Where the money goes
Council budgets, finance and service delivery.
- Level
- Bitesize
- Learning time
- 1 hour 15 minutes
- Where
- Foundations of Local Government
- Price
- £39
When you step up to a higher level, what you paid in the last 12 months for lower-level courses inside the bigger course comes off its price, in proportion to how much of each is inside it, whichever topic it's from. Courses at the same or a lower level don't give credit against each other. A Focus course or above always costs at least £15. Read the full terms
Certificate of Completion
Overview and Outcomes.
Overview
Every council service runs on a budget someone had to balance lawfully. This module explains where council money comes from, including business rates retention, the difference between revenue and capital, the annual budget cycle and the statutory duties of the section 151 officer. It then looks at the Fair Funding Review 2.0, pressures such as SEND deficits, and Woking's journey from a section 114 notice to recovery. Knowing the foundations is one thing; seeing whether they hold under pressure is another. This closing module recaps history and purpose, types and governance, the strategic framework, partnership working and finance, then tests them against Somerset Council, a new unitary formed in 2023 under severe financial strain. It shows that structure neither caused nor fixed the budget gap, and offers a practical checklist for your own council.
What you'll develop
In this Bitesize, you will develop the ability to:
- Describe the main sources of council income and distinguish what revenue and capital budgets should pay for.
- Explain the annual budget setting cycle and the statutory duties of the section 151 officer, including section 114 and section 25 reports.
- Assess a council's financial resilience using the Fair Funding Review 2.0, system pressures and the lessons from Woking.
- Describe the five foundations of local government and explain how they connect as one system.
- Assess, using the Somerset Council case, which foundations held under pressure and which frayed.
The Modules.
1 hour 15 minutes of learning.
- 05Resources: Budget, Finance and DeliveryEvery council service runs on a budget someone had to balance lawfully. This module explains where council money comes from, including business rates retention, the difference between revenue and capital, the annual budget cycle and the statutory duties of the section 151 officer. It then looks at the Fair Funding Review 2.0, pressures such as SEND deficits, and Woking's journey from a section 114 notice to recovery.43 min
- 06Applied Foundations: Case StudiesKnowing the foundations is one thing; seeing whether they hold under pressure is another. This closing module recaps history and purpose, types and governance, the strategic framework, partnership working and finance, then tests them against Somerset Council, a new unitary formed in 2023 under severe financial strain. It shows that structure neither caused nor fixed the budget gap, and offers a practical checklist for your own council.35 min
Keep going.
Part of the Foundations of Local Government topic, also sold whole as How councils work.
Go deeper, and pay only the difference
- You are hereBitesize, 1 hour 15 minutes, £39
- The whole topicFocus, How councils work, 4 hours, £69. Already own the Bitesize? You pay £30.
When you step up to a higher level, what you paid in the last 12 months for lower-level courses inside the bigger course comes off its price, in proportion to how much of each is inside it, whichever topic it's from. Courses at the same or a lower level don't give credit against each other. A Focus course or above always costs at least £15. Prices per person. Read the full terms
Also part of: Serving your community well, Your first days in office, Leading from the front bench
