Audit scores up at Northampton Borough Council (Northampton Liberal Democrats)

Northampton Liberal Democrats <info@northamptonlibdems.org.uk>

Audit scores up at Northampton Borough Council

March 5, 2009 12:00 AM

Northampton Borough Council - reported as the 'World's Worst Council' by the Chron in 2007. Now improving since the Lib Dems' election win. Council Leader Tony Woods (Lib Dem, St David) has welcomed the council's annual inspection report by accountants KPMG, which rated the council a three-star authority for its financial management.

The report, measured against Audit Commission criteria, gave the council three out of four stars for financial management - up from just one star in 2007.

The council also received improved scores in other key areas, notably 'value for money' - up from one to two stars on last year.

The news means the council moves to a two-star authority for the first time since the government's Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) scheme was introduced.

The news comes on the same day that neighbouring councils in Northamptonshire saw their scores decline, with Corby and East Northamptonshire slipping back from three to two stars. Elsewhere in the county there was no change for councils in Wellingborough and Daventry.

Commenting on the report, Cllr. Woods said:

"This is welcome news for Northampton. After being reported as the 'world's worst council' in 2007 under the previous administration, we are now showing rapid signs of improvements.

"Having been open and honest about the council's finances back in October, we got the usual 'black hole' spin from Conservative councillors.

"This independent audit - from an international firm of accountants - vindicates our decision to go public, and supports the real work being done to turn the council around.

"But for the musical chairs by Labour and our independent councillor in 2007, causing the council to nearly miss its accounting deadline, we may have been given a three-star rating this time round.

"We must now wait on the council's Audit Commission report, expected in the spring, which we hope will pave the way for the removal of government monitoring altogether.

"We can then look to make the long-term investments in regenerating Northampton that people want to see."