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.
Merger challenge
Merger challenge
Solihull and Dudley MBCs and Birmingham and Coventry City councils have jointly started judicial review proceedings challenging the home secretary’s police merger proposals (The MJ, 1 June 2006). Sandwell and Walsall MBCs and Wolverhampton City Council are expected to sign up to protest against the merger at a later date.
One concern over the amalgamation of the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Mercia Police authority areas is that council tax bills will rise through precept
equalisation.
