Councils call for Brexit role
Local government must play a central role in deciding which EU legislation to retain once the UK leaves, according to Lord Porter, chairman of the Local Government Association. Porter said: “Brexit should not simply mean a transfer of powers from Brussels to Westminster, Holyrood, Stormont and Cardiff Bay. It must lead to new legislative freedoms and flexibilities for councils so that residents and businesses benefit. Taking decisions over how to run local services closer to where people live is key to improving them and saving money.” He also called for a fully-funded successor scheme to replace EU regeneration funding, and for access to European Investment Bank loans to continue.
CIPFA launches Brexit watchdog
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy has also launched a Brexit project creating an advisory committee to help safeguard public services during the process of exiting from the EU. As the government triggered the Article 50 process, the institute said that the committee “will seek to highlight the opportunities and risks to public services during the Brexit renegotiation process”.
LGPS monitoring contract goes to Kas Bank
Work to furnish the Local Government Pension Scheme with investment performance reporting and monitoring services has been won by Kas Bank. The fund administrator was appointed as preferred provider after a tender process run by Norfolk County Council and covering all 89 LGPS funds.
LGA calls for better road repair funding
Resolving the nation’s roads repair backlog would take until 2030, even if adequate funding was available, according to the Local
Government Association. Judith Blake, transport spokesperson at the LGA, said: “Councils are proving remarkably efficient in how they use this diminishing funding pot but they remain trapped in a frustrating cycle that will only ever leave them able to patch up our deteriorating roads.”
Council tax rises average 4%
Council tax in England for the average band D property is set to rise by an average of 4% in 2017/18, according to figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government. The department said that 147 out of 152 adult social care authorities will use some, or all, of the 3% social care precept.
