The Society
The Society
The Society of County Treasurers represents the chief financial officers of the twenty-seven county councils in England as well as eleven unitary councils that share similar interests in local government issues. Together, these authorities represent 47% of the population of England, 24 million people, and provide services across 86% of its land area, 43,000 square miles.
The Society provides a forum for members to share expertise on financial issues affecting large local authorities. It also enables counties to speak with a united voice; as a Treasurers’ Society it is recognised as a key local government stakeholder by central government and the Local Government Association.
Meetings
The Society holds five meetings a year in London and is supported by the Technical Support Team, who provide a paper detailing issues in local government finance to every meeting.
In addition to the Society’s regular meetings, also held are an annual Spring Seminar for chief financial officers and their deputies, an autumn seminar in the President’s county and an annual dinner in December. The Society is funded by a small annual subscription from each authority which contributes towards the costs of the Society’s events.
Lead Officers and Authorities
The Society has a number of officers who direct the business of the Society. Elections for posts are held each year in the autumn. The role of the President is to represent the Society on the national stage. His work is supported by additional officer posts.
President
Vice-President
Honorary Secretary
Honorary Co-Secretary
Honorary Treasurer
Honorary Auditor
Dinner Secretary
A number of Society members act as advisers with responsibility for various policy areas of interest to the Society. Currently the Society has lead authority advisers for the following areas:
Adults and Supporting People
Children’s Services
Pensions
Resource Equalisation/Pensions
Transport and Environment
Waste
County Councils Network
The Society has close links with the County Councils Network (CCN). A Lead Adviser to the CCN, a senior member of the Society of County Treasurers, is appointed annually by the Society. The Lead Adviser delivers a report on developments in local government finance to the six meetings CCN holds each year and attends meetings between CCN and central government when finance issues are being discussed.
A Brief History of the Society
Established in 1903 as the County Accountants’ Society, the SCT adopted its present name in 1950 and later a formal constitution.
Following the retirement of the Society's Honorary Treasurer (and Essex County Treasurer) in 1997 Essex Archives Online (EAO) accepted custody of the SCT's archives. However, ‘A History of the Society of County Treasurers’ has been compiled summarising this information and includes a full list of SCT members who have held the post of President.