Council weaknesses put benefit funds at risk

Auditors might refuse to certify Broxbourne Council's council tax accounts, jeopardising future subsidy payments from the government, it has been revealed.

Opposition Leader Cllr Alan McCole (Lab, Waltham Cross) condemned the news:

"Staff have worked extremely hard to improve the council's benefit services. I am gravely concerned that the Conservatives' only answer to any problem is to put council tax up and make the residents pay for their failures."

A council report warned:

"Regrettably, the Council's statutory returns for non domestic rates and benefit subsidy for the financial year 2005/06 have been qualified by the external auditors, RSM Robson Rhodes, because of system weaknesses, poor process and procedure, software issues and lack of staff training. There may be a financial impact to the Council in that payment of grant and subsidy may be reduced."

Report filed 16/02/2007

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