This half day course will cover key issues and considerations for local government lawyers with regard to the financial arrangements of local authorities. It will draw on practical examples to demonstrate the issues and how to deal with them. Delegates will be able to obtain, update or refresh an understanding of the financial arrangements of local authorities
Course Agenda
Welcome and introduction
Strategic context – local government financial situation and where councils get their money from
Roles and Responsibilities
Section 151 Officer
Monitoring Officer
All Officers
Members
Key parts of the Constitution
Budget setting
Developing the budget
Council tax and business rates – an overview
Capital strategies
Reserves
Treasury management framework (including investment strategy)
Process and managing a budget meeting
Virements and in-year changes to the budget
Day to day spending decision-making and delegations
Managing a legal services budget
Survival guide for finance meetings
Ultra vires spending
Section 114 and “insolvency” – process and implications
Q&A
Target Audience
This course is ideal for senior lawyers in local government whatever their current level of interaction with the financial arrangements of their authority. It is equally accessible for lawyers at any level looking to develop their knowledge (or take a refresher).
Claire acts as a crucial sounding board for all levels of local government, advising monitoring officers and members, helping them to make informed legal decisions.
Equipped with over 20 years of in-house experience, Claire advises local authorities and their companies on regulatory governance matters, reviews constitutions, governance arrangements and decision-making. She is in high demand to undertake standards investigations and is well regarded for providing member training. Her depth of experience across county, district and unitary local councils has shaped her extensive knowledge of local government challenges. Claire is able to guide authorities across the country on what they can accomplish and more importantly how to go about doing it.
With over 20 years of in-house experience in local government, Sue is a specialist in governance, and her work supports local authorities across the country with practical and politically aware advice.
Drawing on extensive experience at both district and county council levels, including as monitoring officer, Sue advises on all aspects of local authority law and governance, including code of conduct advice, training, and standards investigations.
Sue has headed up a number of multi-disciplinary legal teams throughout her career, as well as leading information governance, democratic services and elections teams. Her work has involved major projects to help councils transition between executive arrangements and committee systems, giving her a unique understanding of how to design effective, transparent governance structures.
She takes great pride in helping to ease the pressure on busy monitoring officers by offering timely, practical support that enables them to make confident, informed decisions.
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09:30 - 13:00
Online
