Managing the finances

As the council’s chief financial officer I am required by law to ensure the proper management and lawfulness of the council’s financial affairs and to secure the best possible value for money for our residents and local taxpayers.

In common with many councils, Bournemouth will have lost 47 per cent of its government grant funding by the end of 2015/16 compared to its position in 2009/10.

Unlike others however, Bournemouth’s front line services remain as good as ever if not better, public satisfaction rates have increased to 68 per cent (amongst the highest in the country) and the council remains committed to its ambitious and unrivalled agenda to build a better Bournemouth – making a real difference to people’s prosperity and the long term wellbeing of the town.

All this has been achieved whilst also freezing or actively reducing council tax in each of the last four years.

As regards the specific issue raised regarding the level of council reserves, general un-earmarked reserves currently stand at just below £11m and will fall to approx £10m by the end of the current financial year, which is at the bottom end of the range assessed as being safe as set out in the budget for 2014/15.

I would like to reassure your readers therefore, that whilst the council’s finances remain ever-challenging, your correspondents’ criticisms are sadly ill-informed and wrong.

The financial affairs and strategy of the council are a matter of open public record. Rather than rehearsing every particular of the misplaced concerns expressed to date, I would simply remind those involved that I am happy to discuss matters with them in person at any time to help them better understand the challenges involved in managing the finances of a complex, public and democratically accountable body like a council.

LIZ WILKINSON, Executive Director (Finance), Bournemouth Borough Council