2007-2008 - Annual Audit and Inspection Letter - Derby CC v1.0

Annual Audit and Inspection Letter Derby City Council Audit 2007/08 March 2009 Contents Key messages 3 Purpose, responsibilities and scope 4 How is Derby City Council performing? 5 Looking ahead 17 Closing remarks 18 Status of our reports The Statement of Responsibilities of Auditors and Audited Bodies issued by the Audit Commission explains the respective responsibilities of auditors and of the audited body. Reports prepared by appointed auditors are addressed to non-executive directors/members or officers. They are prepared for the sole use of the audited body. Auditors accept no responsibility to: • any director/member or officer in their individual capacity; or • any third party. Key messages Key messages 1 Derby City Council is improving well. The Council is continuing to improve services across most priority areas and partnership working is effective. It continues to work well with its communities and has further improved its already sound approach to diversity and equality. Value for money has improved. People are feeling safer in their communities and most types and fear of crime are declining. Services for young people and adult social care are good. There are substantial new developments in the City Centre and greater resources for neighbourhoods, particularly in the most deprived wards. Some areas remain problematic, for example around planning, revenues and benefits and timely delivery of some of the regeneration ...