Reforms and more funding for audit
The Government will provide funding to councils to cover the costs of additional audit fees, with a first tranche of £49 million for qualifying local authorities in 2025/26.
finance
Local government finances becoming ‘unsustainable’
Council finances in England are becoming unsustainable because of increasing demand on essential frontline services, the impact of delayed finance reform, and the erosion of investment in preventative programmes.
Funding for NICs confirmed
Overall funding for local government in England will increase by 6.8 per cent in cash terms compared with 2024/25, according to the final finance settlement, published in early February.
Call for urgent reform of council funding
An outdated and complex funding model is hindering councils’ ability to plan effectively and meet the growing needs of their communities, according to a new report.
The importance of local government finance
LGA resources can help councillors ensure value for money.
Laying bare the financial challenges
In November, we welcomed the great and the good of the local government world to Buckinghamshire, for the County Councils Network’s (CCN’s) Annual Conference 2024. We met in Marlow under dramatically different political circumstances compared with recent history. But while it is all change in the composition of MPs in the Commons, CCN’s approach to advocacy has not changed.
Rural prosperity requires fair funding
Recent Budget announcements have left many in rural areas feeling overlooked.
Investing in prevention
The Government’s finance policy statement, published in late November, outlined its intentions for the provisional local government finance settlement for 2025/26.
Ministers don’t get it on National Insurance
My preliminary discussions with council leaders over recent weeks, ahead of February budget setting, continually brings to bear the reality of the Labour Government’s seismic increase to employer National Insurance contributions.
