Another Conservative Council faces cash crisis

Conservative controlled Surrey County Council faces a £94million funding gap by March 2021 according to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) who conducted an independent review of its finances.

The CIPFA's report states 'Despite repeated cost reductions, the expected increase in service pressures means that, as things stand, the council will not have sufficient reserves to meet its expected budget gap in 2019-20 unless it acts now.' The gap is predicted to rise to £86m by March 2020 and £94m by March 2021.