IRRV Alert - week ending 19th February 2021
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Minister questioned on financial sustainability of English councils (19 February 2021)
Minister questioned on financial sustainability of English councils
19 February 2021
The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee takes evidence from Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, Luke Hall MP.
- Watch the session on Parliament TV: The Spending Review and Local Government Finance
- Inquiry: Local Authority Financial Sustainability and the Section 114 Regime
- Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Witnesses
Monday 22 February, 4.30pm
- Luke Hall MP, Minister of State for Regional Growth and Local Government
- Alex Skinner, Director of Local Government Finance in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Purpose of the session
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountability warned the Committee that "at least 12" English Councils had been in rescue talks with the Government due to difficulties in delivering a balanced budget for the financial year.
This follows Croydon issuing a section 114 notice in November due to ongoing financial challenges and a potential budget shortfall of £66 million.
In this session the Committee will question the Minister on his perspectives of the financial challenges facing local government.
This is likely to include the level of funding from central government to meet the challenges of key services including social care and the additional challenges of covid-19, particularly the loss of revenue to local authorities.
It will also investigate the impact of local authorities borrowing and commercial investments on their overall financial health.