News and expert comment on public policy and finance

Local government features

The victims' voiceLast summer's riots inflicted untold misery on individuals and businesses across England. But the views and concerns of those who suffered are now being heard loud and clear thanks to the work of Darra Singh's independent panel 01 May 2012
Bottom of the classDavid Cameron's attack on public services in Wales hit a raw nerve. For evidence is mounting that Welsh collaboration gets poorer results than English competition, argues Malcolm Prowle 01 April 2012
Stringing us along?Ministers talk the talk on local financial freedoms. But without the right to vary both taxation and service levels, town halls will remain at the mercy of Whitehall 01 April 2012
This is going to hurtAs the UK feels the pain of the harshest austerity package since the war, don't expect any letup in George Osborne's March Budget. Better get used to the new normal, says Tony Travers 01 March 2012
Safety in numbersSecurity is vital for local authority investments and that means managing the range of risks entailed. CIPFA's recent study shows what councils are doing to protect their funds 01 March 2012
The professional's professionalAs head of the Government Finance Profession, Richard Douglas is overseeing big changes to Whitehall's financial management. He tells PF how he combines that with his day job at the Department of Health 01 February 2012
Home truthsThe good news is that the government is scrapping the much-hated Housing Revenue Account from April. The less good news is that the Treasury, not councils, could still end up in the driving seat 01 February 2012
New age budgetingWhole Place is the new Total Place, as community budgeting helps both town halls and Whitehall free up their fiscal thinking. So are the chances of joined-up spending better or worse in an era of austerity? 01 February 2012
A force to reckon withThe creation of police commissioners raises some awkward accounting issues, not least because there are now going to be two separate police bodies 01 February 2012
Whitehall warsThere's trouble at the top in Whitehall, with senior civil servants taking to the streets and relations with ministers becoming increasingly dysfunctional. Colin Talbot tests the temperature in the corridors of power 01 January 2012
Out of the shadowsCouncils are detecting much more fraud but there's still plenty of places to hide, warns the Audit Commission's chair. Criminals are finding new ways of plundering public money 01 January 2012
Open for business?Can the government's Open Public Services agenda succeed in a period of local authority budget cuts? Public Finance and Zurich Municipal hosted a round table to debate the possibilities 01 December 2011
Two becomes oneDerek Myers is no ordinary chief executive. Having run one London borough for a decade, he has taken on responsibility for a second and is sharing a range of services with a third. He tells PF how this innovative partnership works 01 December 2011
Passing the buckAt first sight, the government's plan to give councils control of business rates and Council Tax Benefit was a fine case of 'localism' in action. In practice, it means town halls will take the rap for deep cuts in support and services 01 December 2011
Better out than in?The expected explosion in local government outsourcing has not taken place. Could it still happen or are there better ways to make the savings? Public Finance and Civica convened a round table to find out 01 November 2011