Title

District councils are getting better at managing their money, the latest report from the Audit Commission has claimed. The use of resources assessments for districts reveals more than half performed above the minimum standards – compared with just over one-third in 2005. Six councils received the bottom score of one – or below minimum requirements – while seven received a score of four – well above minimum requirements. President of the Society of District Council Treasurers, Chris Malyon, said the results were a ‘major achievement'. ‘We are, however, not complacent and must do all we can to help those councils which are still operating below those minimum requirements through support and exchange of best practice.' The results will be a blow for Norwich City Council. It is one of the poorest-performing councils and is currently bidding for unitary status. The Audit Commission found: 28% of councils are up on the previous year 58% of districts perform above the minimum standards – compared with just 37% in 2005 the number of councils achieving a top score of four has risen from five to seven. They are: Cambridge, Chichester, Elmbridge, Runnymede, Sevenoaks, Vale Royal and Wychavon DCs six councils are below minimum standards. They are: Great Yarmouth, Hart, Mid Devon, Northampton, Norwich City and West Somerset DCs The result follows warnings from the chairman of Ipsos MORI Social Research, Ben Page, that value for money was one of the major factors to impact on resident satisfaction, according to the results of the latest Best Value Performance Indicators. Audit Commission chief executive Steve Bundred said the results showed a ‘national trend of improvement'. He added: ‘I would like to see councils continuing to deliver better value for money for local taxpayers.'

Title

FINANCE

Districts get thumbs-up in use of resources audit

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING