Council appoints new finance officer

Craig Turner is the new Director for Finance and Section 151 Officer with legal responsibility for the council’s accounts.

Currently the authority’s Finance Business Manager, Craig was one of four shortlisted for the job.

Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said:

Craig already has a good reputation for common-sense hard work handling the Borough’s finances.
 

These are challenging times for local authorities, with Government funding reduced and external costs rising sharply, but I’m confident Craig will continue to manage our strong financial base on behalf of residents.”

Having joined Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council in 2000 in a junior role, Craig worked his way up through the authority while gaining his professional qualifications.

With his appointment ratified at a meeting of Full Council, Craig takes charge at a key time for the Borough Council, as it prepares its budget for 2026/27.

The authority is beginning preparations for its 2026/27 budget knowing that Government changes to Business Rates will potentially leave the authority £1.5 million worse off.

Add another £270,000 of expected additional costs locally and the council is currently facing a £1.77 million gap between known income and planned expenditure.

Simon Tagg added:

The Borough Council is already delivering good, cost-effective services, which are accountable at a local level.
 

And since 2018 annual efficiency reviews have resulted in more than £10 million of budget savings for taxpayers, while we focus on delivering good quality services for residents.
 

We have been expecting this Government recalculation of Business Rates to affect us and preparing as best we can so our communities don’t suffer the consequences.”

By law, councils must balance their budgets every year without borrowing to do so.