Councils face 'funding shortfalls'

摘要

A council could move into special measures on financial grounds for the first time within the next year, a report by international accountancy firm Grant Thornton has warned. Research by the firm found that the majority of chief financial officers conceded reaching a tipping point was possible, with particular concern among councils in the South West of England. The report read: 'With large funding deficits still looming, service reduction or even failure is becoming a distinct possibility. 'We are rinding greater financial uncertainty and risk in councils' strategic financial plans [across all council types] as they continue to search for alternatives to service reduction, with far fewer options than they have had over the past five years.