Budgets and efficiency

• Council hits back at 'illegitimate' loan claim

  Newham LBC has denied claims that decisions to enter into controversial high-interest loans were illegitimate.

  

• Finance settlement has 'gravest implications'

  Councils have dismissed today’s Welsh Government’s finance settlement as a ‘bread and butter budget’ in which town halls ‘get the crumbs again’.

  

• Welfare support has 'collapsed' for many in England

  One in six top-tier councils are not providing vital welfare services devolved to them just as the sector’s budget cuts hit hard.

  

• Cash-strapped county faces £94m funding gap

  Surrey CC faces a funding gap of £94m by March 2021 unless it takes drastic action to change its finances, a report by accountancy experts has warned.

  

• LEPs told to improve ahead of EU funding changes

  Fresh concerns have emerged about local enterprise partnerships (LEP) as the Government considers whether to use them to funnel UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) cash.

  

• Budget gap doubles at Lewisham

  Lewisham LBC’s budget gap has more than doubled following an ‘unprecedented’ overspend.

  

• Somerset warns of possible Section 114

  Somerset CC has admitted it may have to impose ‘severe spending restrictions’ and an ‘emergency budget’ by issuing a Section 114 notice.

  

• Funding call to end 'postcode lottery' for children's services

  MPs today called for more funds to help end a so-called postcode lottery for children’s services.

  

• Rise in children's services spending

  The amount expected to be spent on children’s social care in 2018/19 is up 6.8% or £542m compared to the figure in 2017/18 budgets, latest figures have shown.

  

• Councils plan largest council tax rise in 13 years

  Council Tax levels will increase by an average of 5.1% across England in 2018/19, the largest rise for 13 years, ministers have confirmed.