Under sustained budget pressure, most councils have already made the obvious cuts.
Our experience across dozens of councils shows that significant ongoing savings often remain untapped. Not through waste or inefficiency, but simply because nobody has had the time or the external perspective to look.
We examine your existing policies, accounting treatments and financial strategies, compare them with current best practice, and identify where changes could generate meaningful, recurring savings.
What we review
- Minimum Revenue ProvisionYour MRP policy, for compliance and optimisation opportunities.
- Housing Revenue AccountIncome, expenditure, reserves and 30-year business plan assumptions.
- Debt managementBorrowing strategy, interest rate exposure and debt scheduling.
- Capital receiptsHow receipts are applied and whether more advantageous options exist.
- Fees and chargesBenchmarking against comparable authorities and statutory guidance.
- Treasury managementInvestment strategy, counterparty limits and Prudential Code compliance.
What to expect
A review typically takes four to eight weeks, depending on scope. You receive a clear, prioritised report of findings and recommendations, with an estimate of the financial benefit of each. We are transparent about the effort needed to implement changes and realistic about timescales.
Many clients tell us the savings identified in a single review more than cover the cost of the engagement, often many times over.
Frequently asked questions
How much could a financial review save us?
It varies with the size of your authority and the areas reviewed. MRP reviews alone have generated six-figure annual savings for some of our clients. We offer a free initial assessment to show where the opportunities are likely to be before you commit to a full engagement.
Is an MRP and debt review only relevant for authorities with large debt portfolios?
No. The absolute savings are larger where there is more borrowing, but the principles of MRP optimisation apply to any authority with capital financing charges. Smaller district councils have also achieved meaningful savings.
Will your recommendations be acceptable to our external auditor?
Yes. All our recommendations are grounded in legislation, statutory guidance and professional accounting standards. We can brief your external auditors if required and will help make sure any policy changes are properly documented and defensible.