Local authorities commercial investment needs a change focus, to help unlock latent potential in region, says Jonathan Werran, chief executive of think tank Localis.
The coronavirus pandemic and tighter government lending rules led to a 41% real-terms contraction in councils' payments for land and buildings last year, according to provisional outturn figures.
A proposed liability benchmark to help local authorities manage their debt needs could save the sector tens of millions of pounds, according to an industry expert.
Proposed reforms by local audit administrator Public Sector Audit Appointments will fail to bring smaller companies into the sector, according to a senior partner at a 60-strong accountancy firm.
Amendments to international reporting standards to include a wider range of impacts must go well beyond environmental sustainability, according to CIPFA chief executive Rob Whiteman.
Guidance on the environmental, social and governance of local authority counterparties will be included in the risk management section of the revised Treasury Management Code, in a switch of approach.
A district council is planning to invest £56m in commercial property outside its boundaries this year, funded through borrowing from other local authorities.
CIPFA chief executive Rob Whiteman introduces a new collection of essays by leading sector figures on the government’s flagship economic policy, published by PF and CIPFA.
Productivity gaps between different regions of the UK are deep-rooted but reversible – with a significant amount of investment from central government.
Education and skills can play a fundamental role in reducing inequality – but the benefits of investing in schools and training go far beyond job creation.
Proposals released today putting a greater emphasis on quality in the awarding of local government audit contracts would see fees rise if adopted, according to an expert.
The Court of Appeal has thrown out an appeal from the London Borough of Merton which argued that a Nuffield Health leisure centre should be fully liable for business rates.
Government inspectors pulled no punches in their final assessment of Northamptonshire County Council’s management in the run up to their intervention in May 2018. Read their full list of 13...