Eastbourne Borough Council to be probed
AN investigation will take place into Eastbourne Borough Council's poor performance after the council was found to be the worst in the south east.
In addition to the poor rating given on a new government website last week, this week council bosses received more uncomfortable reading as auditors wrote to them saying Eastbourne Borough Council does not provide value for money.
Last week's Herald reported that the new Oneplace website, which combines data collected by six inspectorates to provide consumers with a way of finding out how their council, hospital, police force, fire brigade and prison are performing, gives Eastbourne Borough Council an overall rating of 'poor'. The Audit Commission report, which provided the data which appears on the website, criticised the way the council handles housing benefit, the lack of affordable housing, the low recycling rate and said the council does not set itself clear targets.
The council has responded to the criticisms by saying improvements have been made since the data was collected.
It says it expects to hit government targets for decent homes and is on course to exceed government recycling targets for 2010. The council also said that its new senior management structure will save 290,000 a year.
But at a meeting of the council's audit committee on Monday, a letter and final report from the council's auditors backed up criticisms made in comments on the Oneplace site as to how the council handles its finances. The report, which found financial reporting is poor, says the council should now focus on balancing its finances (in September there was a predicted overspend of 385,000), continuing to improve the use of resources and it encourages it to be more transparent.
A letter sent to councillors said the council provides poor value for money because, "The council did not put in place adequate arrangements for financial reporting that are timely, reliable and meet the needs of internal users, stakeholders and local people."
The council's scrutiny committee is to investigate the criticisms made by auditors and those revealed on the Oneplace website.
The committee's chairman, Cllr Graham Marsden (Con), said, "The investigation will follow similar lines to that held last year into the financial loss at Airbourne. Work on this investigation will be cross-party, commence in the new year and should be completed before the end of this financial year."
Borough supporters hit back
A NUMBER number of senior business figures have come out in support of the town and the council.
• Christina Ewbank, president of the chamber of commerce, said, "While I am all for public accountability, the report bears little resemblance to the town I know. The chamber of commerce and council meet regularly and our dialogue is better than ever. We support the positive changes being made, including the new senior management structure, and welcome the new thinking and determination to succeed that is clearly evident among the decision makers at the Town Hall."
• Bill Plumridge, manager of the Arndale Centre, said, "It concerns me that a report like this that attracts so much attention is based on statistics that are nearly two years old. I have no doubt that if the survey work was carried out now they would arrive at very different conclusions. I'm happy with the work and services the council provides and the way the town is developing."
• Marco Giorgio, chairman of the Eastbourne Hospitality Association, said, "I understand the survey found that 85 per cent of residents thought Eastbourne was a great place to live and I couldn't agree more. It is a fantastic place for residents and our many millions of visitors.
"There will always be tough issues to tackle wherever you live, but I believe the town is heading in the right direction."
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Weather for Hastings
Sunday 05 February 2012
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