Further public spending cuts could hamper councils' ability to respond to major emergencies – including terrorist attacks and further floods – a survey of finance directors has revealed.

More than two-thirds (68%) of finance directors polled by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and Zurich Municipal said they believed further spending cuts from central government threatened their ability to manage future emergencies. The survey was part of a report published today (12 July) by Zurich Municipal.