Boris Give Cllr Lister A Job

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following appointment to the Mayor's audit panel

Council leader Edward Lister has been appointed to serve on the Mayor of London's new Forensic Audit Panel which has been set up to investigate financial management controls at the GLA and LDA.

The Forensic Audit Panel has been tasked with recommending procedures to guarantee probity and transparency, as well as identifying areas where efficiencies can be made and resources redirected to the new Mayor's priorities.

The Panel will be headed by Patience Wheatcroft, former editor of The Sunday Telegraph, a distinguished and long- serving Business Editor of The Times and currently Non Executive Director of Barclays PLC and Shaftesbury PLC.

Apart from Cllr Lister other members will include:
Stephen Greenhalgh, Leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council.
Patrick Frederick, Chief Executive of Aimex International.
Andrew Gordon, Head of Investigations within the Forensic Services group of  P PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The Panel’s review of the GLA will suggest areas where savings can be made without compromising performance. The Panel will present initial findings and a progress report to the Mayor within 30 days and a final report within 60 days.

Commenting on his appointment Cllr Lister pictured left said:

"I hope to bring some Wandsworth-style value for money to both these bodies. The Wandsworth way has always been about running top quality services at a price people can afford."

The Mayor, Boris Johnson said:

"Patience Wheatcroft will be fearless and dogged in pursuit of the truth about recent practices at the LDA. My administration has much to learn from Eddie Lister and Stephen Greenhalgh's experience of delivering value for money to London taxpayers and will benefit greatly from the financial acumen of Patrick Frederick."

Wandsworth Council has the lowest council tax in the country. The Government’s own watchdog - the Audit Commission - has consistently ranked Wandsworth among the top-performing councils in the country. This year for the commission awarded the council the maximum "Four Star" rating for the third year running and also stated that town hall services were still "improving strongly".

May 9, 2008