Elliot Keck: Central Government keeps piling on extra burdens on councils - without extra funding

Elliot Keck: Central Government keeps piling on extra burdens on councils - without extra funding

Elliot Keck is the Head of Campaigns for the Taxpayers’ Alliance. Two stories caught my eye recently, while I was thinking about the topic of my next column. One was the news that Jim McMahon, the minister for local government, is strongly considering sending in commissioners to run Croydon council due to fears that it is heading for effective bankruptcy for the fourth time. The other was a story that council leaders in England are warning that…

$1.7B in untied funding brought forward for councils

Image: FiledIMAGE/stock.adobe.com  The Federal Government has announced that it will bring forward more than $1.7 billion in untied funding for councils nationwide.   This represents 50 per cent of the Financial Assistant Grant allocations for 2025/26, and will be paid before 30 June to flow onto councils as soon as possible – ensuring shovel-ready projects and essential services continue seamlessly.   This early payment of untied funding is wel…