The Tory administration has been forced to make public the poor state of their finances with an annual governance report to match.

In the damning words of the auditor the report include statements such as: “However, I consider the Council’s financial reporting to be inadequate…” and “I therefore intend to issue a qualified value for money conclusion.”

Liberal Democrat Councillor Allan Siao Ming Witherick said: “We are continually told Tory run Hertfordshire is a well performing, value for money council. Instead we have a Section 11 report, and ironically, 11 recommendations. What will concern residents more, though, is that of those recommendations, no less than 9 were ranked as high and none was ranked as low.

“What faith does this give us in a Tory run council constantly telling us everything’s wonderful – when we know the roads are so bad and find the finances are little better.”

The Annual Governance Report will be debated on the 25 November at the second extra Audit Committee meeting of the year. Full council will be debating the Section 11 report next week.

Notes

Item 3 is the report from the external auditor
Page 6 para 15 includes: “However, I consider the Council’s financial reporting to be inadequate…”
Page 6 para 16 states: “I therefore intend to issue a qualified value for money conclusion.”
Page 41-44 list the recommendations.
Item 4 is the response from the Tory administration

http://www.hertsdirect.org/yrccouncil/civic_calendar/auditcom/16559198/