SUMMARY/PURPOSE
1.
To
present to the Executive the 2001/2002 District Auditor’s Annual Audit Letter
to the Council. The District Auditor
will present the letter to the meeting and will be able to answers Members’
questions.
BACKGROUND
2.
The
background to, purposes and objectives of the Audit Letter are set out on pages
2 and 3 of that Letter, which is attached at Appendix 1. Members will note that the period covered by
the Audit Letter includes the first Comprehensive Performance Assessment. The key messages section of the Audit Letter
refers to the CPA conclusion and, at pages 3 and 4, sets out the view of the
District Auditor that, within the context of a generally positive CPA
conclusion, there are seven priorities which need to be addressed over the
coming year.
3.
Members
will wish to note that the District Auditor comments that core service performance
compares favourably with neighbouring unitary authorities and, furthermore,
that services are improving. Using the
language of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment, the District Auditor
concludes that the Council has good prospects of moving quickly from a fair to
a good overall performance.
STRATEGIC CONTEXT
4. The priorities
identified by the District Auditor are all matters contained in, referred to
and consistent with Parts 3 and 4 of the Corporate Plan and, further are
addressed by the 5 priorities of the Improvement Plan (maintaining momentum, performance management, organisational
development, modernised political structures and
best value reviews).
CONSULTATION
5.
This
report enables the presentation of the District Auditor’s Annual Letter. The Council has had the opportunity to
comment on the factual context of the draft Letter but other than this there
has been no consultation with third parties.
FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPLICATIONS
6.
No
financial implications arise from consideration of the Audit Letter.
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
7.
No
legal implications arise from consideration of the Audit Letter.
OPTIONS
8.
The
Executive has an obligation to receive the Letter and Members may wish to take
the opportunity to question the District Auditor as to its context and
contents. The response of the Council
to the Audit Letter will be contained within the annual action statement which
is planned for by, and designed to deliver the objectives within, the corporate
plan. Therefore no options are
considered within this report other than inviting Members to note the Letter
and to commit to adopting an annual action statement which addresses each of
the key messages identified by the District Auditor in the Letter.
EVALUATION/RISK MANAGEMENT
9.
Given
the obligation of the Council to receive, consider and respond to the Letter
(and using the device of the annual action statement for the substantive
response) there can be no meaningful evaluation of options or discussion of
risk management within this covering report.
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RECOMMENDATIONS 10.
It is recommended that the Executive:- a.
Receive the District Auditor’s Letter and put questions to him. b.
That the Executive receives by the end of March a further report
adopting an annual action statement including the corporate response to the
District Auditor’s Letter. |
BACKGROUND PAPERS
11.
None.
Contact Point : John
Pulsford, ( 823601,
e-mail: john.[email protected]
|
M
J A FISHER and Strategic Director of
Corporate and Environment Services |
R R BARRY, Portfolio Holder For
Resources |