Concern over incomplete annual report

By Tim Howard

Preparing an audited annual report by the November 30 deadline for its submission to the NSW Office of Local Government, has again proved beyond Clarence Valley Council.

After missing the deadline in 2021 and 2022, the council has submitted its report, without audited financial statements.

An extension has been granted for lodgement of the 2022-23 audited annual financial statements to the OLG because of challenges experienced with asset revolutions and resourcing constraints until December 22, 2023.

At the November 28 council meeting council moved to endorse the 2022-23 annual report, giving the general manager authority to make minor edits, endorsing its placement on the council website and send the report to the OLG and advise the Minister for Local Government of its availability.

Point 4 of the motion noted the report did contain the audited financial statements and an extension of time had been granted.

Even without the audited statements the presentation of the report was tight and drew criticism from some councillors.

Cr Greg Clancy sought to acceptance of the recommendation deferred until the December meeting to give councillors enough time to read the report.

But he withdrew the amendment when he was told such a motion would mean the report would miss its deadline wiht the OLG.

But Cr Clancy went on record to say he wasn’t happy.

“We have got the report but we haven’t had very much time to read through that report,’ he said.

“And that was my main concern. If it has to be done today, then it has to be done today that so yes, that’s basically my only comment is that we really haven’t had a lot of time to have a look at the report.”

Cr Bill Day asked why the council was having trouble preparing annual reports on time.

“We seem to have a problem every year with postponing the annual report,” he said.

“Are we short of staff? What’s the explanation for this last minute rush?”

Director corporate and community Alex Moar said staff had been working on it since July.

“There’s a lot of a lot of factors impacting the report which probably bound with some confidentiality issues that I can’t discuss,” she said.

“Staff have collated it with other competing priorities that we have within council and we’re able to get the annual report updated on the web prior to the council meeting.”

Cr Tiley said there had been clear reason why previous annual reports had been delayed. here was also the issue of betterment in the costing thereof in the previous financial statements,’ he said.

“There was very legitimate reason before this because of the floods. I’m not privy to the current situation.”

Cr Toms seemed unconcerned the annual report was submitted without the audited financial statements.

“ I’m more than happy to endorse the 2022-23 annual report, which is what we’ve been asked to do in point one,’ she said.

“And, and also point four it’s quite clear – and this happened last year, too – that the annual report does not contain our audited financial reports, due to the extension that was granted by the Office of Local Government for the lodgement of those audited financial statements.”

Cr Toms said the report provided the community with an outline of the council’s activities for the financial year, even there was no audited statements to check it against.

“We don’t live in a perfect world,” Cr Toms said. “There can always be issues along the way with preparing this annual report because it’s actually a report for the whole year on what we’ve done, what we’ve said we’ve done and all those sorts of things.

“So whilst we have had a look at it, we didn’t just get it this morning. We have had a look at it.” It was also revealed the link to the annual report on the we did not work immediately, but said the council would soon be informed if there were any shortfalls.

“The link didn’t work. My apologies. Well picked up by Cr Smith,” Cr Toms said.

“But again, I don’t see that there’s any issue.

“If there are any issues, we’ll soon let you know and I’m sure the community will soon let us know as well.”

Council voted unanimously to endorse the annual report by the November 30 deadline.