Given it is local authority conference season, it is no surprise the national media is picking up on the concerns that many in the sector have been voicing for some time about the risks and uncertainty that we have in terms of our funding.

Finance directors have often been unfairly characterised as dour and negative folk that always look on the dark side of life, but, for once, we aren't the only ones voicing concerns about sustainability and of the risks facing us and our communities.