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FINANCIAL TRAINING FOR ELECTED MEMBERS
THE ROLE OF FINANCE
Section 151 Officer
Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires that every local authority in England and Wales should “... make arrangements for the proper administration of their financial affairs and shall secure that one of their officers has responsibility for the administration of those affairs”
Section 114unlawful expenditure or unbalanced budget
Requires a report to all the local authority’s members to be made by that officer, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Head of Paid Service, if there is or is likely to be unlawful expenditure or an unbalanced budget.
The Local Government Act
the full council meeting has a statutory role to set the authority’s policy framework as well as approving the budget and setting the council tax.
local authorities will need to ensure that the S151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer have access as necessary to meetings and papers and that members must consult with him/her regularly.
Financial Services
Assists managers to manage their budgets; Provides technical advice on accounting law; Provides budget monitoring information to
Committees & Management Board; Prepares the Statutory Accounts; Treasury Management activity; Financial systems, creditors and debtors; Cashiering, insurance, housing benefits subsidy,
asset management,and financial support.
Internal Audit (South West Audit Partnership)
Role:
Independent appraisal of risk and internal control systems.
Reports on adequacy of systems of financial, managerial and operational control.
Ad hoc reviews.
Internal Audit
Will report on:– relevance of policies, plans and procedures;
– extent of compliance;
– extent of risk exposure;
– adequacy of guidance;
– extent that assets and interests are safeguarded;
– reliability and integrity of financial and management systems (incl. computer systems);
– actions taken to remedy identified weaknesses.
FINANCING LOCAL SERVICES
The Legal Position
Full Council must approve the budget.
Delegation of responsibility for monitoring to the Executive.
Policy changes should be reflected in budgets.
Scrutiny can call in reports.
Setting the Budget
A Medium Term Financial Strategy and a five year Plan.
Annual balanced budget now an ongoing exercise to look for budget savings.
Efficiency agenda Assess income due and compare to planned
expenditure. Assess funds available for new capital
schemes through capital strategy.
Potential Budgets
R e v e n u e B u d g e t
O n -g o in g
r e n t
g a s /e le c t r ic i t y
e m p lo y e e s
C a p i t a l B u d g e t
I T
n e w b u i l d i n g s
O n c e O f f
p r o j e c t s
Use of Revenue and Capital Resources
Revenue funds can finance both revenue and capital.
Capital resources can only be used for capital schemes. De-minimus £10,000 (£500 for capital grants)
Funding Revenue Budgets
Where Does Our Funding Come From?
Government Grants10% Council Tax
11%
Fees & charges18%
Benefit Subsidy60%
Return on Investments1%
Fees and Charges
Planning fees
Car parking
Licencing
Trading
– Octagon
– Markets
– Property
Borrowing and Investments
Prudential Code Approximately £42million investments including
cash flow “Debt free” Investments will raise £0.8 million in interest in
2011/12
Council Tax
Local control but …… gearing
Banding system
Community consultation/referendum
Council tax freeze grant
Gearing
Current
Budget £10 million
Council Tax £ 1 million
Plan
Budget £11 million
(+ 10%)
Council Tax £ 2 million
(increase of 100%)
Council Tax Billing
Council tax bands set by central government.
Council tax rates set by local councils.
Discounts, exemptions and reductions set by central government but with some local discretion.
2nd homes and empty property rates
Where my Council Tax Goes
How does SSDC spend it's £17.3 million budget?
Place and Performance
3%
Finance and Corporate Services
6%
Legal and Corporate Services
11%
Communities11%
Strategic Management
4%
Environment41%
Customer Services3%
Economy8%
Health and Wellbeing13%
Council Tax Collection
Billing authorities are Metropolitans, Unitaries, and Districts.
Bills delivered before 1st April. Legislation prescribes collection process – some
local discretion. All funds collected go into Collection Fund and
redistributed to precepting authorities. Collection rate 2010/11 98%.
Assets and Capital
SSDC asset holdings
Levels of investment (past, current, future)
Capital Strategy
Asset Management Plans
Government Grant
Assessment of need through 4 block model Formula Grant = RSG + NNDR Damping “Spending Power” £1.4 million cut in 2011/12 £0.9 million cut for 2012/13
MANAGING FINANCES EFFECTIVELY
Balancing the Revenue Budget
Income Due
Fees and Charges Council taxes Formula grant Use of balances Other grants
Planned Expenditure
Start with this year’s budget Add inflation/pay increases Inescapable commitments Corporate Plan bids Identify savings
2011/12 Budgets
Revenue Budget
£17.3 million net.
£81.9 million gross.
Capital Programme
£5.3 million.
The Capital Programme
Capital Strategy.
Existing schemes reviewed to ensure funding remains accurate.
Priority given to essential schemes e.g.maintenance of existing facilities and assets.
Capital Appraisal procedures and project management process
All bids assessed through a scoring methodology.
Approving the Budget
In February and should include:
council tax increase and amounts for each band;
totals delegated to Assistant Directors/Managers;
levels of balances and reserves;
statement of robustness of budget and adequacy of reserves.
Criteria for Good Financial Standing
Consistency year on year.
Appropriate general fund balance based on financial risks.
Specific reserves.
Clear annual audit opinion.
Good Financial Management
Clear officer delegation. Regular monitoring by Management Board. Regular monitoring by Executive. Clear virement rules.
Financial Management Guidance and Law
Financial Procedure Rules
Procurement Procedure Rules
CIPFA Code of Practice
Local Government Acts
Understanding the Committee Budget Reports
Reports show movements from the original budget approved at the beginning of the year
Levels of balances and reserve
Areas of risk
Partnerships
Virements requiring approval and noting
Projecting figures for the year end
Under Financial Procedure Rules, managers cannot overspend
Predictions for variations
Managers should manage fluctuations within resources
… cont’d
Reserves and Balances
Types– Working balances– Provision for specific purposes– Delegated to Committees
Level– Strategy– Risks
Balanced budget (MTFP)
TREASURY MANAGEMENT
Treasury and Cash Management
Short term cashflow management.
Long term borrowing strategy.
Long term investment strategy.
Aims of Treasury Management Strategy
Sets limits for borrowing. Prudential Indicators. Minimise interest payable and maximise
interest receivable.(Note - protection of the capital sum is paramount).
Control and management of the risks.
Managing the Risk
Members approve the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy Statement annually.
Senior officer responsible for processes and procedures.
Adequate officer time input into the activity. Regular reports to Audit Committee and full
Council. Effective performance management and
comparison.
Managing Funds
In-house management
Borrowing
External consultants
Types of Investment
Term Deposits Gilts Eurobonds Floating Rate Notes Money Market Funds Reserve Accounts Cash DMADF
Importance of Treasury Management to SSDC
On average, £40+ million invested.
Supports Revenue Account - budgeted income £0.8 million.
An increase of 3% in interest rates would double our income.
Currently 5% of net budget.