While everyone agrees that there is a social care crisis there is little consensus about the size of the gap and how far new investment goes to closing it
The chancellor combined moves to relieve short-term pressures in the public sector with measures to encourage long-term stability, while staying tight-lipped on social care funding
Hiking up national insurance contributions for the self-employed is a “sensible” change to taxation but not enough, says the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
This was a “warm-up” Budget, with many key decisions deferred, delayed or scheduled for review. The chancellor may yet regret this lack of decisiveness
London’s local government leaders have signed a memorandum of understanding with Whitehall that outlines a road map for further devolution to the city.
The spring Budget promised a review of taxation on North Sea assets aimed at maximising exploitation of remaining oil reserves, and on the extra £350m of “Barnett consequentials”...
There were no big surprises in this Budget and little sense of any solutions to intractable policy problems. The chancellor should beware of trying to micromanage from the centre
The main rate of National Insurance Contributions paid by self-employed people is to increase by 1% from next April, chancellor Phillip Hammond has announced today.
The Treasury is to hand over £2bn to fund adult social services in England over the next three years – with £1bn of that being available in the next financial year.
Chancellor Philip Hammond welcomed a more optimistic immediate outlook for the economy and public finances as he revealed the latest Office for Budget Responsibility economic forecasts.
Local authorities are to share a £300m pot for discretionary business rate reliefs to help firms facing higher bills due to next month’s revaluation of the levy, chancellor Philip Hammond...
A small number of local authorities are to blame for half of all delayed discharges in the NHS, chancellor Philip Hammond said as he indicated this week’s Budget could provide targeted cash to tackle...
Whitehall departments have been told by the Treasury to draw up plans to make up to 6% savings under a cross-government efficiency drive, but any savings found in local government will be reinvested...
The UK faces the prospect of failing public services and breached spending controls unless urgent action is taken, the Institute for Government and CIPFA have warned.
Next week’s Budget is unlikely to bring much comfort to local government. The sector must seize the initiative, redefining its objectives and the financial freedoms needed to deliver
The chancellor can expect borrowing figures to be lower than expected when the Office for Budget Responsibility makes its forecast ahead of the spring Budget, the EY Item Club has said.
Local authorities have warned that a series of flagship social care reforms introduced in 2015 will fail unless the government provides a funding boost for services.
