A likely delay in 100% business rate retention has left councils facing a financial cliff edge in 2019-20, the Local Government Association has warned.
Councils need greater devolution and more funding, local government leaders said after the chancellor announced in the Budget London councils will pilot 100% business rate retention in 2018-19.
Funding for public services in rural communities is “outdated and chronically unfair” when compared to towns and cities, the County Councils Network has stated.
As UK local authorities head towards economic independence, Vivien Holland asks if they run the risk of going the way of bankrupt Caribbean island Puerto Rico.
Local government secretary Sajid Javid has indicated that the government will move to provide additional support for firms most affected by April’s business rates revaluation, but also insisted he...
Local government secretary Sajid Javid said the government is preparing further reforms to the social care system as he confirmed a £240m transfer from the New Homes Bonus to boost adult social...
Proposals to stem the social care funding crisis through an increased council tax precept and diverting New Homes Bonus funds are only short-term fixes, county councils have said.
Planned changes to the New Homes Bonus will have an adverse effect on communities, shrinking funding and reducing the incentive for new housebuilding, the District Councils Network has warned.
More pilots of full business rates retention have been announced, but it is difficult to see localisation as a sustainable funding model for local government
The year of 2016 saw many seismic changes, but ministers' approach to local government finance has remained the same. This has increased the risk that town hall’s two main revenue streams – council...
A member of the landmark Layfield inquiry into local government finance has said the government’s devolution drive is unlikely to succeed because not enough fiscal powers have been localised.
Government plans for business rate localisation imply a major redistribution of resources on the first day of the scheme that could create financial uncertainty for councils in the rest of the decade...
Greg Clark has confirmed that business rate cuts set out in last month’s Budget will not affect the four-year funding settlements for local authorities.
Government proposals to fully devolve business rates risk creating a “widening chasm” between local service demands and council revenues to pay for them, a senior council leader has...
Communities secretary Greg Clark has announced the government will provide a £150m transitional support scheme for councils in each of the next two years in response to concerns over changes to...
Councils are to be offered four-year funding deals as part of this year’s local government settlement to allow them to plan ahead for full local retention of business rates, communities...
Councils are to retain all locally raised business rates by the end of the decade under radical local government finance reforms set out by George Osborne today. The changes will also end the...
Local government secretary Greg Clark has said he will make the case for greater certainty in council funding settlements as the government prepares for the Spending Review.
The minister says local authority funding is only being cut by an average 1.8%. But this includes ring-fenced money that makes it harder for councils to find savings