News-in-Brief

Elmbridge Borough Council may have to restart the process of building 8,000 new homes, at a potential cost of £1m, after its request for

Brighton & Hove City Council is facing a significant loss affecting its overall budget after the company managing the Brighton i360 observation tower said

Two thirds of councils have not increased spending on youth services in the past five years, according to a new survey by the Local

The number of households living in temporary accommodation in England rose 16.3% between April and June 2024 compared to the year-before period, according to

Lancashire County Council has increased its holdings in Money Market Funds (MMFs), raising balances by nearly £10m over six months. According to the council’s mid-year

Vale of Glamorgan Council repaid a LOBO (Lender option, borrower option) loan of £4m held with an external bank in August 2024 “as the

The time period for Best Value Inspection reports at Warrington and Spelthorne councils has been extended again by the Ministry of Housing, Communities &

Hackney Council is facing a “major challenge” to its financial sustainability after its forecasted overspend for 2024/25 grew by £1.250m in one month, to

Lincolnshire County Council is considering establishing a £20m economic investment fund through its capital programme for 2025-2030 as part of a programme to build,

Seven in ten councils in Scotland fear they will be unable to pass a balanced budget within the next five years, according to research

Exeter City Council has withdrawn £3m from its green and sustainable investments due to cashflow pressures, according to its half-year treasury management strategy for 2024/25. The

West Sussex County Council’s Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit is forecast to rise to £130.8m by the end of the financial year. A report due to

Avon Pension Fund plans to further allocate between £100m and £150m to natural capital investments in 2024/25, according to its latest Responsible Investment report. The

LGPS Central has launched a new sterling investment grade credit fund, seeded with £650m from the West Midlands Pension Fund (WMPF). The new fund,

Changes to Employer National Insurance Contributions announced in the Budget could cost the adult social care sector over £900m next year, according to a

The Welsh government has introduced legislation that would give councils the power to apply a visitor levy on overnight stays in visitor accommodation. The

Islington Council has reported a £3.96m increase in temporary accommodation overspend between Q1 and Q2, to a total of £5.36m. The “adverse movement” from

Guildford Borough Council has published the first of six-monthly updates on its Improvement Plan, which was created following a report from the Society of Local

Cheltenham Borough Council has replaced £5m of its general fund temporary debt with a 10-year PWLB annuity loan at the rate of 4.30% to

Kent County Council’s forecasted budget overspend for 2024/25 has increased by £10.5m between Q1 and Q2, and now stands at £26.8m excluding schools. A

Think tank Localis has outlined financial reforms which it says could help to restore sustainability to local government as part of wider, systemic reforms.

Havering Council has received £23.985m in funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA) aimed at increasing affordable housing. The Council Homes Acquisition Programme funding is part

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has approved the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Diploma in Local Audit as local audit specialist

The government intervention at Slough Borough Council will be extended by two years, until 30 November 2026. Local government minister Jim McMahon confirmed the

City of York Council has maintained an under-borrowed position during the first half of 2024/25, according to a treasury management mid-year review. The authority