Janet Finch-Saunders
Minister, the Wales Audit Office report today on the financial management of town and community councils, while showing some improvement, also highlighted serious concerns over a core group of councils with more than one year of accounts unaudited by the statutory deadline for publication of audited accounts. What are you doing to ensure that all town and community councils provide a full level of public accountability? Senedd.tvFideo VideoLeighton Andrews
I think town and community councils are well aware of their responsibilities, but we are currently working with One Voice Wales to look at the future of town and community councils and to see how we can support their development in respect of provision of services and their role in the new context that we plan following our programme of local government reform. Senedd.tvFideo VideoJanet Finch-Saunders
Thank you, Minister. However, it is a real concern that this report also lists a worrying number of councils receiving repeated qualified audit opinions for at least two of the last three years—45 such councils. In 14 cases, Minister, councils have received the same qualifications for three years running. Minister, whilst you are passing the buck to the town councils themselves, you are the Minister for local government, so it’s your responsibility. What is your response to this scandal, and how will you be working to ensure that we see significant improvement next year from these councils in particular? Senedd.tvFideo Video Leighton Andrews
Llywydd, I generally believe in the principle of name and shame where people are failing to carry out their statutory responsibilities, and I think that publicity in this regard is a key element, and I welcome the work that the Wales Audit Office has undertaken. However, neither I nor the Welsh Government run these town and community councils, nor should we; these should be run by local people and held accountable by local people. Senedd.tvFideo VideoJanet Finch-Saunders
Minister, we’ve already had one failed review of community councils and one promised but not happening review of community councils. If auditors deem it necessary to exercise their powers of reporting, or to make statutory recommendations, the WAO highlights that there will be significant additional costs for that council in terms of additional audit fees. What guarantees can you make, Minister, here in this Chamber, that community taxpayers will not have to pay for the shortcomings of their town and community councils but, more importantly, the shortcomings of a Welsh Labour Government? Senedd.tvFideo Video Well, the shortcomings you’re talking about are the shortcomings of the specific town and community councils, and it falls to the voters in those areas to take the necessary steps. I am pleased that the Wales Audit Office is carrying out its appropriate function, and, as I say, if people are not carrying out the duties which they have in town and community councils, then I think public exposure is the right way forward.
Minister, the Wales Audit Office report today on the financial management of town and community councils, while showing some improvement, also highlighted serious concerns over a core group of councils with more than one year of accounts unaudited by the statutory deadline for publication of audited accounts. What are you doing to ensure that all town and community councils provide a full level of public accountability? Senedd.tvFideo VideoLeighton Andrews
I think town and community councils are well aware of their responsibilities, but we are currently working with One Voice Wales to look at the future of town and community councils and to see how we can support their development in respect of provision of services and their role in the new context that we plan following our programme of local government reform. Senedd.tvFideo VideoJanet Finch-Saunders
Thank you, Minister. However, it is a real concern that this report also lists a worrying number of councils receiving repeated qualified audit opinions for at least two of the last three years—45 such councils. In 14 cases, Minister, councils have received the same qualifications for three years running. Minister, whilst you are passing the buck to the town councils themselves, you are the Minister for local government, so it’s your responsibility. What is your response to this scandal, and how will you be working to ensure that we see significant improvement next year from these councils in particular? Senedd.tvFideo Video Leighton Andrews
Llywydd, I generally believe in the principle of name and shame where people are failing to carry out their statutory responsibilities, and I think that publicity in this regard is a key element, and I welcome the work that the Wales Audit Office has undertaken. However, neither I nor the Welsh Government run these town and community councils, nor should we; these should be run by local people and held accountable by local people. Senedd.tvFideo VideoJanet Finch-Saunders
Minister, we’ve already had one failed review of community councils and one promised but not happening review of community councils. If auditors deem it necessary to exercise their powers of reporting, or to make statutory recommendations, the WAO highlights that there will be significant additional costs for that council in terms of additional audit fees. What guarantees can you make, Minister, here in this Chamber, that community taxpayers will not have to pay for the shortcomings of their town and community councils but, more importantly, the shortcomings of a Welsh Labour Government? Senedd.tvFideo Video Well, the shortcomings you’re talking about are the shortcomings of the specific town and community councils, and it falls to the voters in those areas to take the necessary steps. I am pleased that the Wales Audit Office is carrying out its appropriate function, and, as I say, if people are not carrying out the duties which they have in town and community councils, then I think public exposure is the right way forward.