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Membership:
Chair - Councillor Fairbank
Councillors Cooper, Fuller, Lowe and Rowe
Terms of Reference:
1. To review the format, timing and process by which the Council currently presents financial information to Members, including budget-setting and financial monitoring, and identify ways in which this can be improved as necessary;
2. To identify appropriate ways to improve Members' understanding of basic finance issues including terminology, for example guidance notes and training; and
To identify ways to improve Members' understanding of the Council's financial and service planning and explore the role for overview and scrutiny in the budget-setting and monitoring process.
Meeting 1 - 30th August 2006
Members discussed the key issues to be addressed during this review, and agreed a terms of reference and a programme for work.
Meeting 2 - 13th September 2006
The panel reviewed some of the current ways in which financial information is presented to Members - including the Members' Handbook and Member training sessions.
Meeting 3 - 27th September 2006
Further consideration was given to the role of training in communicating financial information to Members.
Meeting 4 - 11th October 2006
The panel reviewed the way in which financial information is presented in committee reports and papers, and considered examples of good practice from other local authorities and public sector organisations.
Meeting 5 - 29th November 2006
In light of information gathered during the review, Members considered a list of possible areas for improvement and recommendation.
Meeting 6 - 15th December 2006
The panel agreed the final report and recommendations.
The final |report and recommendations was presented to the Corporate Affairs Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 25th January 2006 and was recommended to Cabinet for approval.
For further information please contact the |Overview and Scrutiny Officer.