Clare County Council Publishes Annual Financial Statement For 2010

Business & Finance - Industry

Tuesday, 10 May 2011 12:58

Written by Conor Joyce

Clare County Council’s Annual Financial Statement for 2010 shows that the local authority ended the year with a €112,694 surplus.
The Council through the adjustment of work programmes to the reduced budgets in 2010 and effective budget control of both expenditure and income throughout the organisation has achieved this result. 

This is a positive outcome given the difficulties experienced in a number of areas in 2010. The realisation of payroll savings as a result of the nationally implemented pay reductions, the non replacement of staff and the introduction of work practice efficiencies at local level has counterbalanced these difficulties, together with additional income received from the Non Principal Private Residence Charge.

Salaries, Wages and Pensions for 2010 were €42.2m for 2010, compared to €45.9m incurred the previous year, giving a reduction of €3.7m This arises from a combination of the reduction in pay rates across the public service, the reduction in the number of staff employed by the Council in 2010 and the introduction of work practice efficiencies at local level. 

The County manager Mr. Tom Coughlan acknowledged the support of the employees of Clare County Council in achieving these efficiencies and savings.

Head of Finance Noeleen Fitzgerald explained that the past two year budget processes have been particularly difficult requiring the Council to make expenditure savings in order to negate both the impact of reductions in the Local Government Fund and increased cost pressures in all service areas. Expenditure of €109 million in 2010 compares to €116m in 2008. 

Ms. Fitzgerald noted: “While the overall result is almost in line with the Adopted Budget, there is a continued requirement to implement strict budgetary control and collection measures in order to manage our capacity to deliver services.”