Whitehall
Westminster turmoil piles on uncertainty for sector
Turmoil in Westminster has piled further uncertainty onto local government, as the sector awaits the provisional finance settlement and prepares for trips to the polls.
Digital fund winners announced
Some 16 projects involving 57 councils have secured the first grants from the Government’s local digital fund.
Councils may have to hand back grant
Some of the extra £55m Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) announced by the chancellor in the Budget may have to be handed back by councils.
Kent to plan for no-deal Brexit as risk increases
Kent CC will hold exercises over the coming weeks to test preparations for handling the impact of a no-deal Brexit.
Scrutiny chief in failure warning
Failure in local government is likely to become more prevalent in the years ahead due to looming pressures, the chief executive of the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) has warned.
VOA to appeal cash machines ruling
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) wants to appeal to the Supreme Court after a judge ruled shop-based cash machines were exempt from separate business rates.
Anderson quits Northern Powerhouse Partnership in frustration
Former chancellor George Osborne has voiced sympathy with Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson’s decision to quit the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.
Future Forum North: 'Government still doesn't think sector is efficient'
Whitehall remains unconvinced that local government is as efficient as it can be, Smith Square’s deputy chief executive, Sarah Pickup, has said.
Future Forum North: Whiteman rages at removing finance directors from top team
Council chief executives that demote the finance director role from the top team were being ‘too clever by half,’ Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy boss Rob Whiteman has said.
Brexit debates delay provisional finance settlement
Tomorrow’s provisional local government finance settlement has been delayed – just weeks after Whitehall agreed to bring it forward and fix a date.
Scrutiny can reduce Government intervention risk - Kerslake
Rishi Sunak has called for scrutiny to receive a ‘strong commitment from the top’ of councils amid warnings about the risk of further Whitehall intervention.
Northants can use capital to plug finance gap, says Brokenshire
Northamptonshire CC will be allowed to use £70m in capital receipts to plug its financial black hole, local government secretary James Brokenshire has ruled.
Brexit will not halt economic growth, says Walkley
Economic growth will not grind to a halt when we leave the European Union, chief executive of Homes England Nick Walkley has predicted.
Local government hits out at Dawes
Local government has hit out at its top mandarin after she claimed councils were still sustainable as they only needed to provide statutory services.
Call for public expenditure presentation overhaul
Next year’s Spending Review should overhaul the presentation of public expenditure within the Government’s fiscal documents to bring it line with other countries, a new report has urged.
Northamptonshire recovery plan 'unachievable'
Leaders of the Labour opposition have expressed ‘serious fears’ that Northamptonshire CC will be unable to balance this year’s budget.
Devolution framework to kick-start 'neo-localist' agenda
The Government’s new devolution framework next month will ‘begin a new conversation about our emerging neo-localist agenda,’ communities secretary James Brokenshire has said.
EXCLUSIVE: The Bucks stops here
Local government secretary James Brokenshire will only invite new unitary proposals in the case of another Northamptonshire CC-type collapse, The MJ understands.
Minister refuses to rule out imposing asylum dispersal on councils
A minister has not ruled out forcing councils to take in asylum seekers, but said the option was not ‘desirable’.
Sector faces £12m apprenticeship hit - every month
Local government could lose up to £12m per month from June after struggling to spend funds from the Apprenticeship Levy, initial estimates have suggested.