Labour has retained control of a host of authorities across England but lost councillors after early counting from local elections across the country, with UKIP making the largest gains in seats.
The Public Accounts Committee’s warning that devolution is hindering public spending scrutiny reveals a deeper challenge at the heart of the project: reform of Westminster itself
Charities have called on local authorities to end the use of bailiffs against vulnerable residents after finding that council tax arrears have hit record levels.
The Unite trade union has refused to approve the two-year pay offer for council workers, but acceptance from the other two officially recognised local government unions means the deal will be...
The Public Accounts Committee today slammed the government’s “entirely speculative” approach to its plan to extend Right to Buy discounts to 1.3 million housing association tenants.
The trade union Unison has decided to accept a two-year pay offer for council workers, becoming the second union to accept the deal from local government employers.
Local authority treasurer societies can pack a punch, says Duncan Whitfield, Southwark Council’s finance director, given the resilience and resourcefulness of the profession
Controversial plans to convert all schools in England to academies could hinder the ability of councils to support the most vulnerable children, ministers have been warned today.
Facts and figures from the May 2016 edition of Public Finance magazine, on public sector employment, academy enthusiasm, trust in government, city regions and Brexit
Concerns about the speed of the government's devolution agenda are understandable, but misplaced. It has been the speed and clear requirement for mayoral combined authorities that has helped deliver...
The National Audit Office has called on ministers to set out more details on how devolution in England can be implemented amid increasing risks to the financial sustainability of local public...
From next year, council tenants earning over a set amount will pay higher rents, with the extra amount going to the Treasury. This is punitive and will be a bureaucratic nightmare, critics say
Greg Clark has confirmed that business rate cuts set out in last month’s Budget will not affect the four-year funding settlements for local authorities.
The government has called on local authorities to submit proposals for service responsibilities to be devolved to councils as part of business rates localisation from 2020.
Councils have reiterated calls for clarity on how they will be able to ensure they can continue to provide sufficient school places once all schools have converted to academies.
The cost of collecting minimum council tax payments from low-income families is “disproportionate” to the amount being chased, local authorities have told a government-commissioned review into...
Tower Hamlets council remains “some way off” from having its full powers returned following a Whitehall intervention, local government secretary Greg Clark has said.
Lancashire County Pension Fund and the London Pensions Fund Authority have confirmed discussions with other local government pension schemes to join their asset pool as it was approved by financial...
David Cameron has said the government’s “devolution revolution” is introducing localist reforms to give councils more control over their finances and greater freedoms over development.
