Annual Audit Letter 2008/09 - Reigate and Banstead Borough Council

Section oneExecutive Summary (continued)Future Issues (cont)• Sustainability performance - The Treasury is developing guidance for 2010/2011 which will require all publicsector bodies to report publicly on sustainability performance in annual reports. CIPFA is in discussion with theTreasury about when and in what form this requirement will be formalised for local authorities. The reportedinformation will be subject to audit and scrutiny. Sustainability reporting will be difficult to implement and manyorganisations will need to act quickly to implement new information gathering processes.• Public expenditure forecasts indicate that there will be significant pressure on local authorities’ funding in themedium term. Future financial settlements will be tight, increasing the need for local authorities to havecomprehensive efficiency programmes supported by sound financial management arrangements. The Councilwill need to carefully consider what action it takes to ensure that sufficient savings and efficiencies areachieved to mitigate the impact on services provided. More than ever before, officers and Members will needto focus on identifying these significant savings measures and ensuring that robust arrangements are in placeto monitor their delivery to ensure they are realised. The Council has a good track record in delivering suchefficiency and savings targets. It will, however, be necessary to continually assess and update the Council’splans to ensure that you can deliver the levels of savings required for the future, particularly as pressureincreases to minimise council tax rises.AcknowledgementWe would like to thank the Council’s management and staff for the help, support and co-operation they haveprovided throughout our audit.© 2009 KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership, is a subsidiary of KPMG Europe LLP and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent memberfirms affiliated with KPMG International, a Swiss cooperative. All rights reserved. This document is confidential and its circulation and use are restricted. KPMGand the KPMG logo are registered trademarks of KPMG International, a Swiss cooperative. The Concordat logo is reproduced by permission of the AuditCommission. KPMG LLP is not a signatory to the Concordat but supports the broad principles that are promoted by the Concordat.3