PROOF, if proof were needed, that Fenland District Council is a financially prudent and well-run authority came in the latest statement of accounts presented to the Corporate Governance Committee this week. With a budget of more than £13million, the counc

PROOF, if proof were needed, that Fenland District Council is a financially prudent and well-run authority came in the latest statement of accounts presented to the Corporate Governance Committee this week.

With a budget of more than £13million, the council turned in its accounts with a £174,000 underspend, a tribute to tight financial controls.

The news comes on top of the Audit Commission's recent Direction of Travel Statement which praises the council for delivering good, and sometimes significant, improvements in services.

The Statement of Accounts is particularly heartening for Fenland, given that it already has one of the lowest average council taxes of any authority in the country.

The turnaround in Fenland's fortunes began back in 2002 with an ambitious vision for the future of Fenland, which has been delivered effectively by a partnership of cabinet and senior officers.

The underspend was in part due to increased rent income from the increasingly popular South Fens Business Centre, increased income from the Port of Wisbech, recovery of council tax and lower ICT costs.

Councillor Peter Skoulding, portfolio holder for finance, said: "We have been saying for some time now that we are a well-run and well managed council. I am delighted that the current Statement of Accounts is cast iron proof of this.