Audit Commission report lets down the people of Kent (Canterbury & Whitstable Liberal Democrats)

Canterbury & Whitstable Liberal Democrats <info@cantlibdem.org.uk>

Audit Commission report lets down the people of Kent

March 5, 2009 5:16 PM

"Kent residents will be astonished at the Audit Commission's assessment of Kent County Council's 'Use of Resources'", said Guy Voizey, parliamentary spokesman for Canterbury and Whitstable Liberal Democrats.

The Audit Commission assessed Kent's performance in its 'Use of Resources' in 2008, which includes Financial Reporting and Financial Management, to be in its top category. This is despite significant failings in the internal financial controls which contributed to the council losing £ 50 million of taxpayers' money in Icelandic banks.

"This report suggests the Audit Commission is not considering the full range of the council's activities when making its assessments. This would not surprise Kent residents, who have to drive on the county's roads and walk on the county's pavements, which have both been deteriorating seriously over the last few years.

"As a result of these gaps in performance not identified by the Audit Commission, Kent County Council has become complacent over recent years. The council has chosen to waste public money on projects which attract media attention, but provide little benefit for local people, such as the Kent TV station, or on expensive restructurings which do not deliver the intended 'efficiency savings', such as the reorganisation of Kent Highways.

"It appears Kent County Council has diverted resources to meet the insufficient requirements of box-tickers at the Audit Commission, rather than to deliver better services to the people of Kent.