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4 May 21
The London Borough of Barnet’s internal audit team has found the council failed to hold accurate records of higher-value procurement contracts, against the authority’s procurement policy.
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30 Apr 21
As Covid-19 vaccination rolls out and employees begin returning to the office, public sector leaders will face a new challenge – successfully reconnecting their temporarily disparate teams.
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29 Apr 21
A council acted unlawfully by refusing a resident access to thousands of financial documents on the grounds it would have taken five weeks of staff time, a court has ruled.
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27 Apr 21
London Borough of Newham has been granted permission to appeal a High Court decision which rejected its claim against Barclays Bank over historic Lender Option Borrower Option loans.
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27 Apr 21
The latest update of the Financial Resilience Index provides a useful base from which to assess the impact of Covid-19, says Andrew Burns.
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26 Apr 21
The current system, rather than building in checks and balances, has built a bank of spectators unable or unwilling to intervene until the vehicle has crashed, says councillor Graham Chapman.
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22 Apr 21
Some deprived areas missed out Levelling Up Fund prioritisation because they have better transport links – not for political reasons – according to chief secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay.
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22 Apr 21
What powers will freeports have? What impact will they have on public finances and 'levelling up'? Two experts tell you everything you need to know.
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21 Apr 21
The publication date for council audit fees could be pushed into the middle of each financial year under government proposals.
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21 Apr 21
Local authorities who have applied for greater financial flexibilities to help balance their books could be waiting in limbo until September to receive confirmation, a senior civil servant said this...
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20 Apr 21
Thurrock Council invested £85m in a solar farm scheme based on a "materially false” prospectus that failed to mention suspected defects with the equipment, according to a High Court judge.
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19 Apr 21
CIPFA-qualified accountant Caroline Al-Beyerty has been appointed as the first female chamberlain at the City of London Corporation – one of the oldest public offices in the UK.
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19 Apr 21
A firm set up by the Greater London Authority to manage energy services has posted losses close to £900,000 in its first year.
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16 Apr 21
Chester West and Chester Council has launched a review into a deal to sell farmland to Lex Greensill, former owner of the firm at the centre of the government’s lobbying controversy.
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16 Apr 21
Councils in Wales face funding pressures of £178m by 2022-23 as Covid-19 and slower growth in Welsh government funding impact on authority budgets, according to new analysis.
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15 Apr 21
A tribunal has approved a last-minute extension allowing Thurrock Council to continue its battle against being forced to reveal details of borrowing and investment activities of around £700m.
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15 Apr 21
Local authorities and industry bodies are against the proposed changes to the annual housing growth threshold for payment under the New Homes Bonus.
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15 Apr 21
The London Borough of Croydon expects to receive the majority of “at-risk” loan interest from its crisis hit housing company Brick by Brick in 2020-21, according to its finance chief.
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12 Apr 21
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has appointed advisory firm KPMG to help implement organisational changes.
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9 Apr 21
Local authorities could have missed out on cheaper pre-paid card agreements due to “competitive collusion” between providers, according to a regulator.
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9 Apr 21
A finance chief has labelled as ‘pitiful’ the amount of money his authority has received through a new £280m allocation for councils to manage and expand special educational needs and disabilities...
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9 Apr 21
University of Edinburgh finance director Lee Hamill explains how his team won the Financial Reporting and Accountability category in the 2020 Public Finance Awards for developing integrated reporting
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9 Apr 21
The Covid-19 pandemic has proved the feasibility of remote auditing, says Kate Mathers, executive director of the National Audit Office.
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8 Apr 21
Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council have announced plans for a £110m prefabricated housing project on mainly council-owned land.
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6 Apr 21
The London Borough of Croydon’s housing company Brick by Brick recorded losses in excess of £800,000 in 2019-20.