This submission starts by describing the principles that local authorities should observe when deciding on the functions they will undertake. It proceeds to examine a number of the Council's functions in the light of those principles, and shows that the Council should discontinue, or modify the form of, it's involvement. The submission then draws attention to the risks to which taxpayers and residents generally are exposed by the Council's ownership, investment and financing strategies and makes proposals to change those strategies so as to bring those risks within prudent limits, as well as for efficiency reasons. Finally, the submission draws attention to weaknesses in the Council's revenue policies and proposes remedial action.