While Northamptonshire CC may have hogged the headlines lately, for all the wrong reasons, it’s not the only council to face some tough financial choices. Counties in particular are coming to terms with the stark reality of extreme cuts.
A recent report by the County Councils’ Network predicted counties would have to cut a billion pounds in the next financial year unless they are given a significant cash injection, and several authorities have now outlined budgets offering little more than basic services.
Surrey CC is no stranger to the fiscal challenges. Chief executive Joanna Killian took up her post six months ago and immediately delved into the budgets. A report she commissioned by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) to review its financial position claimed the council was facing a cash shortfall of £94m by March 2021 – and there was no ‘plan B’.
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