Sam Clayden 27 July 2017

Sector chiefs’ warning of hollowed out Whitehall

Senior sector figures this week called for clarity amid escalating concerns Whitehall is too stretched to tackle critical financial sustainability issues.

With ministers’ and civil servants’ hands tied by Brexit and the response to the Grenfell tragedy, fears are mounting that local government finance has plummeted down the agenda, spelling uncertainty for councils scrambling to plan for the future.

In a letter to government departments, seen by The MJ, Number 10 highlighted Brexit, Grenfell, the Midlands Engine and its industrial strategy as key priorities, but did not mention local government finance reform.

Director of local government at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, Sean Nolan, said it was inevitable that Brexit would ‘suck all kinds of capacity and intellectual brainpower from across government,’ including the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

The National Audit Office’s (NAO) executive leader for local services, Abdool Kara, warned councils were struggling to plan beyond the short-term as they grappled with ‘one of most uncertain periods in their history’.

To continue reading visit The MJ (£).

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Assistant Service Manager

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
£37,938 - £40,476
At Barnsley Council you can start a career that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

People Support (HR) Advisor

Essex County Council
£26090.00 - £30693.00 per annum
People Support (HR) AdvisorSecondment, Full Time£26,090 to £30,693 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Adults Social Worker - Older Adult Mental Health

Essex County Council
£37185 - £50081 per annum + Flexible Working, Hybrid Working
Interview date
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Mobile Library Supervisor

Essex County Council
£23344.00 - £26011.00 per annum + full time equivalent
Mobile Library SupervisorPermanent, Part Time£23,344 up to £26,011 per annum (full time equivalent)Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Residential Assistant

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £25395.00 per annum
Residential AssistantPermanent, Full Time£25,081 up to £25,395 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner