MONEY MATTERS

摘要

So the news that many councils, including Surrey, have been eagerly awaiting for has at last been announced. We're being given our financial freedom. Communities secretary, Eric Pickles, has finally confirmed we will be able to keep most of the business rates we raise - music to the ears of many. Finance officers throughout the country are now eagerly anticipating the eight technical papers which are to be published to accompany the unusually-long consultation period. One of the challenges I highlighted a few months ago in this column involved making sure the new system doesn't favour some councils at the expense of others, and Mr Pickles addressed this by stressing no council would lose out.