UK councils are missing out on opportunities to maximise use of their property assets to save money and address national priorities including housing and net zero due to systemic barriers including...
New English unitary councils must ensure digital leaders are involved in decision making at the highest level or risk derailing the agenda for devolution and public service reform, a study published...
England will remain one of the most centralised large democracies even if the government’s devolution plans are successfully delivered, unless the government develops a clear strategy for the next 25...
The headline figure for those searching Rachel Reeves’ budget for clues as to the government’s commitment to its devolution plans is £13bn. That’s the amount of “flexible funding” announced for seven...
Rachel Reeves’ second Budget got off to a faltering start after the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) accidentally revealed key details of the Chancellor’s speech around 40 minutes before she...
This week has seen the launch of GDS Local, a Government Digital Service aimed at helping councils deliver for residents in a more efficient and effective way.
The government has promised to end the “outdated” council funding system, but the rejig will create winners and losers in the sector, and so has won a mixed reaction.
Plans to reform local government by replacing the current two-tier system with new single-tier unitary councils took a further step forward yesterday after the government launched consultations on...
Councils outside of London anticipate being forced to raise council tax to cover the spiralling costs of adult and children’s social care, including SEND, while rising homelessness and a lack of...
Rural areas are being overlooked in national strategies to embrace the shift to a clean energy, low-carbon, regenerative economy, despite being uniquely placed to drive the green transition, a new EY...
Journalist Christian Doherty looks at how the latest deal, part of England’s new wave of local government reorganisations, was achieved and what the two new unitary authorities will mean for Surrey.
Jeffrey Matsu, chief economist at CIPFA, discusses what research has shown about Birmingham and Osaka, England and Japan’s second cities. Good practice in local governance and funding...
As England embarks on its most ambitious programme of local government reorganisation since the 1970s, international experience offers valuable insights into both the opportunities and challenges...
Mounting debts from supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities effectively “hidden away” in council accounts could lead to nine in 10 affected authorities issuing a Section...
Stronger sanctions available to place on councillors, including suspension and withholding allowances, will help maintain standards in local authorities, according to the government.
Local Government Pension Scheme chiefs strongly support the government’s ambition for them to invest locally but cite significant obstacles in delivery, a survey has revealed.
A draft proposal for a single new unitary council covering Worcestershire would cost £59m to implement, cut the number of councillors in half and deliver a “comparatively rapid return” within three...
Simrin Rahman looks at what needs to happen alongside the Business Rates Retention Scheme reset to take advantage of the opportunity to deliver public value.
Councils are struggling to meet their legal duty to provide home-to-school transport in the face of mounting pressures which have seen budgets overspent by over £400m.
