Audit Commission Report (12/04/07)

South Bedfordshire District Council has recorded an improvement in the way it manages its finances from two to three in a report by the Audit Commission.

It follows the council being assessed as Good in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment carried out in 2004.

The report, which was presented to the Audit Committee last night (11 April 2007) looked at several factors including financial reporting, financial management and financial standing as well as internal control and value for money.

It highlights how the council has improved almost half of the areas where performance is measured while at the same time reducing expenditure. The council was praised for how it listens to residents and provides value for money for the taxpayer and spending this money wisely.

Over the past year the council has:

• Led on safer communities work including improved crime and disorder partnership arrangements and has installed additional CCTV which has helped to reduce crime.
• Set up a focused Envirocrime Unit to show our commitment to the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.
• Improved access to services by setting up systems that allow customers to pay their bills in Post Offices, Paypoints and Payzones as well as planning the new Citizone Points of Presence scheme the first of which opens in Leighton Buzzard on 23 April. This has increased access points to the council from three to 49.
• Delivered planned improvements including the £16 million regeneration project, which includes Grove Theatre due to open on 21 April.
• Planned organisational review that aims to reduce the layers of management, reduce duplication and change ways of working to increase efficiency.

The report also looked at the way the council spent its money and highlighted that it demonstrated efficiency and value for money in services.

Chief Executive, Jon Ruddick said: 2This report by the Audit Commission is important for a number of reasons, not least of all it shows residents that their council is spending their money wisely to the benefit of taxpayers, those who pay business rates, receive benefits and everyone living here. It also highlights that the council has improved its financial management from an already solid base and is committed to improving further."