Lewes tax payers' money being wisely spent by District, say Audit Commission

10.10.14am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 31st Mar 2008

The Audit Commission have praised Lib Dem-run Lewes District for sound financial management.

The groans about the latest rise in council tax may still be reverberating around the area, but at least residents of Lewes district can comfort themselves with the knowledge that their money is being wisely and effectively spent.

The Liberal Democrat-run Lewes District Council has just been ranked 14th-equal out of the 238 district councils in England and Wales based on five criteria in a survey by the Audit Commission.

The Commission looked at use of resources, financial reporting, financial management, financial standing, and internal control. With a score of 16 out of 20, Lewes joins seven other districts in joint 14th place. Each category was marked out of four, with Lewes gaining the top mark for its internal control, one of only 29 councils to score a maximum 'excellent' mark.

Leader of the district council Ann De Vecchi said: "Obviously we're delighted that the work of councillors and officers has been recognised by the Audit Commission, but all else being equal this should have allowed us to reduce council tax or raise our public services. Instead, our good housekeeping has only made the bitter pill of the latest funding cuts from Whitehall just that little bit easier for us and council tax payers to swallow, which is hardly grounds for celebration

"Because it's Lewes District Council that sends out council tax demands, it would be easy for people to think that we're the ones responsible for the tax rises at a time when we're having to cut back on certain services, but nothing could be further from the truth. Our funding has been cut by the government, and they're also expecting us to pay for a laudable bus pass scheme that they will no doubt take credit for. It's a shame Westminster and Whitehall don't take Lewes district's good housekeeping record as an incentive to make better spending decisions of their own."

Over the 17 years Lewes District Council has been run by the Lib Dems, it has been consistently praised by the Audit Commission for its sound financial management, often in very difficult circumstances.