Durham Police Authority agreed its end-of-year financial position in a Committee Report at a meeting earlier this month.
Mr Keith Thompson, Treasurer of the Police Authority reported that Members of the Finance, Audit and Resources Committee had considered the report in detail prior to the meeting and had received confirmation from officers and the external auditor that no issues had been identified at this stage in the audit process.
Holding the police budget is one of the statutory functions of the Police Authority and as part of its monitoring and scrutiny process Members have debated various financial aspects of the Force budget to ensure Council Taxpayers receive value for money for policing in County Durham and Darlington.
Ms Kathryn Larkin-Bramley, Chair of the Committee and Police Authority Member, added her assurance as to the robust process adopted by the Finance, Audit and Resources Committee. Mr Norman Vaulks, Independent Member, also commented that Durham is the first Police Authority to publish its final accounts this year, and that being ahead of the game has enabled the Authority to make strong financial plans for future policing.
Mr Peter Thompson, Chair of Durham Police Authority said: “It is recognised that the required detailed financial reports are not necessarily easy for non-financial people to read. Therefore in the interests of openness and transparency, Durham Constabulary is looking to produce an easy-to-follow one page version of the Statement of Accounts for future years”. Mr Thompson continued: “I am confident that as the Police Authority comes to the end of its term as a governing body, to be replaced by the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner in November this year, the public can have confidence that the Police Authority has continued to manage and scrutinise the financial affairs of the Force and Authority with rigour on behalf of the people of County Durham and Darlington”.