Devolution of business rates to local government will create the opportunities for English councils to borrow against future revenue increases to fund development. Similar Tax Increment Financing...
After months of negotiations central government has reached agreement with the Liverpool City Region and West Midlands combined authorities for the devolution of powers and funding away from...
A House of Lords committee has called for the Scotland Bill, the UK government’s flagship measure to extend Scottish devolution, to be shelved until the financial arrangements underpinning it...
Milton Keynes is a leader in housebuilding, job creation and population growth, but these trends are not without challenges for council chief Carole Mills
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today promised to block the Scotland Bill at Holyrood, unless the UK Treasury agrees a “satisfactory and fair” settlement to underpin the Bill in its...
With today’s agreement of devolution deals for Birmingham and Liverpool city regions, it is full steam ahead for the government’s devolution project. But one question remains to be...
Chancellor George Osborne has struck devolution deals with Birmingham and Liverpool city regions, giving the areas control over infrastructure investment, transport and skills in return for the...
There is a “clear case” for devolution to English counties but the government’s insistence on a mayoral model could cut these areas off from additional powers, an Institute for...
There is little disagreement with the principle of government’s plans for devolution revolution in England. But now that the chancellor has begun putting his money where his mouth is, it looks like...
The Public Accounts Committee has called for greater clarity in the government’s flagship devolution agreements after raising concerns about accountability and scrutiny arrangements in the...
The 2015 Scotland Bill, encompassing the Smith Commission plans for enhanced devolution, completes its Commons passage today, intensifying pressure on Scottish ministers to spell out how they will...
Businesses should be able to self assess the value of their properties as part of further reforms to the business rate system, according to the Local Government Association.
The chancellor’s decision to fully localise business rates signals a shift to a mode of civic entrepreneurialism that will leave local authorities fending for themselves and at the mercy of...
Local public services remain confusing and frustrating for many citizens to access and must be reformed if the government’s devolution drive is to be a success, the Institute for Government has...
Plans to shake up the current business rates appeal process and protect councils from speculative appeals have been published for consultation by local government minister Marcus Jones.
How business rates decentralisation will work needs clarifying – especially for high-need councils – and the chancellor should remember Robert Maxwell when reforming pensions
Chancellor George Osborne has signed devolution agreements with combined authorities in the North East and Tees Valley regions of England that will see both led by directly-elected mayors and nearly...
Full devolution of business rates to local authorities is set to lead to an increase in council debt levels as they look to borrow to invest in business development, Moody’s has concluded.
Integration of health and social care will require significant additional upfront funding to be successful, and the reform is not likely to lead to savings in the short-term, an analysis by CIPFA has...
The government’s plan to let councils in England keep 100% of business rates is set to herald a wide-ranging re-examination of Whitehall support to town halls, the local government minister has...
Credit to George Osborne for the progress made on fiscal devolution by setting out a plan to localise business rates, but this must only be the beginning, not the end.
