11.10.19
Local Power
The Treasury has raised the interest rate on funding from the Public Works Loan Board after the Bureau reported that councils were using the money to invest heavily in commercial property
11.09.19
The Bureau Local sent volunteers and reporters to exercise their right to see local authority accounts, but soon found obstructions and ignorance of the law
09.09.19
Despite the Bureau revealing that Peterborough council had potentially breached guidelines on selling public assets, the government has decided to take no further action
29.05.19
A timeline giving details of when key decisions about the Grenfell tower refurbishment were made by Kensington and Chelsea council
Investigation reveals Kensington and Chelsea Council had a large pot of money that it could have used on the refurbishment, yet the budget was cut and cheaper cladding used
27.04.19
Spelthorne auditors have raised red flags about whether the £385 million purchase of a BP research site was value for money for the council
06.03.19
The latest in our #SoldFromUnderYou series looks at the battle on the ground to save public spaces
05.03.19
Explore the literal cost of austerity in our interactive map showing more than 12,000 public buildings and spaces sold by cash-strapped councils
Our investigation reveals Peterborough Council may have used £23 million raised from selling public assets to help pay its running costs, which is forbidden under government regulations.
04.03.19
Libraries, playgrounds, and community centres are being sold by councils as they struggle to stay afloat, with many using the proceeds to pay for redundancies
04.12.18
A four-month investigation reveals the steep rise in councils across the country racking up debt to finance real estate purchases
As councils become major players in the UK property market, purchases worth hundreds of millions of pounds are being signed off behind closed doors without public scrutiny.
16.04.18
Fifth county council at risk with independent reviewers stating need for “radical overhaul”
08.03.18
The Bureau reveals more councils are under severe financial strain
07.02.18
Councils digging deep as spending cuts bite
Local authorities struggle to balance their books, as the spending crisis deepens
