News Headlines
Date: 21 Feb 2012
First £100m from Landsbanki Repaid to Councils
More than three years after the collapse of the Icelandic banking system, councils will receive the first installment, estimated to be around £110m, of the £413m in local authority funds held Landsbanki, when it collapsed in 2008. The LGA successfully secured priority creditor status for UK local authorities through legal action and expects 98% of the total to be recovered.
Date: 21 Feb 2012
Scrap Bus Pass for Older People, Thinktank Proposes
Pensioners should be stripped of free bus travel as part of £15bn of immediate extra savings to boost the economy, the Social Market Foundation thinktank has said. The £1bn estimated annual cost of OAP travel passes was one low-priority item of spending that did nothing to improve the economy and should be scrapped, it said in a report.
Date: 20 Feb 2012
DCLG Publish LA Pay Guidance
Following revelations about public sector contractors attempting to reduce their tax liability, DCLG has published guidance under the Localism Act, requiring councils to publish and be accountable for their pay policies. The guidance makes clear that authorities should review senior executives' pay packages, particularly where arrangements could be perceived as being designed to minimise tax payments.
Other Headlines
- Council Tax Freeze Authorities: DCLG Publish Latest List and Map
Date: 14 Feb 2012
DCLG have published a list of over 200 authorities which have signalled their intention to take up the council tax freeze for 2012/13. They have also produced a map showing those authorities accepting the offer. Meanwhile the Local Governmnet Minister, Bob Neill has written to all council leaders urging authorities to sign up to the freeze offer as 'an act of public service' that 'local residents will greatly appreciate'.
- Children Taken into Care Reaches Record High
Date: 10 Feb 2012
Figures from the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) show last month local authorities made 903 applications to protect youngsters from abuse or neglect, the highest figure since cafcass was et up in 2001. Between April 2011 and last month, Cafcass received 8,403 new applications. This figure is 12.4% higher when compared with the same period last financial year. If the figures climb at a similar rate to April, the figure will reach 10,000 for the financial year.
Last month, was set up in 2001 to look after the interests of children involved in court family proceedings.
- More Details on Public Health Funding for Councils Published
Date: 09 Feb 2012
The Department of Health has published details of public health expenditure baselines for the new comissioning arrangements which begin in 2013. Aaround £5.2 billion wil be spent on public health services., of which at least £2.2 billion will go direct to councils to be spent on action to help their local communities stay as healthy as possible and to reduce health inequalities. This funding will, for the first time, be protected by a ringfence.
- Final 2012/13 Settlement Approved Following Debate in House of Commons
Date: 09 Feb 2012
MPs have approved the local governmnet finance settlement for 2012/13 in a vote, following a debate in the House of Commons on 8 February. The report was passed by a majority of 79 votes. Details of the debate and video are available on the Parliament website.
- Ministers Threaten Council Tax Retaliation
Date: 09 Feb 2012
Ministers have given the clearest indication yet that councils planning to put council tax up next year will face political retribution.
In a parliamentary debate on Wednesday, housing minister Grant Shapps said councils that reject the government’s offer of cash to freeze council tax could see their funding base altered next year.
- Health Committee Report Calls for Social Care Integration
Date: 08 Feb 2012
A report from the Commons Health Select Committee, published ahead of the social care White Paper, expected in spring, says councils and local NHS bodies should develop a single commissioning process for health and social care in their communities. The report repeats the Committee's call for better integration between the two care services and notes in most cases previous attempts to pool funding and join up services have been disappointing.
- DCLG Morale Lowest in Whitehall
Date: 03 Feb 2012
Results from the annual Civil Service People survey show morale at DCLG is the lowest of any government department. Overall "employee engagement" fell by eight points last year to 40%; the average across Whitehall was 56%. Hilary Benn, Shadow CLG Secretary blamed the Communities Secretary’s leadership style, saying, “It's no wonder Eric Pickles's staff morale has reached rock bottom when his advisers brief against them”.
- Details of £250m Weekly Bin Collection Fund Announced
Date: 03 Feb 2012
The Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, has announced details of a new Weekly Collection Support Scheme for councils that retain or reinstate weekly residual waste and recycling services. It is understood that about 80 councils have already privately assured the minister that they will join the scheme. A survey of councils before Christmas suggested that only one in five would take part.
- Local Government Finance Bill Passes Commitee Stage
Date: 02 Feb 2012
The House of Commons held the third and final day of the Committee stage of the Local Government Finance Bill on 31 January, following consideration ver two previous days on 18 January and 24 January. The Bill will now await third reading in the Commons. Details of the debate and amendment papers are available on the Parliament website.
- Pickles' Praise for Authorities Freezing Council Tax
Date: 01 Feb 2012
Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has praised councils that have signalled their intention to freeze council tax in 2012/13. Press reports have shown that 152 councils in England are preparing to freeze or reduce council tax next year. He said 'it is very early in the budget setting process, and I would fully expect this number to increase significantly over the next few weeks'.
- MPs Warn over Floods Funding 'Mismatch'
Date: 31 Jan 2012
The Public Accounts Committee MPs has raised concerns about the funding for flood defences. The current bill is at least £1.1bn a year, according to the committee of MPs, and this is set to rise owing to climate change. A recent assessment for the government claimed that this could go up to between £1.5bn and £3.5bn a year by the 2020s. "Flood protection is a national priority. Yet it is unclear where the buck stops and who is ultimately responsible for managing the risk of flooding," said Margaret Hodge, who chairs the PAC.
- Elderly 'Suffer as Social Care Spending Cut'
Date: 30 Jan 2012
Spending on social care for the elderly in England is falling this year - despite the assurances of ministers, an analysis by campaigners suggests. The Age UK report said £7.3bn was being budgeted this year - the same as in 2011 - but it represented a drop of 4.5% once inflation was taken into account.
- Cheap Loans Plan to Help Elderly Keep Independence
Date: 30 Jan 2012
The Department of Health is considering plans for a major drive to reduce the number of people going into care homes and reduce the cost of social care. The centrepiece of the initiative would be Government-subsidised loans to the elderly to fund home improvements including downstairs bathrooms, stairlifts and other “property improvements” that would allow them to stay in their own houses longer.
- Two Counties Confirm Intention to Raise Council Tax
Date: 26 Jan 2012
Both Surrey and Cambridgeshire county councils have confirmed that they plan to raise council tax for 2012/13, rather than accepting the one-off freeze grant. Cambridgeshire is planning a 2.95% increase and Surrey a 2.99% increase. 17 councils have so far announced plans to increase council tax, spanning Labour and Conservative control and rural and urban areas. A full list of councils which have already announced their intention to raise council tax is available on the public-access LGC blog.
- Second Day of Committee Consideration for Local Government Finance Bill
Date: 25 Jan 2012
The second day of the Committee stage of the Local Government Finance Bill took place in the House of Commons on 24 January. Details of the debate and amendment papers are available on the Parliament website. Further amendments to the Bill will to be debated on 31 January, when it is expected to finish committee consideration.
- LGA Criticise Public Health Incentive Payments
Date: 24 Jan 2012
Following yesterday's announcement of the Public Health Outcomes Framework by Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, the LGA has cast doubts on a payment-by-results system. Mr Lansley announced that councils that make measurable improvements to their communities’ public health will be rewarded with a cash premium. However, the LGA said such a system 'could be over-simplistic and fail to recognise the specific needs of local areas, including factors such as poverty, housing, education and transport. The Department of Health said it would publish further details on the premium as part of a finance update shortly.
- Pickles: Councils' 'Moral Duty' to Freeze Council Tax
Date: 23 Jan 2012
Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, has urged councils to freeze Council Tax, saying 'Councillors have a moral duty to sign up to keep down the cost of living. Anything less is a kick in the teeth to hard-working, decent taxpayers’. Fifteen authorities have already indicated that they do not plan to accept the Government's offer. These include Surrey County Council, whose leader said accepting the offer would leave a £14m shortfall 'every year for ever'.
- Healthy Residents Bonus for Town Halls
Date: 23 Jan 2012
Cutting tooth decay in children, bringing down the number of times people fall in their homes and boosting breastfeeding of babies will earn councils extra funding, under plans to be announced. Local authorities will also be judged on how well they improve public health by tackling air pollution, domestic violence and truancy, Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, will say.
- Social Care Leaders Call for Progress on Reform
Date: 20 Jan 2012
Social services portfolio holders representing 41 local authorities have warned that the “dignity” of older people will be put at risk unless the “unfair” regime is changed. They suggest a lifetime cap on individual costs of no more than £50,000 - higher than the original proposal of £35,000 but lower than the £60,000 recently suggested by a Department of Health working group.
Their intervention is the latest in a series to put pressure on ministers ahead of a White Paper on social care and a “progress report” on funding options due to be published in April.
- Local Government Finance Bill Considered in Committee Stage
Date: 19 Jan 2012
The House of Commons held the first day of the Committee stage of the Local Government Finance Bill on Wednesday 18 January 2012. The Committee stage involves MPs proposing amendments to the text, which are considered in sequence by the whole House until each clause in the Bill has been considered. The Bill is next expected to be debated on 24 January and is due to finish committee consideration on 31 January 2012. Details of the debate and amendment papers are available on the Parliament website.
- LA Accounts Too Cluttered, say Audit Commission
Date: 18 Jan 2012
The Audit Commission have published a report 'Let's be clear', calling on councils to reduce 'clutter' in their financial statements. The Commission says some accounts are so complex even professional local government accountants have difficulty understanding them and the average length of local authority statutory accounts is 113 pages.
- Elderly Risk Losing Everything, Warns No 10 Adviser
Date: 17 Jan 2012
The elderly care system is “broken” and needs urgent reform to stop pensioners “losing everything” to pay for help in old age, the Government’s chief advised has warned. Andrew Dilnot, who chaired a government commission on social care, has called on all three political party leaders to ensure that their talks lead to reform.
- State to Help Elderly Downsize
Date: 17 Jan 2012
Elderly home owners will be encouraged to downsize to smaller properties and allow councils to rent their homes to local families under government plans to reduce the housing crisis. The Government has now backed a pilot being run by Redbridge Council, in east London, known as the “FreeSpace” project, which has already proved successful.
- Regional Pay Unworkable, Says Former IMF Advisor
Date: 17 Jan 2012
George Osborne faced fresh criticism of his plans to introduce regional differences in public sector pay after a leading authority on the issue warned that the policy was virtually unworkable in the current political climate. Mr Osborne wants to regionalise pay because he believes that having higher state pay than private sector wages in poorer areas limits the amount of labour available to companies – and thus harms the economy. Officials are still not clear how they will implement the policy without a major political backlash in the regions.
- Gov Response to Welfare Reform Report
Date: 17 Jan 2012
The Government has published their response to the DCLG Select Committee report 'Localsation Issues in Welfare Reform'. Specifcally the Committee considered the localisation of support for Council Tax.
- Cross-Party Talks on Social Care Begin This Week
Date: 16 Jan 2012
Cross-party talks involving Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, the Lib Dem care services minister Paul Burstow and two members of the Labour health team will begin talks on the future of the social care system on Tuesday. Neither side prepared to make any public statements about them, although the government has said it will publish plans in the spring. Similar talks broke down acrimoniously before the 2010 election follwoing disagreements over funding.
- LGF Bill Receives Second Reading in House of Commons
Date: 12 Jan 2012
The Local Government Finance Bill received its Second Reading in the House of Commons on 10 January. The Bill passed with a division vote (Ayes 332; Noes 232) and will now be considered in Committee of the whole House (in the Commons Chamber).
- Biggest Local Government Union Accepts Principles for Pension Deal
Date: 12 Jan 2012
Unison, the largest trade union in local governmnet has agreed to accept the main points of the Governmnet's pension offer, paving the way for negotaitions on the finer points to progress. Discussion on proposals for the LGPS are due to run until April 2012. The Unison endorsement comes after Unite members rejected the government’s local government reform proposals the previous day.
- Council Staff Reject Government's Latest Pension Plan
Date: 09 Jan 2012
Leaders of the Unite trade union have rejected changes to the local government pension scheme. A revised offer was outlined in December by Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury. It means that despite making concessions, the government is still facing significant opposition to its plans to cut its pension costs.
- David Cameron Orders Merging of Health and Social Care
Date: 05 Jan 2012
David Cameron has ordered health and social care services to be brought together in order to benefit patients in a move which government advisers are calling the NHS's most urgent overhaul. At the moment, health and social care – the help given mainly to old or disabled patients to help them continue to live at home rather than in hospital or nursing homes – are different systems in England. NHS medical treatment and domiciliary support, which is provided mainly by local councils, are usually not joined-up.
- Additional £170m Social Care Funding for 2011/12 Announced
Date: 04 Jan 2012
The Department of Health has announced one-off additional funding of £150m for Primary Care Trusts in England, for immediate transfer to local authorities for investment in social care services which also benefit the health system. An additional £20 million will be allocated to the Disabled Facilities Grant for 2011/12, to help more people with a disability to access the aids and adaptations they require to live independently at home. Allocations will be confirmed shortly by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
- Next Phase of Local Public Audit
Date: 04 Jan 2012
The Government is today publishing its proposals for the new arrangements for audit of local public bodies. Following the decision to abolish the Audit Commission, the Government sought views last year on a new, more transparent and accountable local public audit framework that would both reduce the cost of public audit and maintain high standards of scrutiny over public money. The Government will now begin a period of intense discussion with councils and audit firms so they can shape the practical details of the new, localised audit system. A series of workshops with council finance experts will begin this month.
Archived Headlines
- 2011
-
- Council Eyes Loss of Benefit for Work-shy [29 Dec 2011]
- Councils Still Have Healthy Reserves for 2012-13 [29 Dec 2011]
- Government Announces Heads of Agreement on Public Service Pension Reform [20 Dec 2011]
- Public Health Reform Updates Published [20 Dec 2011]
- Pension Deal for Council Workers May be Looming [19 Dec 2011]
- Overhaul of Town Hall Funding Hands Councils the Means to Boost Finances [19 Dec 2011]
- Drivers Hit for £1.3bn in Parking Fees as Councils Rake in Record Takings [17 Dec 2011]
- Help for Families is Coming but Councils will have to Fund it [16 Dec 2011]
- 1,300 Failed Primary Schools Face the Axe [16 Dec 2011]
- More Children to Receive Pupil Premium, Minister Says [12 Dec 2011]
- Council Tax Rises Will be Put to Referendum [09 Dec 2011]
- Boost for Buses across England [08 Dec 2011]
- Pensioners' Benefits Should be Means Tested [05 Dec 2011]
- 72% of Councils Reviewing or Making Cuts to School Transport [02 Dec 2011]
- PFI Reform: Call for Evidence [01 Dec 2011]
- £1m Extra Funding for LAs to Tackle Air Pollution [01 Dec 2011]
- £430m Cash Bonus for Communities Who Have Built Homes [01 Dec 2011]
- Gove Announces Music Funding for Schools [30 Nov 2011]
- Autumn Statement Paves Way for Local Public Sector Pay Deals [30 Nov 2011]
- Public Sector Pay Rises Capped at 1% [29 Nov 2011]
- Chancellor Announces £5bn Capital Spending to Boost Growth [29 Nov 2011]
- Rise in 'Paupers' Funerals' Among Elderly People [28 Nov 2011]
- George Osborne's £5bn Cuts to Pay for Growth Projects [28 Nov 2011]
- A Fifth of Councils May Not Freeze Council Tax in 2012/13 [24 Nov 2011]
- Elderly Should be Treated at Home Instead of Hospital [24 Nov 2011]
- Local Governmnet Finance Bill Could be in Parliament Before Christmas [24 Nov 2011]
- PM Proposes to Build 450,000 New Homes by 2015 [21 Nov 2011]
- Minister Funnels Cash to Tory Areas [21 Nov 2011]
- Elderly Care Cut as Councils Divert £2bn Cash to Plug Gaps [21 Nov 2011]
- School Funding Rethink [18 Nov 2011]
- Academies Paying Staff £200,000-Plus [15 Nov 2011]
- The Tide Turns Against Library Cuts in Blackpool [15 Nov 2011]
- Plans for a Second Year's Council Tax Freeze Set Out [15 Nov 2011]
- Elderly Face 'Tragedy' as Care Homes Go Under [14 Nov 2011]
- Child Poverty Warning as Cuts Threaten to Close 3,500 Sure Start Centres [13 Nov 2011]
- Courts Step in to Save Vulnerable from Cuts [12 Nov 2011]
- Council Cuts to Elderly Care Fees Ruled Illegal [11 Nov 2011]
- Reports Identifies 37% Increase in Detection of Fraud by Councils [10 Nov 2011]
- Betting Shops Boom Worries Councils [08 Nov 2011]
- Councils Share Fund to Kick-Start Housebuilding [07 Nov 2011]
- Unison Ballots Approves Strike Action [04 Nov 2011]
- £500m Extra for School Places [04 Nov 2011]
- Health Committee Warns of Public Health Funding Risks [03 Nov 2011]
- Will Academies Cost Pupils Too Much? [01 Nov 2011]
- Education Secretary Michael Gove Tells Headteachers to 'Stop Moaning' [01 Nov 2011]
- Icelandic Court Rules to Repay Councils [31 Oct 2011]
- Council Tax Rebate for Second Homes to be Scrapped [30 Oct 2011]
- Councils Free to Cut Bus Services [25 Oct 2011]
- Education Funding Cuts are 'Biggest for 50 Years' [25 Oct 2011]
- Council Job Losses Far Outstrip Rest of Public Sector [21 Oct 2011]
- LGA Calls for Academy Funding Role for Councils [19 Oct 2011]
- Schools Funding Settlement 2011/12 and Pupil Premium [17 Oct 2011]
- Council Tax Benefit Proposals Provide ‘Only the Illusion of Local Discretion’ [14 Oct 2011]
- Flood Defence Funding Gap Huge, Warns Labour MP [11 Oct 2011]
- DCLG Proposes LGPS Contribution Increases [10 Oct 2011]
- Health Bill Could be Diluted Further to Win Lords' Vote [10 Oct 2011]
- LGA Business Rates Retention Conference Presentations [07 Oct 2011]
- Hilary Benn Replaces Caroline Flint as Shadow Communities Secretary [07 Oct 2011]
- CLG Council Tax Freeze Grant Q&A [05 Oct 2011]
- New Council Tax Freeze Promise for 2012/13 [03 Oct 2011]
- £250m for Councils to Support Weekly Bin Collections [30 Sep 2011]
- Pickles Hails Next Wave of Council Transparency [29 Sep 2011]
- Business Rates Retention a 'Zero-Sum Game' [26 Sep 2011]
- Pensions: Local Government Group Reveals New Plan [23 Sep 2011]
- New Tax for Empty Homes Considered by Lib Dems [21 Sep 2011]
- £50m to Help Pupils Get Ready for Secondary School [21 Sep 2011]
- Fire Rooms Plan Ends in Chaos [20 Sep 2011]
- Sarah Teather Announces Doubling of Pupil Premium Funding [18 Sep 2011]
- Half of Hospitals and Care Homes Fail to Offer Proper Treatment, says Watchdog [15 Sep 2011]
- MPs say Commission is More Interested in Paperwork than Safety [14 Sep 2011]
- Firefighter Pension Reform Consultation Begins [12 Sep 2011]
- Distribution of Fire Capital Grant [12 Sep 2011]
- Teachers in Fresh Strike Threat Over Pensions and Pay [09 Sep 2011]
- Volunteers Save Bus Services [07 Sep 2011]
- Charities Must Get Notice of Cuts, Pickles Tells Councils [02 Sep 2011]
- Whitehall Emails Reveal Hidden Costs of Promoting Free Schools [30 Aug 2011]
- Bringing an End to Rush Hour Road Works Disruption [22 Aug 2011]
- Cameron Sets Up Riot Recovery Funds For Councils And Businesses [11 Aug 2011]
- Fears for Northern Councils As 'Rich' Southern Authorities May Reap Dividends of Business Taxes [09 Aug 2011]
- Councils Must Publish Assets, Says Pickles [05 Aug 2011]
- Local Enterprise Partnerships Given Helping Hand to Drive economy and Boost Growth [02 Aug 2011]
- Town Halls to Take Over Council Tax Benefits [02 Aug 2011]
- Second Round of Bids for Regional Growth Fund Being Considered [29 Jul 2011]
- Capitalisation Guidance Published to Help Councils Deliver Equal Pay [25 Jul 2011]
- Local Funding Formulas 'Hinder Transparency', Says NAO [20 Jul 2011]
- PFI Contract Reviews 'To Save £1.5bn' [19 Jul 2011]
- Gove Holds Firm On School Rebuild Plans [19 Jul 2011]
- Eric Pickles: Councils Should Keep Business Rates [18 Jul 2011]
- Ministers Clarify Councils' Public Health Duties [15 Jul 2011]
- Open Public Services White Paper [11 Jul 2011]
- Government Guarantees Local Influence In Future Development Of RDA Assets [06 Jul 2011]
- Transport Boost of Over £150m to Create Growth and Cut Carbon [05 Jul 2011]
- English Council Spending Falls [05 Jul 2011]
- Councils Could Offer Loans To Homeowners In Dilnot Report Proposal [04 Jul 2011]
- Clegg Confirms Localisation of Business Rates [30 Jun 2011]
- Latest Councils at Forefront of Bringing Growth-Led Benefits Named [30 Jun 2011]
- £1 Million Boost For Health And Wellbeing Boards [30 Jun 2011]
- Energy Efficiency Scheme Is Streamlined [30 Jun 2011]
- Nick Clegg Says Business Rates Will Be Localised [29 Jun 2011]
- Community Budgets To Be Rolled Out Countrywide [29 Jun 2011]
- Local Government Gets Pension Reform Concession [28 Jun 2011]
- Whitehall 'Should Follow Councils’ Lead On Spending Transparency' [28 Jun 2011]
- Whitehall Must Pay For New Burdens On Councils, Says DCLG [21 Jun 2011]
- Local Government Pension Gap Balloons To £71.5bn [20 Jun 2011]
- Public Sector Pensions: Changes Are Fair, Say Ministers [17 Jun 2011]
- HRA Reform Could Release £50bn Extra Cash For Housing [17 Jun 2011]
- Better Buying 'Could Save Councils £10bn' [17 Jun 2011]
- Worst-Performing Primaries in England Become Academies [16 Jun 2011]
- Mistakes 'Mean Some Academies Overpaid or Underpaid' [16 Jun 2011]
- Huhne Triggers Council Tax Row [16 Jun 2011]
- A Plain English Guide To The Localism Bill - Update [15 Jun 2011]
- Government’s Waste Review Stops Short Of Ordering Weekly Bin Collections [14 Jun 2011]
- Free Schools Update [13 Jun 2011]
- Councils Still Unprepared For Cuts [06 Jun 2011]
- Audit Commission Ready To Set Up Audit Firm [03 Jun 2011]
- More Than 1200 Schools Apply To Become Academies [03 Jun 2011]
- Ministers Reveal Audit Commission Outsourcing Plans [02 Jun 2011]
- £50m Funding Package For Next Wave Of Rural Broadband [27 May 2011]
- Driven to Disrepair? [26 May 2011]
- Workers to be Asked to Save for Cost of Care in Old Age [19 May 2011]
- Average Council Spending £1,017 A Head [17 May 2011]
- England's North-South Adult Social Care Divide [12 May 2011]
- Fraud Costs Councils Billions Every Year [11 May 2011]
- Newly Elected Councils 'Might Rethink Their Budgets' [06 May 2011]
- ‘Bossy Guidance To Councils Is Costing Government £1.5bn’ [06 May 2011]
- Councils Go To Court Over Grant Cuts For Academy Services [05 May 2011]
- LGA Consultations on LGRR [04 May 2011]
- Formula Grant Must Be Reformed Alongside Business Rates, Says LGA [04 May 2011]
- Plans To Outsource Public Services 'Scaled Back' [03 May 2011]
- Small Cheer As UK Economy Returns To Growth [27 Apr 2011]
- LGA Budget Survey 2011 [26 Apr 2011]
- Pickles Publishes List Of Data Demands For Councils [13 Apr 2011]
- Average Council Reports 43,000 Facts A Year To Whitehall At A Cost Of £1.8m [12 Apr 2011]
- Council Rubbish Bin Collection Fines To Be Scrapped [10 Apr 2011]
- UK 'Disappointment' As Iceland Rejects Repayment Deal [10 Apr 2011]
- James Review Slams Capital Spending System For Schools [08 Apr 2011]
- Most Councils to Cut Sure Start and Libraries Spending [01 Apr 2011]
- Ministers Publish Plans For Future Of Local Audit [30 Mar 2011]
- Abolition of Audit Commission Could Increase Audit Fees, Says CIPFA [29 Mar 2011]
- Eric Pickles Predicts Public Service Shake Up As Community Budgets Begin [29 Mar 2011]
- Councils To Be Able To Recover Full Licensing Costs [28 Mar 2011]
- Census Day 2011 Takes Snapshot Of Life In UK [27 Mar 2011]
- 100% Council Tax Freeze Protection Delivered Across The Country [23 Mar 2011]
- 'Growth Budget' Includes 21 Enterprise Zones [23 Mar 2011]
- Radical Changes In Housing And Planning Will Drive Local Growth [23 Mar 2011]
- Charities Ask Osborne To Protect Them From Crude Council Cuts [22 Mar 2011]
- Review Could End Council Dependence On Whitehall Grant [17 Mar 2011]
- Councils To Get Final Performance Reward Grant [17 Mar 2011]
- English Local Authorities To Freeze Council Tax [09 Mar 2011]
- Capitalisation Cap Increased for 2011/12 [03 Mar 2011]
- Government Launches Consultation on Fair Deal Policy [03 Mar 2011]
- 2011/12 Music Grant Allocations [01 Mar 2011]
- Audit Commission Confirms Cuts In Audit Fees [28 Feb 2011]
- Free Councils To Keep Bulk Of Cash Raised Through Business Rates [23 Feb 2011]
- Potholes: Councils Get Extra £100m To Fix Winter Damage [23 Feb 2011]
- LGA Warns Chancellor Over LGPS Increase [21 Feb 2011]
- Local Government Employers Confirm No Pay Rise [18 Feb 2011]
- New Homes Bonus and Provisional Allocations [18 Feb 2011]
- Revised LA Revenue Expenditure and Financing 2010/11 Data [17 Feb 2011]
- Social Care Funding Commission Hints at Proposals [16 Feb 2011]
- Judge Rules BSF Cancellation Unlawful [14 Feb 2011]
- Big Society 'Could Widen Volunteer Gap Between Town and Country' [14 Feb 2011]
- Lib Dems Leaders Attack DCLG Spending Cuts [10 Feb 2011]
- Financing Early Intervention: Interim Paper [10 Feb 2011]
- Councils Fear They Can’t Make Savings In Time [09 Feb 2011]
- More Than 130 Councils Take Up Pickles’ Tax Freeze Offer [09 Feb 2011]
- Experts Criticise Audit Commission Abolition [08 Feb 2011]
- Education Secretary Pledges £82.5m For Music Education [07 Feb 2011]
- 2012/13 Formula Grant Allocations Revised [07 Feb 2011]
- Hutton Warns on Public Sector Pensions [07 Feb 2011]
- Councils Should Reveal Voluntary Sector Funding [04 Feb 2011]
- Local Government ‘Could Save Billions By Selling Its Property’ [02 Feb 2011]
- New Financial Deal For Council Housing [01 Feb 2011]
- Government Confirms Progressive Settlement And Fair Deal For Communities [31 Jan 2011]
- All Councils Should Be Transparent From Today [31 Jan 2011]
- Minister Steps Up Pressure On Councils To Spend Reserves [28 Jan 2011]
- Scrap Capitalisation Cap, Councils Urge [28 Jan 2011]
- CLG 09/10 Final Outturn Statistical Release [27 Jan 2011]
- UK Economy Suffers 0.5% Contraction [25 Jan 2011]
- Councils 'Face Huge Cuts to Fund Academies Expansion' [24 Jan 2011]
- Schools' Cancelled BSF Rebuilds to be Contested at Court by Six Councils [24 Jan 2011]
- Councils Warn Of Pothole Cash Crisis [22 Jan 2011]
- Councils To Pay Bill For £1bn in EU Fines [20 Jan 2011]
- Councils In England Announce Thousands More Job Cuts [19 Jan 2011]
- Give Councils New Tax-Raising Power [19 Jan 2011]
- Green Fund For Councils In Local Transport White Paper [19 Jan 2011]
- Hundreds of Bus Services to be Axed [19 Jan 2011]
- Audit Commission Should Give Its Surplus To Councils, Says LGA [18 Jan 2011]
- A Plain English Guide To The Localism Bill [17 Jan 2011]
- DfE Publishes School Spending Data [13 Jan 2011]
- LEPs Given £4m For Research [07 Jan 2011]
- Academy Status for 1-in-10 Secondary Schools [06 Jan 2011]
- 2010
-
- Audit Commssion Reduces Fees for 2010/11 and 2011/12 [22 Dec 2010]
- Pickles Tells Committee: 'Frontloading is very Important' [22 Dec 2010]
- Localism Bill Starts a New Era of People Power [13 Dec 2010]
- Pickles Names the Day for Localism Bill [10 Dec 2010]
- 2-Yr Local Government Finance Settlement on Monday [10 Dec 2010]
- Let Us Charge More, Councils Tell Ministers [03 Dec 2010]
- Councils Attack Pickles' Reserves Claims [02 Dec 2010]
- Pickles Urges Councils To Draw On £10bn Reserve Funds [01 Dec 2010]
- Councils In Charge Of Healthy Lifestyle Drive [30 Nov 2010]
- UK Will Lose Fewer Public Sector Jobs, Says OBR [29 Nov 2010]
- Treasury Committee Publishes its Report on the Spending Review [26 Nov 2010]
- Boundary Commission Launches Major Consultation [18 Nov 2010]
- Osborne To Give Economic Update On 29 November [18 Nov 2010]
- National Formula 'To Fund England's State Schools' [13 Nov 2010]
- MPs to Investigate Government Decision to Abolish the Audit Commission [10 Nov 2010]
- 2011 Budget On 23 March, George Osborne Says [04 Nov 2010]
- New Endowment Fund To Turn Around Weakest Schools [03 Nov 2010]
- Spending Cuts And VAT Rise To Cost 1.6m Jobs, Says CIPD [02 Nov 2010]
- Call for Clarity on Business Rates Reform [31 Oct 2010]
- Cash Incentives For Councils That Sign Up For New Wind Farms [29 Oct 2010]
- Councils Slow On Care Budgets Says Audit Commission [28 Oct 2010]
- Fraudulent Claims Worth £135m Uncovered By Councils [27 Oct 2010]
- George Osborne: GDP Figures Show Recovery Is Steady [26 Oct 2010]
- LGA Slams Carbon Tax Plan [25 Oct 2010]
- Pickles Pledges Community Budgets Throughout England [22 Oct 2010]
- Councils 'To Lose 100,000 Jobs' [21 Oct 2010]
- Local Taxpayers To Benefit From Council Tax Freeze [21 Oct 2010]
- LGA Dubs Grant System Consultation 'Ineffective' [21 Oct 2010]
- Seven Waste Projects Lose PFI credits [21 Oct 2010]
- Spending Review: Osborne Prepares To Unveil Cuts [20 Oct 2010]
- Spending Review: Osborne Wields Axe [20 Oct 2010]
- Spending Review 2010: CLG [20 Oct 2010]
- Spending Review: Key Points [20 Oct 2010]
- Department for Transport Spending Review Headlines [20 Oct 2010]
- ‘£7bn Of Grants To Be Unringfenced’, Reports [18 Oct 2010]
- Clegg’s £7bn Boost For Children Will Not Come Out Of Schools Budget [15 Oct 2010]
- Do Not Ringfence Funds, Urges LGA [14 Oct 2010]
- Funding 'Should Take Account Of Reserves' [14 Oct 2010]
- Pickles Announces Abolition Of Local Area Agreements [13 Oct 2010]
- TPA Slams Council 'Non Jobs' [12 Oct 2010]
- Spending Cuts Will Not Be Scaled Back [11 Oct 2010]
- Community Budgets In Localism Bill – Wei [10 Oct 2010]
- Chris Huhne Hints At Shift In Public Sector Cuts [10 Sep 2010]
- New Shadow CLG Secretary [10 Aug 2010]
- Higher Contributions Recommended For Public Pensions [10 Jul 2010]
- Chiefs Criticise Fares Funding Move [10 Jul 2010]
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