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 volume and complexity of need among children under five is increasing across the UK, according to a new report commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA).
The government has promised to end the “outdated” council funding system, but the rejig will create winners and losers in the sector, and so has won a mixed reaction.
Criminals are increasingly turning to AI and deepfake-driven social engineering to commit fraud, according to a report published to coincide with International Fraud Awareness Week 2025.
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...
A lack of consistent data over departmental spend on external consultants is hampering efforts to slash unnecessary spend, a National Audit Office report has warned.
The Office for Students has warned of a worsening prognosis for university finances, after new analysis warned that close to half of universities will face deficits over the coming year.
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...
An “arbitrary” decision to shortcut the process used by HMRC to crackdown on child benefit fraud and error has been criticised by the chair of the influential Treasury Select Committee.
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...
More powers for councils, mayors and others in the system could help reduce the “shocking” number of young people not in education, employment or training and help remove barriers to social mobility...
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...
Private companies operating care services in just three English regions have made more than £250m in profits in three years, according to the latest analysis.
Thousands of NHS England and integrated care board redundancies will go ahead after the Treasury agreed to allow the health service to overspend this year to cover the cost of the payments.
An Australian-style “war on bills” in the coming Budget would address the cost of living and signal the government’s commitment to improving the lot of ordinary people, according to a think-tank...
Renewed investment in the North at this month’s Budget would “unlock investment and opportunity” and contribute to the government’s economic growth ambitions, a group of the region’s political...
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.
Employers must step up their efforts to keep people in jobs to counter the surge in economic inactivity since the Covid-19 pandemic, a government-commissioned review has warned.
