16/08/2011

The Open public services White Paper aims to recognise new delivery models which will have profound implications for local authorities – they will need to improve their skills in commissioning, risk assessment and contract management.

18/05/2011

Colleagues in housing and treasury management are currently immersed in the accounting implications of housing revenue account (HRA) reform, and getting to grips with issues such as the apportionment and splitting of debt and, more trickily, how to a

06/04/2011

Speaking at a conference last week, it struck me what a transformation local government may face over the next few years.

24/11/2010

It remains to be seen whether the Localism Bill will herald a new dawn of local decision-making, powers and self-determination, or merely be an eclectic mix of policies drawn together under a localism banner.

13/10/2010

Among the raft of initiatives coming from the Government are two which promise new sources of funding for local authorities.

23/04/2010

Alison Scott on the role of chief financial officers in local government

16/04/2009

The G20 summit dominated the news last week with stories of global recession, co-ordinated economic response and wide-scale protests.

30/10/2008

We are living through extraordinary times. Economies throughout the world are in, or on the verge of recession, stock markets are crashing, and governments are having to intervene in the banking sector in a way not seen since the Great Depression.

03/09/2008

Recent media coverage over the local government pay dispute has highlighted the level of local authority reserves and the purpose for which they are held.

23/04/2008

06/02/2008

Local government finance is, at times, obscure, even to those within the sector. Yet, it has perhaps the greatest influence on the vibrancy and strength of local government...