10 ways councils are making budgets go further
Discover 10 ways councils are stretching budgets further, from digital transformation and energy efficiency to community partnerships and data-driven decision-making.
Billions wasted on ‘chaotic’ asylum accommodation system
27/10/2025 The Home Affairs Committee has called for a major overhaul of the ‘failed, chaotic and expensive’ asylum accommodation system. |
Audit contracts extended by two years
23/10/2025 Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) has extended its current audit contracts by two years following mutual agreement with the appointed firms. |
Dorset hopes to recover potential contract fraud losses
23/09/2025 A council that sacked 11 interim officers over the potential mismanagement of a multi-million pound repairs contract hopes to recover at least £1m. |
Council to review controversial £500k AI deal with Palantir
04/09/2025 Coventry City Council will review its £500,000-a-year contract with US data firm Palantir, following concerns over the company’s reported links to the IDF. |
Council defends £500k AI deal with Palantir
01/09/2025 Coventry City Council has defended a £500,000-a-year AI contract with US data company Palantir, which supplies technology to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). |
Council cancels IT upgrade after delays
28/08/2025 Norwich City Council has abandoned its planned IT system upgrade following repeated delays. |
Procurement consent required for councils in LGR process
31/07/2025 Councils undergoing local government reorganization (LGR) will require consent from successor councils for decisions relating to ‘significant’ or ‘local assets’, according to new guidance. |
Bradford signs 25-year contract for new venue
11/04/2025 Bradford Council has signed a 25-year contract for the delivery of the city's newest entertainment venue, the 3,800-seat Bradford Live. |
Union criticises council's 'fire and rehire' plan
05/03/2025 The GMB trade union has criticised Tory-led Devon CC for adopting a rare ‘fire and rehire' strategy for more than 800 jobs. |
The cost of local authority trading companies
30/01/2025 Trading companies provide a model to deliver services under tight financial circumstances, says UNISON’s Paul Bell. But at what cost? |
Council apologises after belongings of deceased tenant binned
26/11/2024 Brighton & Hove City Council has apologised after the belongings of a 29-year-old man found dead in temporary accommodation were binned by contractors. |
Hampshire CC approves £35m residential care contract
24/09/2024 Hampshire County Council has given the green light to a £35m contract aimed at securing residential care capacity for children in care with complex needs. |
£27m flood protection scheme gets the go-ahead
06/09/2024 Balfour Beatty has been awarded a £27m contract to deliver a flood protection scheme in Scotland on behalf of Perth and Kinross Council. |
SWARCO UK & Ireland awarded new major service and maintenance agreement with five West Anglian councils
29/07/2024 SWARCO UK & Ireland has been awarded a new long-term service and maintenance contract for traffic signals and signage across five different council areas. |
Council takes legal action over unfulfilled broadband contracts
29/07/2024 Essex County Council is taking legal action against broadband operator Gigaclear after three full fibre broadband contracts were left unfulfilled. |
Council may have broken law over £4m contracts
25/07/2024 Middlesbrough Council may have broken procurement law when it awarded four contracts worth more than £4m, an external audit has found. |
Council to consider paying £47m extra for waste service
08/07/2024 Somerset Council will consider paying an extra £47m over six years for waste services after its contractor disclosed it was making significant losses in the area. |
New road marking contract for Notts highways
28/06/2024 Road marking and maintenance firm WJ Group has won a new contract with Via East Midlands to deliver road marking services across Nottinghamshire. |
