A permanent drop in council income streams mean the government’s pre-Covid-19 strategy for reforming local government funding is a “busted flush”, according to Rob Whiteman, CIPFA chief executive.
Local audit delays exacerbated by Covid-19 have undermined central government departments’ oversight of their sectors, according to the National Audit Office.
Local authorities would be barred from receiving additional funding for bus services if they fail to enter into an ‘enhanced partnership’ or franchise scheme with bus operators, under new proposals.
Nottingham City Council has accepted the terms of a capitalisation direction allowing it use £35m to spread deficits from its now defunct energy company and implement planned transformation projects.
The government’s newly published methodology to allocate money from its Levelling Up Fund favours wealthier rural councils over poorer urban areas, according to critics.
Inner London council tax bills will see the biggest percentage increase of any region in England in 2021-22, due to a 9.5% increase in the precept for the Greater London Authority.
The UK’s GDP shrank by 2.9% in January, as Covid-19 restrictions and European Union import disruptions reduced economic activity, according to the Office for National Statistics.
A capitalisation direction to be considered by Nottingham City Council on Friday will be used to spread losses from its failed energy company which left a £38m hole in council finances.
Insourcing ICT services has saved the Welsh Government two thirds less than expected, and the full benefits are yet to be realised, according to a report from Audit Wales.
Councils’ net spending was 11% higher in the nine months to December than the same period last year, according to data compiled by the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government.
A strategic transport network for the whole UK is likely to garner more support if funding is not taken from existing devolved budgets, according to interim findings by a government-commissioned...
Councils’ ability to handle Covid-19 test and trace responsibilities have been hampered by a lack of clarity on funding levels, according to the Public Accounts Committee.
The UK’s economic recovery from Covid-19 will begin later than previously expected, but will provide accelerated growth in the coming years, according to ratings agency Standard and Poor’s.
Councils still face a funding gap of more than £600m this financial year due to Covid-19, despite huge government support for the sector, the National Audit Office has found.
The government’s 2021 Budget spending plans are at risk because they assume no Covid-19-related support after next year, according to the chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility.
All council staff have an important part to play in tackling governance risks, according to think-tank Localis and the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny as they launched new guidance for officers.
Central government has given London Borough of Croydon permission to use £70m of capital resources on revenue spending in order to balance its budget – with another £50m likely to follow.
Some deprived areas risk missing out on ‘levelling up’ money because of eligibility criteria, raising questions over the methodology, which put ministers’ seats in priority positions for funding.
A new inquiry launched by Parliament's Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee will investigate how Covid-19 has impacted the adult social care sector.
The government has confirmed it will triple the cap for Covid-19 business grants administered by local authorities as it moves away from European Union state aid rules.
Medium-term cuts to public sector spending outlined in the Budget could see a return to austerity for some departments including justice and local government, an economist has warned.
Rishi Sunak has once again announced billions of pounds of spending as the government attempts to tackle the economic crisis caused by Covid-19, but has drawn criticism for failing to adequately...
