How Much did Somerset County Council lose in Iceland ?

30/04/08 PRESS RELEASE

Somerset County Council Praised by Auditors

Somerset County Council’s process for setting up Southwest One, a Joint Venture Company between Somerset County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council, IBM, and more recently, the Avon and Somerset Police Authority, has been praised by Auditors this week.

Somerset County Council Resources Scrutiny Sub-Committee heard on Monday that the partnership arrangement has been one of the most scrutinised processes that the Audit Commission’s specialist had witnessed.

In presentations made by the Audit Commission and Grant Thornton, the Audit Commission specifically commended the County Council for the arrangements it had established to secure value for money with the partnership, the robustness of their client arrangements and the thoroughness of their procurement process.

Councillor Jill Shortland, Leader of Somerset County Council and Councillor Ross Henley, Leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council, said: “We are proud of what we have achieved here. We’ve created a way forward with authority partners and the private sector towards delivering services for residents which will be improved and more cost-efficient. This brings a final confirmation from the Audit Commission of the commendable work that Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council, both excellent authorities, have done to secure this work in Somerset and to bring in a global company to boost the Somerset Economy.”

The Audit Commission and Grant Thornton gave presentations as part of their routine audit work over the arrangements of Southwest One.


THE ANSWER IS £25,000,000 OF YOUR MONEY

ASK THE AUDIT COMMISSION HOW MUCH THEY LOST

THE ANSWER IS £10,000,000 OF YOUR MONEY

AUDITS WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR,ABSOLUTELY NOTHING