Briefings and responses

This consultation follows on from proposals originally made in 2021 to which we responded, and a further post consultation survey on revised proposed regulations that we also responded to. The proposals made in the current consultation have taken account of the comments we made in response to those earlier consultations and it is clear that the aim of the revised regulations and guidance is to avoid the potential problems with drafting in the original proposals that we and others in the sector highlighted. This is to be welcomed.

Our Spring Budget 2024 on-the-day briefing summarises the key announcements for councils and provides an initial LGA view.

This response has been cleared by the LGA’s Economy and Resources Board.

This response has been cleared by the LGA’s Economy and Resources Board.

In October 2023, before the Government announced an additional £600 million in funding for the sector, the LGA estimated that councils in England faced a funding gap of £4 billion. Councils’ financial pressures and needs must be seen in the context of the huge contribution that councils already make and of their potential to do more to support the delivery of public services.

It has been clear for a long time that local audit is in crisis. The causes are multi-faceted and complex. We have been pressing the Government to set a firm timetable by which timely audits will be restored.

We do not expect this Bill to have any significant effects on local authority investment or procurement practices. However, we have significant concerns about the effects the current drafting will have on the operation of the Local Government Pensions Scheme (LGPS).

The LGA welcomes the opportunity to respond to the annual consultation on the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) workplan and scale of fees.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is the domestic replacement for the European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF).

This briefing is aimed at Parliamentarians who want a summary of our 2024 Autumn Budget and Spending Review submission.