Audit Commission unhappy with Recycling and Financial Strategy

11.04.00am GMT Sat 29th Mar 2008

Cllr Jonathan Lees, leader of the Liberal Democrat group of councillors, comments on the Audit Commission's annual audit and inspection letter for 2006/7 and says it is no surprise that the Audit Commission has highlighted the borough council's financial strategy and recycling performance.

The Commission states :

"the outlook for 2008/9 and beyond is very challenging as the council faces increasing costs and constraints on its main sources of income"

The Lib Dem group has pressed the ruling Residents' Party many times to stop using reserves as a safety stop gap and to budget accordingly, but there has been little evidence of a planned strategy toward this.

When the Audit Commission comments on recycling it says

"the council still ranked amongst the worst performers nationally".

Our residents are only too aware of the poor recycling facilities in this borough and how we lag behind our neighbours. The extra doorstep collection of materials which is planned for 2009 needs to be brought on stream sooner rather than later if we are not to become THE worst performer nationally.