Plymouth City Council’s interest rate swap deal shows councils’ continued appetite for borrowing. David Moore examines the deal and other options available to authorities.
The Treasury faces difficult trade-offs around time, cost and quality in producing the UK government’s accounts, says Helen Jackson, audit manager at the National Audit Office.
Two experts face off over proposed changes to transitional arrangements relating to the 2015 NHS, Teachers, Fire Service, Police, Civil Service and Armed Forces pension schemes.
Sarah Lamont, partner and specialist employment lawyer at law firm Bevan Brittan, looks at how LGPS will be affected by the upcoming local government exit payment caps.
Public sector organisations should look into how they plan to exit private finance initiatives or they could face disruption to services, says Ian Tasker.
Joint ventures can allow an authority to share in some of the return from the development of their assets. But they need a solid strategic base to succeed
Pre-pandemic, rail in Britain was forecast to grow by more than a third over the next two decades, but it will take extraordinary measures and levels of public money to get us back on track
The work of the National Anti-Fraud Network has helped local authorities prevent millions of pounds of fraud throughout the pandemic, says Mark Astley.
Sir Tony Redmond’s recently published review ticks most – if not all - the boxes needed to improve local authority audit, says Diana Melville, CIPFA’s governance adviser.
Democratic commitment to transparency and accountability is more important than ever in the face of extreme economic shocks, writes CIPFA’s Mohamed Hans.
During the pandemic, increased innovation and accelerated digital service provision has been unevenly spread across public services, highlighting a new urgency to invest, writes Aidan Shilson-Thomas...
The coronavirus pandemic has led to local authorities exploring different paths for borrowing, says Merrick Cockell, chair of the UK Municipal Bonds Agency.
We need resolute, ambitious action and the necessary financial, legislative and political support for local and combined authorities to deliver the right transport priorities for each region, says...
CIPFA’s police adviser Alison Dewhirst outlines the effect the pandemic has had on policing, and argues that forces need proper funding following the upcoming Spending Review.
The government has an opportunity to use its proposed shake-up of business rates to incentivise energy efficiency measures in commercial property, says Kevin Muldoon-Smith.
Fraudsters have looked to exploit the current pandemic. Public sector bodies need to raise their game and learn from others, says Welsh auditor general Adrian Crompton.
Now is the time to reset current economic frameworks and consider what fiscal rules will guide government decision-making during the Covid-19 recovery phase, says Alex Metcalfe.
The financial system that emerged from separation of debit and credit in the 14th century seems to be nearing the end of its useful life, says David Kauders.
In times of rapid global change, the most successful teams will be those that experiment and take risks, but to do so they need to feel at ease and supported
