Council leaders welcome sound financial position

Leaders of South Norfolk Council have welcomed a report from the Head of Financial Services which shows that the Council is more than half a million pounds better off than expected.

Andy Radford, who advises councillors and managers on the finances, will report to Cabinet next week that the balance of day-to-day income and spending – the Revenue Account for 2005 to 2006 – shows that savings of £538,000 were made.

Andy Radford, Head of Financial Services, said:

“Bringing expenditure in under budget was a major challenge for staff, and reflects the way officers in the Council are becoming ever more effective in managing their resources.

"The savings were made in both reducing expenditure, particularly on staff costs, and achieving more income. We also continue to get around £1.5 million from interest on our investments.”

Council Leader Vivienne Clifford-Jackson said:

“This is good news after what has been a very difficult year. Andy Radford advised us during the year that we were facing a number of challenges, and we requested staff to curtail spend whenever they could.

"We are a careful council, and when we face difficulties, we deal with them. The saving of £538,000 is very positive.”

She added:

“The bottom line is that we have good managers, who are being more imaginative, effective and efficient, and this is increasing our income from a variety of sources, including Government.

“We are making the right choices over whether projects are necessary or essential and we are investing for the future in IT. We don’t duck the difficult decisions on making savings, and we are never complacent.

"People can have confidence when they hear the Government’s watchdog, the Audit Commission, say this Council is ‘getting better quicker’.

“The secret is out: we are a good council, on the road to becoming excellent.

“We are being successful in the sound management of our overheads following a Best Value Review of our support staff which reported during the year. That review pointed the way for managers to make the savings, and there are more to come in future years. “

Geoff Rivers, South Norfolk Council’s Chief Executive said: “We have been regularly and routinely examined by the Government’s most powerful watchdog, the Audit Commission, and they tell us we are achieving Value For Money.

“We have committed professional staff and a strong leadership team in place, and I have no doubt that in the rigorous and robust judgement of the same auditors, we will continue to improve and provide Value For Money."

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