CIPFA’s chief executive has called on George Osborne to empower local authorities and live up to the coalition’s initial commitment to localism and devolution.
A Municipal Bond Agency would free up local authorities to invest in housing and other services, without adding to government debt. But some key reforms to the borrowing rules will be needed
Councils could face bankruptcy if Chancellor George Osborne announces more cuts to local authority funding in Thursday’s Autumn Statement, trade union Unison has warned
Councils have been warned they will need to set out details of their long-term borrowing plans if a proposed municipal bonds agency is to successfully provide town halls with cheaper finance.
Councils should be encouraged to make ‘aggressive’ use of compulsory purchase orders to help bring about an urban regeneration, the Distressed Town Centre Property Taskforce has recommended.
Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has accused councils of misleading the public by claiming they have no money left, but continuing to add to their reserves
One in ten councils is struggling to deliver planned budgets, having either failed to make savings, overspent on some services or suffered shortfalls in income, according to the Audit Commission
Councils in the Midlands and North of England are facing much deeper cuts to their funding than those in London and the South, an analysis by the Special Interest Group of Metropolitan Authorities...
The Local Government Association has reformed its governance structures to give its member councils a stronger voice and distinguish city from non-city interests
The political leadership in our town and county halls too often undermines collaboration with local businesses and the voluntary and community sector. Leaders must up their game or consider their...
A Labour government would implement the majority of the recommendations in today’s report from the Independent Police Commission, Ed Miliband confirmed today
Chancellor George Osborne should use the upcoming Autumn Statement to increase the Discretionary Housing Payment fund, according to the Chartered Institute of Housing
Councils are backing plans to create a Scandinavian-style collective municipal bond agency, which would offer local government cheaper borrowing to fund projects such as new housing and road...
Local communities in England lose £4.1bn each year to the UK’s devolved nations through the ‘outdated’ Barnett Formula for distributing public spending, the Local Government Association has claimed...
Councils should be allowed to retain powers to ensure new housing built in their areas conforms to high sustainability standards of energy efficiency and water conservation, MPs said today
The chair of the County Councils Network has called on ministers to stop offering cash to authorities who freeze their council tax, warning that the policy was hurting frontline services and was ‘bad...
Economic growth and quality of life in a host of regional cities is outstripping London as the capital ‘pays the price’ due to its problems with transport congestion, housing affordability and income...
Three-quarters of councillors say that their authorities would borrow to build more homes if the government’s existing cap on Housing Revenue Account borrowing was lifted.
