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.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell has promised that the new fiscal and welfare powers to be devolved under the 2015 Scotland Bill will be “a game-changer.”
District councils must play a key role in forthcoming devolution deals by agreeing to take on a greater share of the cost of local economic development and early intervention projects, a report has...
Local government should be able to take over failing public services from Whitehall through an expansion of existing “right to challenge” powers, a report by the think-tank Respublica has...
Shadow local government secretary Jon Trickett has warned the government’s Spending Review process to negotiate devolution deals may amount to an attack on local democracy.
The forthcoming Spending Review needs to provide more details on how devolution of powers to councils will be spread across the country, a senior local government figure has said.
Backing for the 38 devolution proposals submitted to government earlier this month would unlock at least £80bn of economic growth, a report from the Local Government Association has claimed...
A host of local government leaders have joined Chancellor George Osborne on a tour of China as part of efforts to boost inward investment in the government’s Northern Powerhouse plan.
Local government will need meaningful fiscal devolution in order to bring about transformation in transport, health, skills and other public services as part of the government’s devolution...
David Cameron today set out a wide-ranging package of reforms to create a “smarter state”, with widespread devolution, a focus on early intervention, and integration of blue light services among the...
The Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill is moving quickly through parliament, but its implications for the NHS remain unclear. These are some of the key issues that need to be considered.
