Finance, Benefits and Taxation - Policies & Performance

The Financial Services Division is part of the Finance Directorate. It provides a range of core financial and accountancy services which support the delivery of frontline services and ensure the Council’s finances are managed well.

Foreword by Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Communications, Councillor James Page

I am pleased to introduce this service plan for the coming year.

The Financial Services Division provides a range of support services that lie at the heart of the Council. Without strong financial management, the Council’s ability to deliver its services successfully would be severely compromised. In addition, the Council’s spending plans, accounts and financial strategies are important to local taxpayers and we need to ensure that details about them are readily available on a timely basis and are explained as simply as possible.

The services that the Division delivers direct to the Council’s employees, customers and suppliers are of equal importance to the support service role, and will continue to operate efficiently and fairly.

The Division's service delivery and improvement plan is challenging, but one which will make an important contribution to the priorities of the new Council following the District Council elections in May 2011.

Services

Accountancy Services
Treasury Management
Payments and Payroll
Income
Insurance

Aims, Objectives and Outcomes

We aim to provide a range of efficient and effective financial services which help the Council to maximise use of its financial resources and ensure its future financial stability.

Service Objectives	Outcomes
Accountancy Services – to provide managers and councillors with an efficient, accurate and robust accountancy service which meets all relevant standards and aims for best practice where appropriate	Independent external auditors continue to assess the Council's financial management and reporting as being of a high standard.
Payment Services – to pay both external customers and suppliers and the Council's staff promptly and efficiently.	Invoices are paid promptly and within national standards. Suppliers are satisfied with the speed of payments. Staff salaries are paid accurately and on time.
Income Services – to process income and collect payments due promptly and efficiently.	Income is processed within 2 working days of receipt. Payments owed to the Council are collected promptly and recovery action is in place to recover all outstanding debts.
Insurance – to ensure the Council, its staff, buildings and assets are properly insured. Claims against the Council are resolved equitably.	The Council has adequate insurance cover and can meet its obligations if any claims are made against it.

Service Standards

In addition to our Customer Charter we have adopted the following service standards that you can expect from us.

Pay our suppliers within 30 days of receiving their invoice.
Publish details of the Council’s budget and accounts by the end of July each year.
Send out a financial summary to all council tax payers each year.
Publish details of our spending above £500.

Equalities

Under the General Public Sector Equality Duty (2010) we must :-

eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation;
advance equality of opportunity between different groups in the community; and
foster good relations within the local community

We carry out equality impact assessments (EIAs) for new or existing policies, strategies and services to see what effect they will have on different groups within our communities. This helps us to identify potential consequences for these groups and ensure any negative impacts are eliminated or reduced. They can also help us to identify actions to eliminate discrimination and promote positive relations between groups which are incorporated into our Departmental Service Plan.

Further information is available on our Equalities Policy and for copies of our Equality Impact Assessments.

Developing and Improving our Services

We have assessed the risks and the main drivers for change likely to impact the service during 2011/12:

National impacts

Localism and the Transparency Agenda;
Pressure on budgets and resources and the impact this has on the control environment and risks to the Council;
The new Public Sector Equality Duty.

Local impacts

The impact of organisational changes on the Council’s financial management arrangements;
Changes in joint working/shared services agenda in collaboration with other Councils in East Sussex; and
The change in political administration following the District Council elections in May 2011.

Performance, Progress and Forward Plans

We have reviewed our progress and performance for last year. A summary is provided here.

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PDF Financial Services - Service Plan - Progress and Performance Report 2010-11 (0.14mb)

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PDF Finance Department - Service & Improvement Plan 2011-12 (0.03mb)

Department Policies & Strategies

We publish the details of how we organise and decide the various aspects of our work. The policies list the rules we work to and the strategies show what we are planning to achieve and how.

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PDF Anti-Money Laundering Policy (0.08mb)

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PDF Capital Strategy (0.12mb)

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PDF Treasury Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy (0.19mb)

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PDF Medium Term Financial Strategy (0.85mb)

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PDF Annual and Strategic Audit Plans (mb)

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PDF Benefits Service Policy and Strategy (mb)

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PDF Local Housing Allowance - Safeguard Policy (mb)