County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority has been handed a clean bill of financial health by the Audit Commission following the annual audit of accounts for the 2010/11 financial year.
 
The Audit Commission has undertaken the annual audit that looks at the financial accounting policies and procedures that are in place and assesses arrangements for value for money

Cllr Gordon Tennant, Chair of the Fire and Rescue Authority said “The Audit Commission has issued an unqualified audit opinion and has identified that we have proper arrangements in place for securing value for money. The Fire and Rescue Authority is rightly proud of the services it provides to local people in County Durham and Darlington and it is pleasing to note that the Audit Commission has highlighted some of the excellent work we have undertaken to provide value for money services to local communities.”

John Hewitt, Director of Corporate Resources, said “The Audit Commission has recognised that this Fire and Rescue Authority has a robust approach to financial planning and has put arrangements in place to take account of the extremely difficult financial landscape. The Fire and Rescue Authority has taken some difficult decisions to ensure it is in a position to balance its budget and to ensure services represent value for money for local taxpayers and this approach has been recognised as part of the annual audit assessment.”