James Brokenshire has stepped in after government-appointed commissioners concluded Northamptonshire County Council was looking at the possibility of having to set an unbalanced budget this year.
Once departmental budgets are set the Treasury loses interest, says David Walker as he reflects on the NAO’s broadside at government planning and spending.
Optimism bias is a common problem that threatens local government’s financial sustainability. Risk assessments need to be credible, transparent and thoroughly stress tested, says CIPFA’s Jo Pitt.
Public systems should not be regarded as machines but as gardens that require cultivation rather than control, argues Adrian Brown of the Centre for Public Impact.
As the opportunity for efficiency savings dwindles, experts call on government to be explicit about the cost of public services. Dominic Brady reports.
An additional commissioner is likely to be sent into troubled Northamptonshire County Council after Ofsted found children’s services have “significantly declined”.
Austerity is not over for older and disabled people as a survey reveals the strain on council adult social care budgets, an umbrella group has claimed.
Amid huge uncertainty about funding services beyond 2020, councils are turning to commercial property as an income stream, but are they managing the risks? Rachel Willcox reports.
Like farmers, we need to monitor the signs carefully and plan accordingly to take control where we can and improve our odds of success, says financial adviser Bob Swarup.
By sharing data and jointly investing in new technologies, councils can improve resilience and cost-effectiveness, says CIPFA chief executive Rob Whiteman.
Jon Blackburn tells Public Finance how Sydney Opera House is evolving to attract new audiences in a digital age, while a major renovation prepares the venue for the 21st century.
An umbrella-group has expressed disappointment Philip Hammond did not consult with local authorities before announcing in the Budget business rates relief for high street retailers.
Westminster is to end the frustrations of the past and tell local authorities their settlement for the next year on a set date, the government has announced.
Cash-strapped councils increasingly borrowing to invest in commercial properties risk local services - which are often for vulnerable people - being at the mercy of the property market, says CIPFA...
CIPFA is to work on fresh guidance over concerns councils in England are putting public funds at “unnecessary or unquantified risk” when borrowing to invest in commercial property.
