Title

WHITEHALL

Talks held over debt concern

Woking BC has held ‘positive and constructive’ talks with the Government amid ministerial concerns about the sustainability of the authority’s debts.

Woking BC has held ‘positive and constructive' talks with the Government amid ministerial concerns about the sustainability of the authority's debts.

The council admitted its debt levels were relatively high due to £1.8bn in loans, including £700m for its Victoria Square development.

However, the council said its loans were primarily from the Public Works Loan Board, involve low and affordable interest rates, and that most projects would generate future income.

Woking chief executive Julie Fisher said the council was ‘working with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to assist them in understanding our local borrowing and investment practices'.

Local government minister Kemi Badenoch wrote to Woking and seven other English local authorities in mid-May expressing departmental concerns about ‘disproportionate levels of debt' and ‘commercial investments'.

A DLUHC spokesperson said: 'Taxpayers expect us to take action to stop councils from building up excessive debt. 

'We will continue to engage with councils to make sure they are supported.'

WHITEHALL

SEND reforms fail to account for transport costs, say MPs

By Lee Peart | 06 March 2026

Government special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms fail to take account of burgeoning home-to-school transport costs for local authorities,...

WHITEHALL

Council spends £220k sending council tax bills first class

By William Eichler | 05 March 2026

Somerset Council has been forced to spend an extra £220,000 sending out council tax bills first class after Whitehall delayed confirming £30m emergency support.

WHITEHALL

Leading neighbourhood health

By Lee Peart | 03 March 2026

Cllr Wendy Taylor, chair of the LGA’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, says local government must be central to the development of a neighbourhood health model.

WHITEHALL

Making change work for you

By Jessica Mullinger | 26 February 2026

LGR brings the promise of restructure and change to many organisations, impacting the individuals who work for them in different ways. Jessica Mullinger look...

Popular articles by Mark Conrad