Press Release

Council improves financial performance

17th November 2005

Members of Derry City Council’s Policy and Resources Committee today received a performance report outlining the favourable financial performance for Council during the period April 2005 - September 2005 compared to 2004.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Thomas Conway, Chair of Policy and Resources Committee said that indicators in the report show measures are in place to control expenditure and make a difference.

“The performance report reassured members that control measures are taking effect resulting with an overall favourable variance in the budget position. Compared with 2004, expenditure has reduced, income has increased and savings in overtime payments were achieved.

“Derry City Council remains committed to robust financial management and will continue to set targets to manage expenditure and improve on those issues such as overtime and sickness payments”. Cllr Conway concluded:

“As a major employer, Derry City Council has to balance its statutory responsibility to staff with its requirement to ensure measures and interventions are in place to manage overtime and sickness. Overtime payments have reduced by almost 60,000 with sickness costs showing stability with a slight improvement. Overall, this is moving in the right direction and indicates that measures to manage attendance and reduce sickness costs can make a difference to the overall council financial position”.

Derry City Council manages an annual budget of £25m with report indicates that overall net expenditure is in line with budget. While the favourable variance of £761,347 is largely attributable to the Culmore Landfill site remaining open beyond the planned closure there has been a savings of 9% in the area of overtime, sickness and mileage payments.

The report was presented to the Policy and Resources Committee is available via www.derrycity.gov.uk/thisweek.

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