MPs suggest Government treats councils’ financial woes as ‘normalised noise’

MPs suggest Government treats councils’ financial woes as ‘normalised noise’

A report by the Public Accounts Committee highlighted perceived flaws or a lack of urgency in the Government’s approach to local government reforms.

Welsh councils 'in crisis of sustainability' after years of under-investment

Martin Shipton Years of under-investment have left councils in Wales struggling to provide the services people expect of them, according to a group of experts. The Independent Working Group on Sustainable Local Government for the Future – led by the Wales Centre for Public Policy in collaboration with the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) – […]

Failure to consider impact of NICs hike on councils ‘major misstep’

Government’s failure to consider the impact that the National Insurance Contributions (NIC) increase would have on councils was a ‘major misstep’, MPs say.

Lack of action to address councils’ financial woes seen as ‘normalised noise’, MPs suggest

A lack of urgent action to prevent councils reaching a financial “cliff edge” suggests the Government accepts the precarious state of local services as “normalised background noise”, MPs have claimed.

Social care and SEND costs pushing Councils to the brink, say Greens  - Green Party

The Green Party has said Labour’s inadequate funding of SEND and dither over tackling a social care crisis is what is leading so many councils to bankruptcy [1].   The Party’s co-leader, Adrian Ramsay MP, said:  “We need the government to act urgently on the social care crisis. Instead, Labour has kicked the problem into the long grass, again. The Royal Commission on social care, ordered by the government some months ago, is not due to report un…

CIPFA warns of deepening local government financial crisis

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has issued a warning in response to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on local government financial sustainability. The report highlights a potential financial crisis facing councils across the UK. Responding to PAC report, CIPFA Public Financial Management director Iain Murray said: “This report comes at a critical moment and reinforces the growing chasm between the dema…