Breaking down England's fiscal devolution plans
David Phillips of the IFS tells LocalGov why England's regional finance reforms are modest by global comparison and what ministers still need to get right.
EXCLUSIVE: MHCLG working to overhaul Best Value
14/05/2026 The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is working on a review and update of Best Value guidance, The MJ can reveal. |
Ministers still unconvinced by Tees Valley's Best Value
28/04/2026 The Government has said it continues to require assurances that Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) is fulfilling its Best Value duty. |
Government tightens intervention in Tower Hamlets
20/03/2026 The Government has strengthened its Tower Hamlets intervention after accusations the council is more interested in protecting its image than reforming. |
Ministerial envoys sent in to support indebted council
10/07/2025 Concerns about the levels of debt at Warrington Council have prompted the Government to send in four ministerial envoys. |
Call for Warrington officers' resignations
25/05/2025 Conservatives in Warrington have called for senior officers to resign following the announcement of Government intervention at the council. |
Ministerial envoys to be sent to Warrington
09/05/2025 A team of ministerial envoys are to be sent to Warrington BC amid doubts over the council's ‘willingness and capacity' to tackle financial challenges. |
Governance concerns prompt best value notice for Tees Valley
04/04/2025 The Government has issued Tees Valley Combined Authority with a best value notice due to concerns over governance and culture. |
Spelthorne faces Government intervention
17/03/2025 Ministers are minded to appoint commissioners to oversee the running of Spelthorne BC. |
Council’s senior management ‘unaware’ of £13.5m overspend
23/01/2025 Guildford BC's senior management were ‘unaware’ of a multi-million-pound overspend but should have noticed a series of ‘red flags’, investigation concludes. |
Envoys sent in to Tower Hamlets
23/01/2025 Local government minister Jim McMahon has sent three envoys in to improve Tower Hamlets LBC following last year's Best Value inspection. |
Councils’ Best Value notices lifted
20/12/2024 Best Value notices issued to Runnymede and Eastleigh borough councils will not be renewed despite ongoing concern about their ‘significant’ debts. |
Government parachutes in envoys to oversee Tower Hamlets LBC
12/11/2024 Government envoys will oversee the management of Tower Hamlets LBC after inspectors found a ‘toxic' environment was stopping the council ‘moving forward'. |
Woking's historic governance arrangements 'wholly inadequate'
05/11/2024 A report into debt-stricken Woking BC has concluded the borough's governance arrangements and decision-making processes were ‘wholly inadequate'. |
Intervention at Slough set to be extended
23/10/2024 Slough Council is facing an extension to Government intervention due to ‘volatility' in its finances. |
Tower Hamlets begins inspection fightback
26/09/2024 Best Value inspectors sent into Tower Hamlets LBC have been personally threatened with legal action by the council, The MJ understands. |
Best Value Notices lifted for three authorities
10/09/2024 Three authorities are no longer operating under Best Value Notices, the Government has confirmed. |
