Cheshire East Council has released a new document which brings a number of pieces of financial information together into one place to provide a picture of the Council's finances.
The document entitled Value for Money, Guidance and Data on the Financial Resilience of the Council brings together more than 30 graphs, charts and tables to provide information about how the Council is managing its resources and help decision making.
Cheshire East Council is responsible for public expenditure of around £700m each year, which is funded from local taxation, central taxation and charges to users.
The document is split into four key areas where the Council is able to make decisions affecting financial resilience: Local Taxation, Capital and Treasury Management, Reserves and Debt and Service Expenditure.
It shows data since the Council was formed in 2009 and considers the impact of factors such as Council Tax levels, government grants and borrowing requirements.
Councillor Peter Raynes, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member in charge of finance, said: "This is an innovative way of reporting which allows people to see how the Council is managing its finances in a way that maximises benefits to local people.
"The Council has frozen Council Tax for three consecutive years now. This is being achieved through sound financial management and by taking an innovative approach to changing the way the Council works to continue to deliver good-value services.
"For example, the highest cost, staff costs, is being reviewed through the management restructure and development of new arms-length companies.
"Also, the cost of borrowing has been reduced over time by good cash-flow management and financial reserves are being maintained at levels that protect the Council against risks.
"This document highlights how spending on local services in Cheshire East has been managed down over time and has remained below other comparable Councils.
"Such information is particularly important as we strive to deliver quality services available in the area while keeping costs down."
Government funding means that spending power per head in Cheshire East is £756. This compares with a figure of £967 for the national average for English councils.
To view the 'Value for Money, Guidance and Data on the Financial Resilience of the Council' document, visit the Council's website.
This is the first version and it is recognised that a large amount of information is provided. During 2013 and 2014, this document will be refined in light of comments and as the thinking develops over how best to present the information.
