Resources for Section 151 officers

A practical reference for chief finance officers and their teams in English local government.

Every link below goes to the official source. We check the dates and links each year before the budget cycle begins. Last checked 27 October 2026.

The role at a glance

Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires every council to make arrangements for the proper administration of its financial affairs, and to make one officer responsible for them. That officer, usually the director of finance, is known as the section 151 officer or chief finance officer.

Three statutory duties define the role in practice:

• Section 114 reports. Under the Local Government Finance Act 1988, the chief finance officer must report if the council has made, or is about to make, unlawful expenditure, or if expenditure is likely to exceed the resources available to meet it.
• Section 25 reports. Under the Local Government Act 2003, the chief finance officer must report to council, when it sets the budget, on the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of reserves.
• Prudential borrowing. The council sets its own borrowing limits under the CIPFA Prudential Code, and the chief finance officer advises on whether capital plans are affordable, prudent and sustainable.

CIPFA's statement on the role of the chief financial officer in local government sets out the principles behind the role, including direct access to the chief executive and a seat at the leadership table.

This page focuses on England. Sections 151 and 114 also apply in Wales, where councils follow Welsh Government guidance. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own frameworks.

The annual cycle

The key statutory and regulatory dates in a typical English council's financial year.

• 1 AprilNew financial year begins. New social rents take effect, within the limit set by the Rent Standard. Source: Rent Standard and guidance
• QuarterlyReport treasury management activity and prudential indicators. Quarters 2 and 4 normally go to full council or the executive. Source: CIPFA Prudential Code
• By 30 JunePublish the draft (unaudited) statement of accounts and annual governance statement. Source: Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015
• Summer to autumnReport the annual treasury management review of the previous year to members. Source: CIPFA Treasury Management Code
• AutumnUK Budget. Refresh the medium-term financial strategy and test the assumptions behind next year's budget.
• DecemberProvisional local government finance settlement, usually published in mid to late December. Source: Local government finance settlement
• 1 December to 31 JanuaryBilling authorities calculate the council tax base and notify precepting authorities. Source: Council tax base regulations
• January to FebruarySet rents and the HRA budget for April, update the HRA 30-year business plan and give tenants notice of rent changes. Source: Policy statement on rents
• FebruaryFinal settlement. Full council approves the budget, capital strategy, treasury management strategy and MRP statement, with the chief finance officer's section 25 report on the robustness of estimates and adequacy of reserves. Source: Local Government Act 2003, s25
• Before 1 MarchMajor precepting authorities issue their precepts. Source: Local Government Finance Act 1992, s40
• Before 11 MarchBilling authorities set council tax for the coming year. Source: Local Government Finance Act 1992, s30
• 1 to 31 MarchSubmit capital spending and borrowing plans for the current year and next two years to the PWLB, with the section 151 officer's assurance on investment assets bought primarily for yield. Source: PWLB guidance for applicants

Audit backstop dates

Accounts must be audited, with the auditor's opinion published, by these statutory backstop dates. Written ministerial statement, 4 March 2025.

• 2025/26 accounts31 January 2027
• 2026/27 accounts30 November 2027
• 2027/28 accounts30 November 2028

Guidance library

The primary sources Section 151 officers refer to most often.

The role

• Local Government Act 1972, section 151The duty to make arrangements for the proper administration of financial affairs, and to appoint an officer responsible for them.
• Local Government Finance Act 1988, section 114When the chief finance officer must report unlawful expenditure or an unbalanced budget.
• Local Government Act 2003, section 25The report on the robustness of budget estimates and the adequacy of reserves.
• CIPFA: The role of the chief financial officer in local governmentCIPFA's statement of the principles and responsibilities of the role.
• CIPFA Financial Management CodeStandards of financial management for local authorities.
• Best value standards and intervention: statutory guideThe characteristics of a well-functioning authority, including on finance, and how government intervenes.

Capital and treasury

• CIPFA Prudential Code (2021 edition)The framework for affordable, prudent and sustainable capital investment and borrowing.
• CIPFA Treasury Management Code (2021 edition)The code of practice for treasury management in the public services.
• Minimum revenue provision: statutory guidance (5th edition)Applies to accounting periods starting on or after 1 April 2025.
• Local government investments: statutory guidance (3rd edition)Guidance on treasury and non-treasury investments, applying from 1 April 2018.
• Capital Finance and Accounting Regulations 2003The regulations behind MRP, capital receipts and the use of capital resources in England.
• PWLB lending arrangementsThe Debt Management Office's lending facility, rates and terms.
• PWLB guidance for applicantsEligibility, the annual capital plan return and the section 151 officer's assurance.

Funding and financial resilience

• Final local government finance settlement 2026-27 to 2028-29The multi-year settlement for English councils.
• Exceptional financial support for local authoritiesHow the government supports councils that cannot set a balanced budget, and the support agreed to date.
• CIPFA Financial Resilience IndexComparative indicators of financial resilience for English councils.

Accounts and audit

• Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015Requirements for internal control, the annual governance statement and publishing accounts.
• Audit backstop dates: written ministerial statementThe statutory backstop dates for accounts and audit, set out on 4 March 2025.
• CIPFA/LASAAC Code of Practice on Local Authority AccountingThe accounting code that statements of accounts must follow.

Housing and the HRA

• Rent Standard and guidanceThe Regulator of Social Housing's Rent Standard, which applies to council landlords.
• Policy statement on rents for social housingThe government's rent policy from 1 April 2026.

Directory of Section 151 officers

We are compiling a directory of Section 151 officers across UK councils. It will show each officer's name and role as published by their own council, with a link to that source and the date we last checked it. It will not include personal contact details. Alongside it, we will publish a monthly round-up of new Section 151 appointments and moves.

It will be published here shortly. If you are a Section 151 officer and would like your entry corrected or left out, email info@haverlyconsulting.co.uk.

Spotted something out of date? Please let us know. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice.