Introduction to Local Government Finance

DELEGATE FEES

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An On-line Training Workshop : 10am - 12.30pm

21 and 22 June

Course background

This one day workshop is a new initiative from IRRV Scotland and results from requests from local authorities and other organisations requesting a one-day course that would give attendees a good grounding in and understanding of the complex subject of local government finance in Scotland. It will provide delegates with a detailed overview of the complex structure and the functions of the local government finance system, and will provide important understanding to anyone working in local government.

The first morning will cover the economic background of local government’s current financial position, how local government is funded, and how this is spent. It will also look at the difference between revenue and capital expenditure before moving on to consider the basics of capital financing and treasury management. The second morning will build on the knowledge gained previously as delegates will explore the sector’s budgeting, financial reporting and governance arrangements. It will also look in detail at the importance of council tax, benefits, and business rates, and their relationship with the overall funding of local government. It will finish with a look at local government financial reform so far and what we can expect from the future.

Programme

- Local Government Funding
This session will start with an overview of Scottish Public Sector Finances as they affect local government, including funding distribution arrangements
- Local Taxation
This session will examine the requirements of setting a Council Tax, and how the level of central government grant affects affects the role of business (non-domestic) rates
- Capital Expenditure, Capital Financing and Treasury Management
This session describes the basics of the prudential framework, its interaction with treasury management, the way which the government supports capital expenditure, and how local government accounts for capital expenditure. This will include an overview of financing options.
- Budgeting, Financial Reporting and Governance Arrangements
The session will take delegates through the process of financial management to publishing a set of local authority financial statements, with a particular focus on revenues accounting. It will look at audit requirements and public performance reporting
- The relationship of Revenues to overall Council financing
This session will look at some of the relationships between revenues and benefits performance, and wider financial management and budgetary control
- Local Government Financial Reform
A discussion about current reforms, what they might mean for local government, and consideration of what might lie ahead, including potential additional tax raising powers

Presenter

The course will be facilitated by Derek Yule. Derek retired in June 2019 from the post of Depute Chief Executive and Director of Corporate Resources with the Highland Council. Derek is a Chartered Public Finance Accountant, and was awarded Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) in 2016. He is also an Honours Member of the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV). A graduate of Edinburgh University, with a degree in Business Studies, Derek undertook his professional training in the NHS as part of the NHS national finance training scheme. Following a couple of substantive posts with Lothian Health Board, Derek has worked in Local Government since 1987 in various positions with Clackmannan District Council, Clackmannanshire Council and Aberdeenshire Council, before taking up the post of Director of Finance with Highland Council in
October 2011.

From October 2017 Derek assumed a wider responsibility as Director of Corporate Resources with Highland Council, and in addition was appointed Depute Chief Executive in November 2017. Derek is a past Chair of the Local Authority (Scotland) Accounts Advisory Board (LASAAC), and has also served as Vice Chair of CIPFA/LASAAC Local Authority Accounting Code Board and as a member of the Financial Reporting Advisory Board (FRAB). Derek has been a member of a number of Working Groups with the Scottish Government and COSLA, with a particular interest in local government grant distribution, welfare reform, and health & social care integration, and has given evidence to a number of Parliamentary Committees.

Fees

£165 plus VAT IRRV Personal Member Rate (valid for Individual Members only)
£175 plus VAT Forum/Organisational Rate* (all Scottish LA's have IRRV Forum Membership)
£185 plus VAT Non- Member Rate

Special Member Offer: 3rd delegate gets 25% Reduction
*This offer is available to organisations sending 3 or more delegates and attending from the same organisation. Bookings must be made at the same time. It will be applied to the cheapest rate. At least one of the delegates must be a member of the Institute in order to receive this discount or alternatively, the organisation must subscribe to either the Forum Service or Organisational Membership Service.

For details on how to become a member click here. To subscribe to the Forum Service, please click here.

Booking

Click BOOK NOW button at the right of this page.

Enquiries can be made by email to conference@irrv.org.uk or by telephone 020 7691 8987.

Please note in order for your booking to be processed you must have a purchase order number.

Programme Changes And Cancellation / Rescheduling Of Events

The Institute will make every effort to give delegates as much notice as possible of any programme changes or the cancellation / re-scheduling of an event. However, it does reserve the right to make changes to advertised programmes and to cancel / re-schedule events. In the unlikely event of an event being cancelled / re-scheduled, either a full refund will be made or alternatively, any fee paid will be credited against a future booking.

VAT And Cancellations

VAT will be applied at the current rate. Cancellations two weeks before course date will be charged at 50%. Cancellations after this date will be charged at 100%. A substitute attendee is allowed at any time at no extra cost.

Sponsorship Opportunities

To find out about sponsorship opportunities contact Sales on sales@irrv.org.uk Tel: 020 7691 8979.

Delegate Fees

21-22 June 2023 - IRRV Personal Member Rate (valid for Individual Members only) £165.00

21-22 June 2023 - Forum/Organisational Rate £175.00

21-22 June 2023 - Non Member Rate £185.00