FAQs

• What is the legal position of subscriptions?
• How is the expenditure audited?
• What is the legal status of the organisation?
• Who set the boundaries for the South West region?

• What is the legal position of subscriptions?
  

  In terms of the legality of local authorities funding the work of South West Councils, Members and Officers have considered this issue and concluded that it continues to be appropriate under the Local Government Act.

  The question of the legality of the subscriptions has been raised by a member of the public with the District Auditor for Devon County Council, Mr Alun Williams. In his response the auditor stated that: "Local councils can now rely on Section 2 of the Local Government Act 2000, which gives a local authority power - the well-being power - to do anything which it considers is likely to achieve the promotion or improvement of the economic, social and/or environmental well-being of its area".

• How is the expenditure audited?
  

  All the work of  South West Councils is subject to external audit.  An audit by CLG found the financial system a model of good practice, containing all the necessary checks and balances.

• What is the legal status of the organisation?
  

  South West Councils is run by its elected Members via the Resources and Management Committee (RMC).  It is an Employers' Association within the meaning of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

• Who set the boundaries for the South West region?
  

  Broadly speaking (bearing in mind the Local Government Review in 1974) the current boundaries of the 'South West region' have been in use for many decades, certainly since the Second World War. When the regional network of Government Offices were created in 1994, they adhered to the same boundaries. These have ceased to operate.