The Northern Rivers Times
December 7, 2023
4 NEWS
Concern over incomplete annual report By Tim Howard
an extension of time had
provided the community
been granted.
with an outline of the
Preparing an audited
Even without the
council’s activities for
annual report by the
audited statements the
the financial year, even
November 30 deadline
presentation of the report
there was no audited
for its submission to the
was tight and drew
statements to check it
NSW Office of Local
criticism from some
against.
Government, has again
councillors.
“We don’t live in a
proved beyond Clarence
Cr Greg Clancy
perfect world,” Cr Toms
Valley Council.
sought to acceptance
said. “There can always
After missing the
of the recommendation
be issues along the way
deadline in 2021 and
deferred until the
with preparing this
2022, the council has
December meeting to
annual report because
submitted its report,
give councillors enough
it’s actually a report for
without audited financial
time to read the report.
the whole year on what
statements.
But he withdrew the
we’ve done, what we’ve
An extension has been
amendment when he was
said we’ve done and all
granted for lodgement
told such a motion would
those sorts of things.
of the 2022-23 audited
mean the report would
“So whilst we have had
annual financial
miss its deadline wiht the
a look at it, we didn’t just
statements to the OLG
OLG.
get it this morning. We Cr Greg Clancy said councillors did not have enough time to read the annual report before the council endorsed it. The report has been sent to the Office of Local Government without audited financial statements. Council has been given an extension to December 22 to provide the statements.
have had a look at it.”
because of challenges
But Cr Clancy went on
experienced with
record to say he wasn’t
asset revolutions and
happy.
postponing the annual
report updated on the
financial statements.
link to the annual report
resourcing constraints
“We have got the report
report,” he said.
web prior to the council
“ I’m more than happy
on the we did not work
until December 22, 2023.
but we haven’t had
“Are we short of staff?
meeting.”
to endorse the 2022-23
immediately, but said the
At the November 28
very much time to read
What’s the explanation
Cr Tiley said there had
annual report, which is
council would soon be
council meeting council
through that report,’ he
for this last minute
been clear reason why
what we’ve been asked
informed if there were
moved to endorse the
said.
rush?”
previous annual reports
to do in point one,’ she
any shortfalls.
2022-23 annual report,
“And that was my main
Director corporate
had been delayed.
said.
“The link didn’t work.
giving the general
concern. If it has to be
and community Alex
here was also the
“And, and also point
My apologies. Well
manager authority
done today, then it has
Moar said staff had been
issue of betterment in
four it’s quite clear – and
picked up by Cr Smith,”
to make minor edits,
to be done today that so
working on it since July.
the costing thereof in
this happened last year,
Cr Toms said.
endorsing its placement
yes, that’s basically my
“There’s a lot of a lot
the previous financial
too – that the annual
“But again, I don’t see
on the council website
only comment is that we
of factors impacting the
statements,’ he said.
report does not contain
that there’s any issue.
and send the report to
really haven’t had a lot
report which probably
“There was very
our audited financial
“If there are any issues,
the OLG and advise
of time to have a look at
bound with some
legitimate reason before
reports, due to the
we’ll soon let you
the Minister for Local
the report.”
confidentiality issues that
this because of the
extension that was
know and I’m sure the
Government of its
Cr Bill Day asked why
I can’t discuss,” she said.
floods. I’m not privy to
granted by the Office
community will soon let
availability.
the council was having
“Staff have collated it
the current situation.”
of Local Government
us know as well.”
It was also revealed the
Point 4 of the motion
trouble preparing annual
with other competing
Cr Toms seemed
for the lodgement of
Council voted
noted the report did
reports on time.
priorities that we have
unconcerned the annual
those audited financial
unanimously to endorse
contain the audited
“We seem to have a
within council and we’re
report was submitted
statements.”
the annual report by the
financial statements and
problem every year with
able to get the annual
without the audited
Cr Toms said the report
November 30 deadline.
