Statement of Accounts 2011/2012 - Blackburn with Darwen Borough ...

ANNUAL GOVERNANCE STATEMENT
A health and safety audit system has been piloted in some Regeneration Department Services during the
Spring of 2012, and this is to be rolled out by the health, safety and wellbeing team during 2012-13
commencing with higher risk services. The integration of safety related management information into
existing human resource systems will help to demonstrate the effectiveness of specific Health, Safety and
Wellbeing interventions and determine areas for improvement with other services areas.
8. External inspection and assurance by OFSTED and External Audit during the year
The Ofsted Annual Assessment of Children’s Services assessed the Council as performing well, which
remains the same as the rating achieved in 2010. The large majority of services, settings and institutions
inspected by Ofsted are judged good or better and provision helps children and young people learn and
stay safe. There is very little inadequate provision and most settings have maintained good or better
performance.
In addition, the Council’s external auditors noted, in the Annual Audit Letter for 2010/11, that:
• The Council has robust financial arrangements in place to support the delivery of its strategic
objectives. Strategic, service and financial plans are integrated, with officers and members
contributing to the planning process.
• The Council is financially well managed and is particularly aware of its current financial position
and has a good track record in financial management.
• There is an effective and experienced Audit Committee in place that makes appropriate challenge
across the Council.
• The Council’s medium-term financial planning and annual budgeting reflects its strategic
objectives and priorities for the year, and over the longer term.
• Financial modelling is used to help the organisation to assess likely impacts on financial plans
and required savings for different scenarios.
• The Council produces monitoring and forecasting information that is reliable, relevant and
understandable on a regular and timely basis for budget holders throughout the year.
Data Quality - Despite formal monitoring of the Council’s data quality arrangements no longer being
required by external audit or the Audit Commission, previous monitoring arrangements have continued to
be operated. Council processes are being reassessed in light of the requirements of the Single Data List
published by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Training and awareness raising
sessions continue to be delivered, alongside formal checks on performance indicator files and
monitoring/recording processes. The Data Quality Policy will be refreshed in 2012-13 to reflect the
changed national reporting arrangements and implementation of new local arrangements (such as
electronic file management). Work is also underway to assess the Council’s compliance with the
Government’s new code of practice on Transparency, and any areas recommended for improvement will
be addressed and monitored through our existing data quality arrangements.
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