Local government funding and financial management.
In May 2019, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) launched the IFS Deaton Review on Inequality, described as a “five-year study of the inequalities in society”. This latest briefing covers ‘The distribution of public service spending’ report, published in May 2023.
Last week Birmingham City Council issued a section 114 notice, joining a number of other authorities that have failed to balance their books over the past two years. With other authorities expected to follow this year and next, this article examines what it means for local government.
Basic Income — an unconditional financial transfer from states to citizens—is a radical idea with a long history and a lot of currency in a world confronting structural issues in the welfare state and the economy. If implemented, it would be revolutionary. Divorcing income from the requirement to work would have radical impacts on the…
The view from Ireland looks bleak: Dr Seán Ó’Riordáin gives his take on Birmingham City Council’s section 114 notice. He reflects on the perilous state of local government finance in the UK particularly in light of international research from LGIU
Join us for a discussion on local government finances in Scotland including council capacity, spending decisions and pressures faced by staff and elected members.
Sharing the preliminary findings from Finland’s social and healthcare reforms, this briefing highlights opportunities for learning from the current experience, especially with regard to financial impacts.
This article explores how the recent work of LGIU’s Local Democracy Research Centre on the finance system in England and Germany, highlights the clear differences in structure, responsibility and self-financing capacity when compared to the system in Ireland, and points to challenges which will have a resonance with Irish Elected Members and Officials.
This briefing summarises our recent LGIU & VLGA Global Local Executive Panel, interrogates the topic of financial sustainability in local governments, and offers key insights into how council Chief Executives in the UK, Ireland and Australia face the growing challenge of sustainable local government finance.
This report focuses on the local government funding system in Germany. It is part of ongoing research by the LGIU’s Local Democracy Research Centre comparing funding systems in different countries.
This policy round-up for England looks at the most relevant and recent announcements and publications during June and July. Government announcements included the third National (Climate) Adaptation Plan, information on the role of the new Office for Local Government, and plans to simplify the funding landscape for local authorities.
