Practitioners' Guide to Capital Finance (2019 Edition)

This publication contains the background knowledge you need on capital finance and how to account for it. It summarises the key features of the systems of capital finance that operate under the Prudential Framework in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. 

It provides explanations and definitions of capital expenditure, credit arrangements and capital financing including minimum revenue provision (MRP) arrangements and local authority borrowing.

Its intention is to assist practitioners in managing the capital programmes of their authorities and in particular addressing the technical issues associated with the financing of the programme. It summarises the key capital finance implications of the Local Government Act 2003, the Local Government Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 and associated regulations.

The publication uses worked examples throughout to allow practitioners to apply theoretical concepts to practical examples. In carrying extracts from the relevant legislation and the Prudential Code, the aim has been to produce a one-stop guide for both those with previous local authority capital finance knowledge and those new to the subject.

The digital, online version is available as both searchable HTML and a bookmarked, downloadable PDF of the publication that can be shared throughout your organisation. Customers will need to register and login to CIPFA’s website to access the publication.

Details of licensing arrangements for other categories of purchaser, which includes those organisations operating shared service arrangements, are available from CIPFA’s Publications Department.