Accountants have warned that progress on local audit reforms will stall without further improvements to the audit market and capacity in council finance teams.
A more credible financial position and the recruitment of senior officers have left government-appointed commissioners “cautiously optimistic” of the turnaround at Liverpool City Council.
A dozen English councils risk failing to meet their statutory duties in the coming months, which researchers said underlines the need for drastic reforms to local government funding.
“Significantly” more victims of historical child abuse have come forward in a London borough than expected, forcing the council to request additional financing flexibilities from the government to...
A landmark independent report on governance failures at the London Borough of Croydon represents an opportunity for other authorities to review their own standards, experts have told PF.
Unsustainable spending and repeatedly missing savings targets could lead to Southampton City Council depleting its reserves by 2025, and the authority risks having to issue a section 114 notice.
Dysfunctional leadership and “inexcusable” poor governance arrangements contributed to the London Borough of Croydon’s financial woes, a long-awaited report has found.
Over-reliance on falling commercial income and high debt mean Woking Borough Council is “in the territory” of needing to issue a section 114 notice and has already stopped non-essential spending.
The failure to provide adequate records and working papers in Slough Borough Council’s 2018-19 statement of accounts has prompted its external auditors to issue an unprecedented opinion.
Historic under-resourcing of Nottingham City Council’s finance department has weakened the authority’s finance function and led to significant inconsistencies in budget forecasts, external auditors...
The lowest-funded councils have called for “fundamental change” to the way local government is financed – or they risk having to make cuts across all services.
Concerns over a “completely unsustainable” financial position have forced the London Borough of Croydon to request additional government support, including the write-off of more than £500m of debt.
Millions returned to councils from a waste-to-energy plant prove a publicly owned facility is “far preferable” to paying for a private business to run the site, one of the councils has said.
Capital spending restrictions imposed on the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will hamper local authority investment and harm the government’s flagship policy, experts have warned.
A rare public interest report into historic governance issues at Cheshire East Council highlights the declining standards of public officials in recent years, the external auditors who published the...
Concerns over soaring private rental costs have prompted Westminster City Council to propose spending more than £80m to buy properties for temporary accommodation.
A senior minister has warned that plans for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council to create additional revenues must keep to the “spirit and intent” of local government guidance.
Warrington Borough Council is set to discuss its borrowing and capital investment strategies with CIPFA, in an attempt to show how its approach, previously flagged as a concern by the government, “is...
Failed commercial investments have prompted Thurrock Council to request £182m of exceptional financial support from the government to help it balance its 2023-24 budget.