Financial Services is comprised of Finance and Budgetary Services, Internal Audit and Revenues and Benefits. A summary of the functions of each of the areas is as follows:

Finance and Budgetary Services

The Finance Department is responsible for the preparation and control of budgets, preparation of statutory and other accounts and associated grant claims,provision of financial management information and advice, treasury management and maintenance of the Council's bank account, insurances, payment of creditors,payment of salaries and wages, payment of income tax, national insurance and local government pension contributions and other financial matters.

In addition, a comprehensive internal audit service is provided to examine, evaluate and report on the adequacy of internal control as a contribution to the proper economic, efficient and effective use of resources.

The above responsibilities are provided by four teams reporting to the Chief Accountant who, in total, has eleven staff.

Internal Audit

The Audit Team is led by the Chief Internal Auditor and comprises two other audit staff. A detail annual Audit Plan leads the work of the section.

The costs of Financial Services are recharged to users on a variety of bases - mainly reflecting activity.

Revenues (Council Tax, Business Rates) and Benefits

The Revenues and Benefits section contains over fifty employees, responsible for the collection of Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rates (Business Rates) and Sundry Debts (such as allotment rents, trade refuse, property rents, etc.), payment of Housing and Council Tax Benefit.  The section is based at the council offices at Frankwell Quay.

There are over 41,000 domestic properties and 3,300 commercial properties. Around 9,000 sundry debtor accounts are issued each year. The total amount to be collected in 2003/2004 from all sources is in excess of £69 million.

Housing and Council Tax Benefit totalling more than £14 million is paid every year to over 5,200 claimants.