Ian Burbidge, Author at County Councils Network

Spring Statement: CCN responds

26 March 2025

Today the Chancellor has delivered the government's 2025 Spring Statement, which revealed that day to day spending will be reduced by £6.1bn by 2029-30 compared to what was originally ...

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Councils warn of financial catastrophe in 12 months time, with ‘unmanageable’ SEND deficits risking bankruptcy

21 March 2025

Councils today warn that there is just 12 months to avert a financial catastrophe for local authorities, with £6bn in special educational needs and disabilities ...

Council tax data for 2025-26: CCN responds

20 March 2025

Today the government has published average council tax rates for next year, showing what average Band D properties will be paying in 2025-26. The data ...

Local Government Minister’s session at DCN Conference: CCN responds

13 March 2025

Today the Local Government Minister Jim McMahon spoke at the District Councils Network's conference, delivering a speech and taking part in a Q&A. Below, the ...

Planning and Infrastructure Bill: CCN responds

11 March 2025

Today the government will publish its Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which sets out further reforms to the planning system. The Bill will be the next ...

New unitary councils to be created must cover ‘at least’ 500,000 people to save billions and free up investment into local services, report reveals

07 March 2025

A new analysis has backed up government proposals for the creation of new unitary councils in England - but new authorities must cover areas of ...

Updated financial analysis: evaluating the importance of scale in proposals for local government reorganisation

07 March 2025

In December 2024, the government published its English Devolution White Paper. Within this, the government set out its intention to undertake a programme of local ...

National Audit Office report on councils’ financial sustainability: CCN responds

28 February 2025

Today the National Audit Office has released a new report, Local Government Financial Sustainability, today. The independent public spending watchdog's report delves into the challenges ...

Counties respond to government consultation on the fair funding review

27 February 2025

County and unitary councils have responded to the government’s consultation on the fair funding review – calling for the review to be transparent and ‘evidence-led’. ...

County Spotlight shines a light on how councils are embracing technology, as survey shows that nine in ten are now using AI

27 February 2025

Almost nine in ten of England’s largest councils are using artificial intelligence (AI), but say a lack of staff capacity, funding and training is holding ...

VCS Emergencies Partnership blog: Riots to Resilience – turning the lessons from last year’s riots into action

24 February 2025

In the wake of the August 2024 racist and Islamophobic riots, the task of re-building levels of trust, safety and resilience in our communities is ...

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Spring Statement: CCN responds