Councils have warned that they will remain under “severe financial pressure” despite a more generous than expected settlement that will see core spending power rise by 2.6% from next year.
The legislation relating to Section 114 notices for councils in financial distress is no longer fit for purpose and in some cases has left authorities worse off, MPs have been told.
Barnet Council has been forced to issue a Section 114 notice after an accounting error saw it make two unlawful transactions in relation to its pension scheme.
Experienced Section 151 officer Brendan Arnold reflects on the role and tells PF how a Section 114 notice can be an opportunity to tackle cultural, communication and commercial issues.
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has warned that a Section 114 notice is “almost inevitable” as it prepares residents for a council tax hike of up to a quarter.
Nottingham City Council operates “significantly beyond its means” and is currently “far from sustainable” six months after government-appointed commissioners were sent into the troubled authority.
Havering Council will need to issue a Section 114 notice unless it receives extraordinary help or new funding, its leader warned as the authority opened a consultation on options to address a...
Hampshire County Council has warned it is on the brink of joining the ranks of authorities facing financial collapse, with a Section 114 notice next year looking increasingly likely.
A history of “potentially unlawful” lending, underpinned by “wholly inadequate” governance arrangements, may have contributed to the financial collapse of Woking Borough Council, according to an...
Slow progress in compensating employees for discriminatory pay has prompted GMB members at Birmingham City Council to “overwhelmingly” vote for industrial action.
Councillors have reluctantly agreed to approve Nottingham City Council’s 2024-25 budget despite concerns over a lack of local power over decision-making.
Senior councillors have refused to recommend more than £20m of cuts at Nottingham City Council, potentially escalating a dispute with the government over funding and local decision-making.
Birmingham City Council has delayed its meeting to approve spending plans as it waits for a government decision it said is key to setting a balanced budget for 2024-25.
A quarter of English councils could deplete their reserves to levels that threaten their financial sustainability in the next two years amid soaring service demand, Grant Thornton has warned.
Middlesbrough Council has become the latest authority to request additional government support to balance its 2024-25 budget and avoid a Section 114 notice.
A county council will issue a Section 114 notice unless the government grants its requests for extra flexibility, officers have warned as they work on the authority’s upcoming budget.
Mitigating a £120m “structural funding gap” at Bradford Council will be impossible without cuts, redundancies and exceptional financial support from the government, its finance chief has warned.
A city council facing government intervention has said ministers should not appoint commissioners, because the budget gap leading to its Section 114 notice was driven by “external pressures” rather...
Rising children’s care costs have contributed to a forecast £73m overspend this year and £104m funding gap next year, both of which Bradford Council said it will be unable to meet without exceptional...
Concerns over the financial stability of Nottingham City Council following its Section 114 notice has prompted levelling up secretary Michael Gove to propose appointing commissioners.
