Neil Amin Smith

We are in the midst of major changes to local government funding – both its level and the system for raising and distributing it. This note brings together some of the key findings of our research on this topic and highlights where to find further information.

Years of cuts and rising demands for services like social care mean that council funding in England looks increasingly unsustainable. Is devolving more tax revenues and powers the answer?

Ahead of a proposed move from 50% to 75% business rates retention in April 2020, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is seeking views on its proposals for the reform of certain elements of the business rates retention system in England.

Funding from local taxes available in the new local government finance system proposed by the government is unlikely to keep pace with rising spending pressures in coming years.

Following the provisional local government finance settlement for 2019–20, we look at how the funding cuts made over the four years between 2015–16 and 2019–20 are set to vary around the country.

The recalculation of local government funding allocations should take into account all the ways councils could bring in money.

When the government announced 100% business rates retention pilots it said the scheme would be “cost-neutral”. However, research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies shows that cannot be the case. Neil Amin-Smith reveals how the conclusion was reached.