MEETING the demands of public services in St Helens is becoming “increasingly difficult”, says a new council report.

St Helens Council’s draft Annual Governance Statement 2017-18 says the authority continues to face “extreme financial challenges, risks and pressures” from continual grant reductions and the rising cost and demand for services.

The Annual Governance Statement explains the processes in place within the council to ensure there is a sound system of internal control, risk and governance and reviews the effectiveness of the controls in place.

“The latest financial settlement sees a further £13.1 million savings requirement over the next two financial years, with the cumulative loss of grant since 2010, over a ten-year period to 2020 exceeding £90 million,” the report says.

“The increasing demand pressures on our social care system, which is already stretched, means that it is increasingly difficult to meet the demands on our services.

“The protection of our most vulnerable, elderly persons and vulnerable children including those in care has necessitated a different approach to delivery across the locality, and for greater partnership working.

“This in turn demands that our governance arrangements need to be robust with clear accountabilities to our residents.”

The report says that growing the economy within the borough is “fundamental” to the council’s future financial resilience.

It says this approach brings new and emerging risks that need to be considered and assessed with a more “commercial approach”.

“Investment decisions for the future sustainability of the council require robust, considered assessments, working in collaboration with our partners, and our governance arrangements will need to be transparent in this respect,” the report says.

The draft report, which has been produced following a review by members of the council’s Primary Assurance Group, was approved by the audit and governance committee on Monday.

It is based on guidance published in 2016 by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (SOLACE) around ‘Delivering Good Governance in Local Government’.

The Primary Assurance Group has monitored and reviewed progress throughout the year in respect of maintaining adequate arrangements to satisfy the full requirements of the council’s Code of Corporate Governance, which was adopted in April 2017.

The draft report concludes that the council’s systems of internal control and governance are “fit for purpose” and in accordance with the framework.

It says while there are no significant governance issues, enhancements to existing arrangements are necessary to “ensure full compliance and mitigate exposure of the council”.

An action plan for 2017-18 has been formed setting out numerous actions across six of the seven core principles of good governance.

The final Annual Governance Statement will be presented with the Statement of Accounts in August 2018.