The chair of the Commons communities and local government committee has hit back at Tory accusations that its call for a review of councillors’ allowances is a ‘cynical and sleazy’ attempt to boost...
Small community groups are being excluded from ‘Big Society’ funds as money is reserved for charities providing major public services, a think-tank has warned.
Overweight people could lose their entitlement to some benefits if they do not attend exercise classes, according to a report from a London council today.
CIPFA has urged local authorities to be ‘extremely careful’ if they plan to follow Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles’ advice to use their reserves to close funding gaps.
The team of public servants who ensured the success of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games were among the recipients of the latest round of honours
The Local Government Finance Settlement heralds a ‘very challenging’ phase in the austerity programme, CIPFA has warned, while the Local Government Association called it ‘bad news for services’.
Councils in England will have their spending power cut by an average 1.7% next year, in a finance settlement billed a ‘bargain for local authorities’ by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles.
Almost 25,000 extra nursery places will be required in London next year to meet a pledge by the deputy prime minister to provide free part-time early-years education for the poorest 20% of two-year-...
Is it right to spend public money on major sporting events, such as the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup, at a time of financial austerity? Public Finance and Northern Trust recently hosted a debate...
Investing public money in major sports events has many benefits for the wider community, town hall chiefs agreed at a PF/Northern Trust Scottish dinner debate
Audit Commission head Marcine Waterman has said the watchdog’s annual review of all local authority accounts is vital work that must continue after its abolition.
Local authorities have been urged to develop more sophisticated relationships with contractors to ensure that they benefit from any savings and improvements made in outsourced council services.
Councils see mutual organisations as a ‘credible’ way of providing public services, the head of the Cabinet Office’s Mutual Support Programme has told Public Finance.
