Stoke-on-Trent city councillors are set to renew their commitment to running the authority in the best interests of residents and businesses, and providing continued value for money.
Members of the council’s Audit Committee are expected to approve the authority’s annual governance statement when they next meet on 23 August.
The document - a requirement under national accounts and audit regulations - sets out a wide range of stringent measures that the authority has in place to ensure that it is properly run and that it spends publicly money wisely. It covers issues ranging from how councillors and officers conduct themselves, through to performance management, accounts and audit procedures, procurement, and who’s authorised to take council decisions.
Councillor Paul Shotton, the city council’s deputy leader who has responsibility for commissioning, procurement and finance, said: “The annual governance statement clearly sets out the checks and procedures that we had in place in 2011/12, and underlines our commitment to build on these in 2012/13 and beyond.
“It’s vital that a public organisation as large as ours can operate effectively and confidently on behalf of the people and businesses it serves. We must ensure that we act legally and to the highest standards, and that we safeguard and spend public money wisely, delivering true value-for-money services.
“By being an effective and confident council, we’re well-placed to make Stoke-on-Trent a great working city and to deliver our Mandate for Change. A key part of our governance arrangements for 2012/13 is our Mandate for Change delivery plan. It sets out our strategic aims and priorities for the city, and how we’ll closely monitor their delivery.”