While balancing the books, finding more efficiency savings and making tough decisions about spending will be key now, as we grapple with planning our budgets for 2011/12, what are the wider implications of the Comprehensive Spending Review?

Local authorities play an important role in people's lives in times such as these. Some of the services we provide around adult education, finding employment, and money management will be crucial to support some of those people hit hardest by the aftermath of recession.