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Tony Kirkham
Resisting the 'spend your reserves' narrative
It is important we fully explain why we hold reserves, and what pressures and risks remain for local government with the significant increases in inflation and demand for services, says Tony Kirkham.
It is not surprising councils' position in the job market is eroding
Local government colleagues report difficulty in recruiting auditors, revenues and benefits staff, accountants at all levels, as well as lawyers, IT and HR staff, says Tony Kirkham.
Local government's finance community are left scratching their heads
Tony Kirkham hopes the Government looks at alternative ways of managing future transitions and firms up the services grant in order to give a greater level of planning certainty.
ALATS can aim to cultivate an environment supportive of finance chiefs
Tony Kirkham has taken up the reins as the new president of the Association of Local Authority Treasurers Societies (ALATS). He says that with the right conversations with chief financial officers 'we can deliver improvements'.
Counting the cost of the Universal Credit cut
Tony Kirkham says that by mid-August nearly 36,000 residents in Newcastle were on Universal Credit. Today's withdrawal of the £20 per week uplift 'will have a significant impact on these families – 36% of which are currently in work', he adds.
Time to rethink going back to work
There is a real appetite to work differently post-pandemic, says Tony Kirkham. Instead of rushing back to the office, we should take the opportunity to think about the future
The Times They Are a-Changin’
Section 151 officers are all still trying to work out what scarring there will be to finances as a result of the pandemic, and what course recovery will take to what will be a new normal, says Tony Kirkham.
One eye on the data, the other on the future
Tony Kirkham explains why the delivery of this year's budget at Newcastle City Council will be the most difficult one he has worked on in his 32 year career.
Some light at the end of the tunnel
With the vaccine providing some grounds for optimism, 'maybe this is the time to look back at the lessons to learn and look forward', says Tony Kirkham.
All I want for Christmas
As an early Christmas present Tony Kirkham would like 'a clear and positive Comprehensive Spending Review which adequately reflects the demands on local government'. And he would like 'a local government settlement that allows us to meet the needs of our residents and businesses'.
Remove the ring fences
Councils are prevented from focusing on key priorities due to ringfences or restrictions on things such as the housing revenue account, says Tony Kirkham. If these were eased temporarily, councils could act in a more agile way, he adds.
Blood out of stone
Opportunities to drive out further efficiencies from councils lie in prevention and integration, but 'will take time and investment and is unlikely to deliver any benefits until the back end of the Spending Review at the earliest', says Tony Kirkham.
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.
Please sir, I want some more
After suffering starvation for three months with his companions, Oliver Twist said: ‘Please sir, I want some more.’ Likewise, as a sector, local government must continue to ask for more, says Tony Kirkham.
Our first responsibility is to be a good ancestor
We need to stand shoulder to shoulder with Government and trust that the original commitment to ensuring councils have ‘whatever it takes’ will stand, says Tony Kirkham.
The show must go on
Tony Kirkham says that without the full backing of Government, and the surety that the money needed for the pandemic emergency will be there, 'then we will have to realign our decisions and actions within the financial restraints'.
God is in the detail
Tony Kirkham says if councils can approach the challenges of COVID-19 with the spirit and professionalism they are renowned for, the sector can move into the detailed analysis to deliver a Spending Review that benefits citizens in the medium-term.
The positive process of peer review
Tony Kirkham recently took part in a Local Government Association peer review. He says the process was intensive and hard work - but he 'enjoyed every minute'.
Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th is usually seen as an unlucky day, says Tony Kirkham - but he hopes the next one is 'the first step on a safe transition, starting with a budget settlement which leads to a sustainable future for local government'.
Investment is at risk from borrowing hike
Increasing the interest rate on borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board puts much-needed investment at risk and to do it without consultation doesn't say much for the relationship between local government and the Treasury, says Tony Kirkham.
