The public never saw the real chancellor responding to the financial storm with calmness - and proper food, writes David Smith, director at Kent County Council who worked with him.
Pressure on council finances has led to instances of aggressive action to recover council tax arrears, prompting MPs to urge the government to clarify regulations to prevent unnecessary distress.
Councils still do not know what upcoming waste collection reforms will mean for them, delaying investment and teeing up a procurement rush once details are announced, the Public Accounts Committee...
A proposed real-terms cut to capital budgets risks exacerbating school maintenance backlogs and shows the government does “not care about the state of school buildings”, a union leader has said.
Suspected fraud relating to a housing maintenance contract led Guildford Borough Council to uncover widespread governance issues in its housing service, and the authority is now carrying out a review.