Police funding issues cannot be solved by relying on police and crime commissioners raising council tax, and experts have warned that the system creates a postcode lottery of services that threatens...
Profound divisions between officers, the lack of investment prioritisation and dated digital infrastructure are hampering Invest Northern Ireland’s ability to fully utilise government funding, an...
Concerns over additional borrowing have prompted Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council to reduce the number of new homes it plans to build in a regeneration scheme.
Two struggling local authorities are set to request the government’s permission to raise council tax rate by more than the normal limit without triggering a local referendum.
Local authority reserves collectively rose again last year, as many councils diverted funding to build up their buffers in the absence of a long-term funding settlement, CIPFA has said.
Thurrock Council’s decision to issue a section 114 notice is a necessary step to ensuring exceptional government support, commissioners appointed to turn around the authority have said.
The successful delivery of savings and tight spending controls have helped Peterborough City Council make significant progress towards long term financial stability, an independent panel has said.
The failure of energy watchdog Ofgem to effectively regulate suppliers has saddled households with higher costs and the government with the bill for bailouts, the Public Accounts Committee has said.
Children’s care leaders are concerned next week’s Autumn Statement could bring further austerity, forcing them to cut preventative services in a “false economy” leading to higher costs and worse...
The government fears Liverpool City Council faces “substantial” challenges to its finances, and has appointed a finance commissioner to help get the authority back on track.
Councils in the UK entered the cost-of-living crisis in a “solid” financial position due to central government funding, and this position will help the sector in the difficult times to come, a...
Financial market instability caused by the government’s mini-budget has created an opportunity for the Local Government Pension Scheme to boost investment, with funds generally weathering the storm.
Financial market instability caused by the government’s mini-budget has pushed Public Works Loan Board borrowing rates up to their highest point in a decade, piling more pressure on council finances.
Staff at Liverpool City Council will target improvements to contract management and governance, after an independent report criticised a “fragmented, overly complex and poorly understood”...
Shropshire Council must “radically change” its passive approach to ensure it can meet the financial challenges it faces, a peer review from the Local Government Association has found.
Levelling up secretary Simon Clarke has fired a warning signal to councils that there will be “consequences” for perceived mismanagement following a series of high-profile government interventions.
Local authorities have been urged by an external auditor to apply effective risk management to their subsidiary companies and other commercial activities to safeguard against financial risks.
Low investment and a reliance on interim staff in council finance teams will make it difficult to find “the next generation of section 151 officers”, experts at Grant Thornton have said.
