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9 Apr 21
City mayors need more resources and greater responsibilities, according to a think-tank head, revealing polling suggesting people in English city regions “overwhelmingly” support more devolution.
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8 Apr 21
The government has thrown its weight behind the legal case arguing that councils should be allowed to continue to hold virtual meetings – but says authorities should continue to prepare to work...
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8 Apr 21
Trade unions have dismissed a pay offer for Scottish local government workers as “a slap in the face” and are balloting their members on new action.
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7 Apr 21
As many 100 councils in England will see a public health funding freeze year-on-year in 2021-22, according to analysis from the House of Commons Library.
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1 Apr 21
Councils are underspending childcare funding, risking cuts in place numbers by providers and leaving families worse off, an industry body has warned.
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1 Apr 21
Local authorities in England borrowed £856m from the Public Works Loan Board last month, as councils refocus on capital projects following a lull due to Covid-19.
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31 Mar 21
Local government organisations now have until 14 April to submit their entries for recognition in the Public Finance Awards 2021.
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29 Mar 21
Councils will get just £300m extra to help low-income households make their homes more efficient after the government abandoned a £1.5bn grants scheme with a similar aim after just six months.
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26 Mar 21
Local government organisations are launching a legal bid to challenge the government’s plans to stop remote council meetings from early May.
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26 Mar 21
Section 114 notices are unfit for purpose, two senior officers at the London Borough of Croydon – which issued two last year due to financial problems – told MPs this week.
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25 Mar 21
The government is to retrospectively ban business rates appeals based on a drop in property values due to Covid-19, a move labelled as “scandalous” by rating advisers.
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25 Mar 21
Covid-19 grants for businesses risk being wasted after the government “moved the goalposts” for funding, a Section 151 officer has told PF.
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25 Mar 21
A decision by NHS trusts to back down in their legal battle to receive business rates rebates removes a huge headache for local authorities, experts have told PF.
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25 Mar 21
Concerns raised by legal and finance officers over land sales by Liverpool City Council went ignored, according to the damning report likely to lead to commissioners being imposed at the authority.
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25 Mar 21
A government review has uncovered a litany of mismanagement relating to procurement, standalone companies and property-related services by Liverpool City Council.
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25 Mar 21
The department for Health and Social Care’s oversight on the adult social care market is ineffective, and the department is unable to say if its funding gives value for money, according to a report...
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23 Mar 21
A government consultation on business rates has found widespread opposition to its replacement by a capital values tax – but the idea of an online service tax got a warmer welcome.
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22 Mar 21
The government is poised to appoint commissioners to take over the day-to-day running of Liverpool City Council following a corruption probe, according to reports.
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19 Mar 21
Anticipated council tax losses for local authorities in England resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic are now more than a third lower initial expectations.
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19 Mar 21
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government is turning its spotlight on local health bodies as part of its fundamental review of local government audit.
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18 Mar 21
Departmental spending reductions implied by the Budget are more severe than first thought, and could see funding 8% lower than pre-Covid plans in some areas, according to the Institute for Fiscal...
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17 Mar 21
A revenue finance officer redirected more than £60,000 from the local authority she worked for to pay off her credit card bills.
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17 Mar 21
The London Borough of Croydon is set to cut its regeneration fund by 89% next year, to allow for a review on the programme to take place.
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17 Mar 21
Despite significant support from central government, the outlook for local authority finances is uncertain, says National Audit Office director Aileen Murphie.
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16 Mar 21
The government has revised support measures to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority after pulling out of a £100m affordable housing agreement.