’Use of Resources’ gets improved score

(Date of issue: Wednesday, 18 March 2009)

Carlisle City Council’s finances have been given a seal of approval, after being rated as ‘performing well’ by a government department.

The Audit Commission’s ‘use of resources’ assessment evaluates how well councils manage and use their resources. It focuses on the importance of having strategic financial management, sound governance, effective financial reporting and providing value for money to local taypayers.

Carlisle City Council has been awarded, for the first time, an overall score of three, only one score away from the top score – a level four.

Cllr John Mallinson, Portfolio holder for Finance and Performance Management, said:

“The Audit Commission’s rating acknowledges the hard work that has been done behind-the-scenes, by all our staff and in particular, our finance team. Their efforts have ensured that our public accounting is at a high level. In these hard economic times, it is reassuring to hear that our finances are being managed well.”

As part of the assessment, that relates to the 2007/08 financial year, the Audit Commission has also reported that the City Council has improved in most ‘use of resources’ areas, particularly in ‘achieving good value for money’ and ‘managing significant business risks’.

A full copy of the assessment will be available from the Civic Centre’s Customer Contact Centre and the City Council’s website – www.carlisle.gov.uk   – from April onwards.