Title

FINANCE

Today things feel tougher than they ever have

We remain unsighted on the totality of financial support for coronavirus in this year, says Gary Fielding - and without a Spending Review there is no clarity beyond next March. Out of all of this councils still need to have a plan for the future.

I have been a finance director for most of austerity. During that time there have been many challenges with emergency budgets, grant cuts, ministerial missives on reserves and the need to remodel large parts of the workforce while trying to maintain morale and productivity. It felt hard but today things feel tougher than they ever have.

At the time of writing we remain unsighted on the totality of financial support for COVID-19 in this year and, in the absence of a Spending Review, we have no visibility beyond March 2021. With that backdrop it is little wonder that numerous councils have raised the prospect of a s114 notice. The absence of clarity doesn't decrease the need for planning though, quite the opposite but there are so many moving parts that it is a daunting task to pull together a coherent financial plan.

Take home-to-school transport for example. Will all schools open in September 2020? What social distancing measures will be in place? What changes can be made to offset distancing? What happens if there is a sudden spike in the virus? Is there enough capacity in the market to cope in any case?

And, if there is, what extra costs will this mean? In my council we estimate that this could cost up to £8m extra in the current financial year alone. But it might not cost a single penny more than the existing budget.

Transport may be a good example of how policy, viral prevalence and markets impact on financial planning but it's hardly unique; add in increases in welfare, child protection cases and a social care market that was distressed before COVID-19 to name a few. Somehow out of all of this councils still need to have a plan for the future, but ‘certainty' and ‘simplicity' are concepts that are probably sometime away yet.

Gary Fielding is corporate director of strategic resources at North Yorkshire CC and president of the Society of County Treasurers

FINANCE

Government skipped own cost review of council mergers

By William Eichler | 29 August 2025

The Government did not conduct its own assessment of the costs of local government reorganisation, the BBC has revealed.

FINANCE

Tackling the climate crisis

By Darrell Gale | 29 August 2025

Darrell Gale says that given their experience of working in partnership across multiple sectors, directors of public health are in the ideal position to tack...

FINANCE

How to afford a green future

By Martin Reeves | 29 August 2025

Oxfordshire CC is leading the way on how councils can finance climate action and help save the planet. Martin Reeves explains.

FINANCE

Fixing the Broken Promise: The North East and the SEND Crisis

By Nick Kemp | 28 August 2025

Nick Kemp says SEND services are in crisis, especially in the North East. He believes a regional compact can drive urgent reform through early support, share...

Popular articles by Gary Fielding