Optimism bias is a common problem that threatens local government’s financial sustainability. Risk assessments need to be credible, transparent and thoroughly stress tested, says CIPFA’s Jo Pitt.
An additional commissioner is likely to be sent into troubled Northamptonshire County Council after Ofsted found children’s services have “significantly declined”.
Like farmers, we need to monitor the signs carefully and plan accordingly to take control where we can and improve our odds of success, says financial adviser Bob Swarup.
By sharing data and jointly investing in new technologies, councils can improve resilience and cost-effectiveness, says CIPFA chief executive Rob Whiteman.
Whitehall’s cross-departmental finance function helped secure jobs when the outsourcing giant Carillion collapsed earlier this year, its chief has claimed.
Cash-strapped councils increasingly borrowing to invest in commercial properties risk local services - which are often for vulnerable people - being at the mercy of the property market, says CIPFA...
Two Northamptonshire councils have voted to accept unitary reorganisation, which means the decision can now be sent to secretary of state James Brokenshire.
Stricken Northamptonshire County Council is looking for a new permanent finance director who will “roll their sleeves up” and is ready to make “hard decisions”.
Northamptonshire Council has proposed “radical service reductions” in areas including care for vulnerable people as a response to its second 114 notice.
Local government must transform, innovate and work together to cope with the pressures of increased need for services with less central funding, according to two major accounting bodies.
Barnet Council is to review its strategic partnership with the giant Capita group amid a changing market for outsourcing public services, the council’s cabinet has said.
CIPFA’s proposed resilience index for English local authorities will be a “blunt instrument” that will do little to alleviate financial pressure, county chiefs have claimed.