By Richard Johnstone in Liverpool | 4 July 2012
Only around 12% of councils have identified all the savings they need to make, delegates at CIPFA’s annual conference have been told.PricewaterhouseCoopers’ survey of UK authorities found that more than half (52%) of the 105 town hall leaders and chief executives who responded said they still had to find between 25% and 75% of their total reductions to April 2015.
Setting out the findings of the Local state we’re in report at a conference workshop yesterday, PwC director Howard Spensley said a further 24% of councils had identified cuts to meet between 75% and 99% of the total needed.
The survey also found that the required cuts in the current financial year were smaller than they were in 2011/12 for 80% of authorities, but around 15% had to save more.
More than 90% of both leaders and council chief executives said they would achieve their savings target for 2012/13, and around 70% of both groups were confident they would also make the necessary savings the following year.
However, asked about the risks faced by town halls, almost 90% of chief executives said that one or more authorities could get into a ‘serious financial crisis’ in the next three years. More than 80% of both leaders and chief executives agreed that last year's Autumn Statement would ‘result in further significant financial pressures for my council and for a longer period of time’.
Only around 12% of councils have identified all the savings they need to make, delegates at CIPFA’s annual conference have been told.PricewaterhouseCoopers’ survey of UK authorities found that more than half (52%) of the 105 town hall leaders and chief executives who responded said they still had to find between 25% and 75% of their total reductions to April 2015.
Setting out the findings of the Local state we’re in report at a conference workshop yesterday, PwC director Howard Spensley said a further 24% of councils had identified cuts to meet between 75% and 99% of the total needed.
The survey also found that the required cuts in the current financial year were smaller than they were in 2011/12 for 80% of authorities, but around 15% had to save more.
More than 90% of both leaders and council chief executives said they would achieve their savings target for 2012/13, and around 70% of both groups were confident they would also make the necessary savings the following year.
However, asked about the risks faced by town halls, almost 90% of chief executives said that one or more authorities could get into a ‘serious financial crisis’ in the next three years. More than 80% of both leaders and chief executives agreed that last year's Autumn Statement would ‘result in further significant financial pressures for my council and for a longer period of time’.
