We're into the new financial year now, so precept payments should be arriving in the next few days, if they haven't already. No council should put itself in a position where a relatively minor blip such as this could have such serious consequences. All councils should hold between six and twelve months' expenditure in a general reserve account, in addition to any designated funds for specific projects.
If a council finds itself in a precarious financial position, the first port of call should be the principal authority (district council etc), as they have the power to lend money.