Council Leader Russell Roberts has welcomed the first Annual Corporate Assessment by the Wales Audit Office as a strong endorsement of the Council’s direction and delivery of important services.
County Borough Councillor Russell Roberts said:“This Annual Corporate Assessment is a strong endorsement of the direction of travel the Council is taking and I welcome the positive recognition it provides for the political leadership and corporate management of the Council.
“This Assessment is the first the Council has received and pleasingly in these challenging economic times, it commends the strong financial position of the Council and the robustness of our financial management procedures.
“The report also recognises the strategic approach we have consistently taken in our decision making and these comments support the direction the Cabinet and I have taken since 2004.
“While the report states we are well placed to continue improving into the future, I am keen as Leader to ensure that we do not rest on our laurels and how ever difficult the situation, frontline services protection and improvement in the services that matter to local people will be the target for our attention now and into the future.
“Now and into the future strong financial management of the Council’s resources will remain significantly important.”
The Summary including areas for improvement within Annual Corporate Assessment by the Wales Audit Office are listed below:
1. How the Council has approached improvement ver time:
“The Council has improved considerably from a very difficult position, largely through effective financial stewardship and a realistic approach to priorities, and is well placed to improve further”
- The Council has improved a very poor financial position and achieved significant improvement in services since 2000.
- Underpinned by rigorous financial control, the Council now has generally effective arrangements to support improvement.
- A clear understanding of priorities and future challenges equips the Council to continue making improvements.
2. Analysis of the Council’s arrangements to help it improve:
“Strong leadership and a clear strategic approach are supported by well-managed finances, partnerships and staff, although the Council does not consistently identify and evaluate outcomes.”
- Strong and united leadership continues to drive firm financial management that supports the Council’s priorities although the political culture remains adversarial.
- A clear and careful strategic approach is founded in realistic priorities and a generally effective approach to partnership working.
- The Council uses management information well and is making largely effective use of its people although it is not yet identifying or evaluating all outcomes effectively.
- The Council is making progress in its approach to managing its estate and using ICT to support improvement.
The Auditor General is required by the Local Government (Wales) Measure (2009) (the Measure) to undertake an annual Improvement Assessment for each improvement authority in Wales.
