Issue - meetings

This report advises the Executive of the final score for UOR CPA 2007, based on the criteria scores provided by the Audit Commission, and the detailed findings and recommendations made by the District Auditor in his final report to the Council on the UOR CPA 2007.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the final scores for the 2007 UOR CPA assessment and the successful step back up to an overall 3 in 2007 from 2 in 2006 be noted.

                        (ii)        That the report of the District Auditor attached as Annex A be noted.

REASON:      So that Members are informed on the moderated score for national publication by the Audit Commission and on the detailed findings and conclusions of the District Auditor.

Members considered a report which informed them of the final score for the Use of Resources (UOR) Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) for 2007, based on the criteria scores provided by the Audit Commission, and presented the detailed findings and recommendations of the District Auditor (DA) in respect of the UOR CPA, attached as Annex A to the report.

It was noted that the Council’s overall UOR CPA score had improved from a 2 in 2006 to a 3 in 2007 and that the DA had recorded two instances of ‘notable practice’, in respect of the Fraud service arrangements and the annual financial report.  There had also been key improvements in several of the Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOE) scores, notably Financial Reporting (KLOE 1.2), Internal Control (KLOE 4.3) and Value for Money (KLOE 5.2).  Although performance in some areas had worsened, the Council had scored well overall in respect of the detailed criteria tested across KLOEs 1-4.

The rolling UOR CPA action plan detailed all the outstanding actions necessary to address areas for improvement in order to be compliant at each level of the CPA criteria.  The Council had succeeded in obtaining full or discretionary passes in 2007 in respect of those criteria previously identified as critical to achieving an overall score of 3 for the 2007 UOR CPA.  Work was on-going to consolidate the current position and prepare for the 2008 assessment.  An update report on progress against priority actions that needed to be completed before the end of the current year would be considered by Corporate Management Team in March 2008.

Members expressed their thanks to Officers for their work in securing a significant improvement in service quality in this area.

Having noted the comments of the Shadow Executive, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the final scores for the 2007 UOR CPA assessment and the successful step back up to an overall 3 in 2007 from 2 in 2006 be noted.

                        (ii)        That the report of the District Auditor attached as Annex A be noted.

REASON:      So that Members are be informed on the moderated score for national publication by the Audit Commission and on the detailed findings and conclusions of the District Auditor.