Finance

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The Directorate of Finance is responsible for maximising the resources and assets of the Council, and ensuring that there are sound processes for protecting the integrity of the authority's business. It also provides some important direct services such as collecting council tax and providing benefits.

RBK is a tightly resourced authority with a history of value for money. In 2002/03 we spent approximately £901 per head of population, significantly lower than the outer-London average. Yet we receive one of the lowest government grants (60% of total revenue) of any authority.This means that an increasing share of the cost is borne by residents. This can be a big constraint when we are looking to invest more in better non-ring-fenced services.

However, through the Policy Programme the Council has set a clear agenda for improving services in the areas that matter most to residents. This is matched by a determination to free up resources over time to fund the improvements residents want to see. During the last year, we have been able to identify almost £1m in savings, much of which has been re-allocated to priority services. We are also committed to raising the level of the General Fund balance, giving us a more secure platform for planning future spending and better enabling us to find our improvement priorities.

You can contact the Council in a variety of ways to suit you.

Please see our Contact Us page for full details or alternatively call our Helpline (Open Monday to Friday: 8.45 - 5.00pm) on 020 8547 5757