Treasury management for councillors
About this course
What your council's treasury actually does, in plain English. The chain of accountability, the four main risks, how to read a TMSS, why scrutiny matters — five short modules.
What you'll learn
- What is treasury?
- Who does what
- Reading a TMSS
- The four main risks
- Why scrutiny matters
Part of these pathways
Related courses
- Council money in plain English
- Your responsibilities as a councillor
- Meet your council
- Reading the Metrics dashboard
- Reading the quarterly & outturn reports
- How to read a TMSS
Common questions
What is Audit Committee?
Council committee responsible for scrutinising financial and risk matters. Treasury reports are presented here at least annually.
What is Borrowings?
Loans the council has taken out, typically for capital projects. Most council borrowings are PWLB loans.
What is Capital?
Spending that creates a long-lived asset — a school, road, vehicle. Distinguished from revenue spending (salaries, day-to-day services).
What is CFR?
Capital Financing Requirement. The total amount the council needs to fund from past capital decisions. Sets the upper bound on how much can be borrowed.
What is Investments?
Where the council places its surplus cash — banks, money market funds, government deposits — to earn interest while keeping the money safe and accessible.
What is MRP?
Minimum Revenue Provision. Annual revenue charge that gradually pays down the CFR over time. A non-cash internal accounting movement.