Budgets

• Holyrood passes £42.5bn budget but warns of Brexit recession

  Holyrood has approved the 2019-20 budget which will see billions invested into public services — but warned Brexit could push Scotland into recession.

  

• Tax reforms and £90m secured in Scottish budget deal

  A £90m windfall for local authorities and moves to reform council tax have been pledged by the Scottish Government.

  

• Crime prevention budgets ‘slashed’ under Tories

  Crime prevention budgets have been cut by more than a half since 2010, an analysis from Labour has revealed.

  

• Councils warn of impact of public health funding cuts

  Councils have reacted angrily to ‘short-sighted’ cuts to public health funding next year by the Government.

  

• Pressure on Scottish councils ‘shows no signs of easing’

  Scottish councils are managing in the face of cuts and rising demands on services but they ‘face a difficult time ahead’, a financial watchdog has warned.

  

• MHCLG ‘not expecting another Northamptonshire situation’

  Local government finances are sustainable and the collapse of another authority is not expected, the ministry’s top civil servant has insisted.

  

• Shropshire Council staff told to work from home ‘one day a month’

  Staff at Shropshire Council have been told they must work from home one day a month as the authority struggles to get a grip on its finances.

  

• Calls to increase council funding in Scotland by 2.5%

  Councils in Scotland are pressing for a 2.5% increase in local government funding, saying they have no options left to save money.

  

• Former Northants leader admits ‘mistakes’ over PFI deal

  Former leader of Northamptonshire County Council has admitted mistakes were made in a PFI deal which has meant up to £2m a year being paid for empty care beds.

  

• Surrey’s A team starts its plan B

  Counties across the country are grappling with tighter budgets. Heather Jameson talks to Surrey CC's Joanna Killian about the authority's financial woes.