Community assets transfers are gathering pace as councils seek to offload maintenance costs. But communities need support and some funding to make them a success
The Department of Health’s understanding of how to commission personalised adult social care services is outdated and inadequate, especially when money is tight, the National Audit Office has...
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced plans to make the council tax in Scotland more progressive and to end the nine-year rate freeze if the Scottish National Party returns to government after...
The Department for Education is unable to track the effectiveness of £2.7bn being spent on a flagship free childcare programme, according to a report by the National Audit Office.
Full local retention of business rates will not provide sufficient funds to allow councils to maintain early intervention services at current levels, a poll of councillors has found.
The Local Government Association has today reiterated that councils may not be able to provide a school place for every child unless they are given additional powers, including the ability to force...
The government’s plans for the High Speed 2 rail link are already changing Britain by complementing devolution initiatives to help rebalance the economy away from London, project chief Sir David...
Faced with some stark financial pressures, Burnley Council set up a strategic partnership with Liberata. This will provide opportunities to save money, secure growth and allow staff to assist other...
Carolyn Williamson made savings by bringing in new ways to work rather than cutting back at Hampshire County Council. A focus on shared services, working with the police, fire and other organisations...
Councils in England are planning to raise an additional £372m in revenue to fund social care pressures, according to a Local Government Association analysis – however, the organisation is...
Local authority pension schemes will today submit plans to government to pool their assets into so-called British Wealth Funds, with seven proposals now set to be submitted for approval.
Cambridgeshire County Council has become the first local authority to approve the operating framework for the UK Municipal Bond Agency, meaning it could form part of the first bond issue.
Councils will have to compete with other authorities or companies to process planning applications in their area under Department for Communities and Local Government reforms intended to speed up...
Business rates revenue is forecast to reach a record £23.5bn in 2016/17, according to council submissions to the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Properties built through the government’s flagship Starter Home programme will be out of reach for those most in need of affordable homes in two-thirds of council areas, research for local...
The financial sustainability of fire and rescue services could be put at risk by further cuts in government funding set to begin in April, the Public Accounts Committee warned today.
The body created by the Local Government Association to oversee council audits following the abolition of the Audit Commission is considering plans to jointly procure contacts across the sector from...
Credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s has said it expects the first issue from the Local Government Association-backed municipal bond agency to take place this year.
Sir Derek Myers, who is leading the intervention at Rotherham council, has said further progress is required before full powers are restored, despite responsibility for some services being returned.
Government figures have confirmed that allocations of public health grants to councils will be cut by more than £160m in the next two years, prompting the Local Government Association to warn...
