Cllr James Binns: Let’s have local decisions over local spending priorities

EU funding for community projects is often ineffective and inefficient.

Matthew Sephton: Brussels meddles in local government and pushes up council tax

The EU penalises councils that provide a good service in collecting household rubbish.

Cllr Anthony Boutall: How our EU membership means broken pavements in Bedford

More spending for the EU has meant sharper austerity for local government.

Daniel Moylan: How EU procurement rules drive up costs in local government

The bureaucracy squeezes out small firms from bidding and so restricts competition.

Neil Clarke: District councils working together as clusters can provide a better way than more unitaries

Innovation shows we can operate efficiently and remain close to the community.

Judy Terry: Councils should be transparent about the costs of asylum seekers

Housing is under great strain while the prohibition on asylum seekers working in the UK makes integration harder.

Sally-Ann Hart: Cutting voluntary sector grants can prove a false economy for councils

Early intervention with failed parenting saves money in the long run.

Malcolm Pate: Shropshire Council is a success story

This site’s criticism of the council’s finances is unfair.

Jonathan Carr-West: It’s time for the Chancellor to be bold and go all in on fiscal devolution

Either we trust local government to manage its own finances, or we don’t.

Owen Meredith: Lambeth Council should axe their propaganda

While complaining of cuts, it spends £250,000 a year on Lambeth Talk.

David Hodge: Conservative councillors are working for a fair funding deal from central Government

We have lobbied the Chancellor hard and it’s achieved results.

Tory rebels are bought off – as Clark announces more money for local councils

Osborne finds £416 million to ease the pain. ConHome coverage quoted in the Commons.

Tory MPs threaten to rebel over local government funding settlement for rural areas

While the media’s attention is focused on the coming referendum, the scale of the spending squeeze is impacting on some Tory Parliamentarians and councillors.

Manchester Council makes its empty buildings available as temporary shelters for rough sleepers

But why does the council retain ownership of empty buildings for so long?

Gary Porter: The Autumn Statement means greater flexibility over council finances

There is a mixed picture but the Government is listening to our concerns.