Draft audit seal of approval for Cheshire East

Auditors have given Cheshire East a provisional seal of approval over its management of council finances.

But they are concerned that Cheshire East Council is getting best value for money in its use of resources.

The council's external auditors, Grant Thornton, present their draft findings from its 2012/13 audit to Cheshire East's Audit and Governance Committee next week.

The report spells out their opinion on how well the council is doing in securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the use of resources.

The auditor's draft report says: "We are satisfied that in all significant respects the Council put in place proper arrangements to secure economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources."

"The Council made significant improvements to its arrangements to secure financial resilience, developing business proposals and managing major projects."

But they do warn of some weaknesses and they set out an action plan for the council to help them address outstanding issues.

The action plan includes reviewing its collection of Council Tax arrears, tightening records on gifts and hospitality, ensuring capital budgets are set at a realistic level and sticking more closely to those realistic budgets.

Value for money is a high priority for Cheshire East as it plans to shed some services and become a 'commissioning authority' in the medium term.

But the audit report warns: "As is it moves towards differing models of delivering services the Council will require robust governance and risk management both itself and also its arms length service providers."

"The Council also needs to ensure that its policies, procedures and decision making processes remain fit for purpose during this period of significant change."

Councillors will consider the report at a meeting of the Audit and Governance Committee on September 27.

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