulator.
Home Office admits 'more we can and need to do'
More needs to be done to share data and improve communications with councils, Home Office mandarins have admitted.
corridors of power
Veteran Tory special adviser Max is giving young Labour adviser Tina some helpful advice should Labour form the next Government…
Innovation keeps the wheels on social care
With no prospects of long-term funding solutions, social care teams are having to focus on creative initiatives and partnership working – and the Autumn Statement has added to the pressure. Paul Marinko reports.
Councils welcome PWLB rate extension
Councils have welcomed chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s decision to extend preferential Public Works Loan Board borrowing rates for Housing Revenue Account (HRA) expenditure.
Pressure for LGA peer review to be strengthened
Senior Local Government Association (LGA) figures are pushing the organisation to beef up its peer review offer to help neutralise the threat from Oflog.
Autumn Statement: Hunt devolves but councils face new costs
The chancellor has unfrozen housing benefits and announced positive devolution news in his Autumn Statement, but signalled tighter public spending despite raising the National Living Wage.
Autumn Statement: Hunt announces surprise LGPS plan
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced a surprise target to ensure all Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds are invested in asset pools of £200bn or more by 2040.
Autumn Statement: Unprotected departments face further cuts
So-called ‘unprotected’ Whitehall departments face further budget tightening despite a pledge in the Autumn Statement to increase public sector productivity.
Autumn Statement: Living Wage hike places council budgets under pressure
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has confirmed the biggest-ever hike in the UK minimum wage – but the move places strained council finances under fresh pressure.
Autumn Statement: Business rates measures to be fully funded
Plans to extend business rates relief will be fully funded for local authorities, the small print of the Autumn Statement has confirmed.
Expected devo boost in Autumn Statement
Seven counties are expected to be among a swathe of non-mayoral devolution deals being lined up by the Government.
Devo’s the word – so what comes next?
Michael Gove’s appearance at the County Councils’ Network conference this week may have been ill-timed, but it was a masterclass in pure politics.
Mixed economic news for chancellor ahead of autumn statement
The chancellor has received mixed news on the economy the day before the autumn statement, with official figures showing record borrowing last month and higher interest payments offset by better-than-expected tax revenues.
New study exposes public scepticism over levelling up
Half of UK residents think policies introduced by the Conservatives will impact negatively on local economies, according to a new study that cast doubt on the levelling up agenda.
CCN Report - Winter pressure focus on home and community support could save £2.5bn
A new report has argued £2.5bn could be saved if funding to address health and social care winter pressures focused on home and community support.
Current climate making it ‘impossible’ for councils to carry on
Soaring demand, rising pay bills and inflationary costs are making it ‘virtually impossible’ to keep councils going, a senior chief executive has said.
Job cuts 'inevitable' at Brum
Birmingham City Council is poised to reveal a worse-than-expected financial position as it embarks on a savings drive and ‘inevitable’ job cuts, The MJ has learned.
