Figuring out the figures

Date published: 22/08/2008

Local people are being asked to help their police authority improve the complex financial information it provides to members of the public.

Greater Manchester Police Authority’s Assistant Treasurer Roger Bell is writing to dozens of people asking for their views on the Authority’s annual summary of accounts statement.

The summary is taken from a lengthy 87-page formal statement of accounts, which the Authority is legally obliged to produce.

The summary is aimed at offering key pieces of information from the formal version in a more user-friendly format and the Authority is keen to ensure it’s doing just that.

Mr Bell said: “We hope the summary version will be read by a wider audience and encourage more members of the public to take an interest in the Authority’s affairs.

“Members of the public are the ones who know best what works for them so it makes sense to ask them how they think we can get better when it comes to producing the summaries.”

The summary for 2007/2008 will be issued once the formal statement has been audited and signed off by an external auditor, which will be by the end of September 2008.

In the meantime, people have been contacted and asked for their views on last year’s summary and how they feel improvements can be made.

Their letter includes a copy of the 2006/07 summary, a questionnaire, a pre-paid response envelope and details of where the full formal statement of 2006/07 accounts can be found:

www.gmpa.gov.uk/publications/financialdocuments.htm

To take part in the consultation contact Roger Bell in the first instance:

Email: roger.bell@salford.gov.uk

Tel: 0161 793 3249