Difficulty decisions are needed. But a funding floor for councils would make a transition to a fairer and simpler system politically acceptable.
Local residents need to know what their council is up to and how well portfolios are performing. Proper oversight is lacking.
Ministers cannot afford to focus on a few so-called priority areas – it will take bold and imaginative reform to deliver fairness for all.
Conservative governments can raise tax rates temporarily as part of a clear plan – which wasn’t the case with last week’s announcement.
There is nothing for productivity growth, ageing, minimum wage hikes, tailoring care to individual needs, or councils’ incentives to build more homes.
Our manifesto couldn’t reasonably be expected to predict the freak consequences of Covid in terms of rapid wage growth.
Plus: The move to monthly bin collections in Stirling is unjustified, given the high Council Tax that residents pay.
2018-19’s accounts are still unaudited. Who knew about the massive black hole in the council’s finances?
We should base it on an index of cumulative change in wages.
There are dozens of policies, tax changes and other levers that government can pull to climate proof our homes.
If a business has easy access to low paid labour it will put off improving its technological processes.
Plus: the Public Accounts Committee fails to challenge Council waste. Nottingham still in the lead for extortionate tax.
You could call the Labour’s leader’s appearance either brave, or the act of a man who has nothing to lose.
Plus: Local authorities have deficits of over half a billion pounds. Police and Crime Commissioners should not be forced to employ deputies.
We will go through Council spending and contracts, line by line, to find waste and get the best possible value for money.