The government risks missing a key opportunity to fix the local audit crisis, leaving the whole country in the dark about council finances. The government has unveiled the plans to fix the local audit crisis with a new body, the Local Audit Office (LAO). Action can’t come soon enough. Last year only 4% of local… [continues]
In new research in collaboration with the University of Sussex, we make a series of urgent recommendations for making council finances less opaque during this time of critical challenge and upheaval in local government. At a time when scrutiny of council finances is even more important than ever – as authorities declare effective bankruptcy… [continues]
15 July 2025 In a surprise announcement, the English Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill, published last week, outlined the government’s plans for the Local Audit Office. The government had previously promised to fix the local audit crisis and consulted on a range of ways of doing this, but now some of these measures do not… [continues]
As the government sets out to reform the local government sector again, this is a clear guide to the mess that English councils currently find themselves in. It focuses on how the government is intervening in failing authorities.
Dear friends and followers, Summer is in full swing and there’s lots happening in the world of local democracy. Here are some of the most recent news from Research for Action and friends, and a call for help with our current research… Government wants to abolish the committee system – against the will of Sheffield… [continues]
The government risks missing a key opportunity to fix the local audit crisis, leaving the whole country in the dark about council finances. The government has unveiled the plans to fix the local audit crisis with a new body, the Local Audit Office (LAO). Action can’t come soon enough. Last year only 4% of local… [continues]
In new research in collaboration with the University of Sussex, we make a series of urgent recommendations for making council finances less opaque during this time of critical challenge and upheaval in local government. At a time when scrutiny of council finances is even more important than ever – as authorities declare effective bankruptcy… [continues]
15 July 2025 In a surprise announcement, the English Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill, published last week, outlined the government’s plans for the Local Audit Office. The government had previously promised to fix the local audit crisis and consulted on a range of ways of doing this, but now some of these measures do not… [continues]
As the government sets out to reform the local government sector again, this is a clear guide to the mess that English councils currently find themselves in. It focuses on how the government is intervening in failing authorities.
Dear friends and followers, Summer is in full swing and there’s lots happening in the world of local democracy. Here are some of the most recent news from Research for Action and friends, and a call for help with our current research… Government wants to abolish the committee system – against the will of Sheffield… [continues]