Issued: 09 July 2008
Council Budget Managed Well
Angus Council’s Corporate Services convener Mark Salmond says he is pleased with the way council departments are managing their budgets.
Members of the council noted the 2007/08 draft accounts at the meeting of the full council at the end of June. The draft accounting statements have now been submitted to the controller of audit.
“It has been another tight funding year but departments have exercised due care and have once again managed their cash limited budgets very effectively,” said Councillor Salmond.
“The underspend highlighted earlier this year was robustly monitored and as a consequence £3.6m has been reallocated for use this financial year which will help us manage budget issues.
“Although a significant proportion of our £29m reserves and balances are committed the council’s finances are still reasonably protected in the medium term. To give us a sound financial cushion against unforeseen costs or events we have raised the General Fund contingency to £3.25m for 2008/09.
“Our continued improvement in council tax collection helped boost last year’s finances and despite some slippage in the capital budget we still managed to invest £33m in schools, roads, houses and other facilities.”
Councillor Salmond concluded by saying that tight financial monitoring would continue during 2008/09 to ensure the council achieved maximum benefit from the resources available to it.