Dan Bates
Dan Bates is interim head of finance and S151 officer at North West Leicestershire DC
Assessing councils’ wealth health
In the wake of two huge fiscal failures for the sector, Dan Bates sets out how the financial health of councils can best be assessed. He finds further evidence that the lack of a fair funding formula is storing up big problems in some areas.
We now need certainty on cash in the medium term
We've had the Spending Review, but for Dan Bates, having certainty in the medium-term is just as important as the allocations themselves. He adds: 'That certainty extends to New Homes Bonus and business rates growth reset.'
Future funding for local government has never been so uncertain
Many will be hoping that big ministerial changes will mean progress on big issues including levelling up, says Dan Bates. But he would settle for more clarity in one key area for local government.
Councils' budgets must focus on value
Dan Bates outlines the role finance teams will play to ensure budgets are developed to support local government's contribution to the collective effort to build back better after COVID.
Calculating the councils costs of COVID
As councils start to think about their annual statement of accounts, Dan Bates suggests they will give us a good insight into the financial health of councils amid COVID.
