Another Labour Council Financial Blunder

11.46.07am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 5th Jun 2007

Local taxpayers will have to foot the bill

Sheffield City Council's poor financial management has lead to yet another blunder that will cost local taxpayers millions. Financial irregularities have been found in the Council's Markets service, in total the service is £2.9m in the red. The news comes just a short time after the South Yorkshire Trading Standards affair, which cost local taxpayers millions after financial irregularities were uncovered.

Cllr Andrew Sangar, Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet member for Finance, said: -

"I'm surprised and disappointed that once again the council has been affected by unforeseen financial irregularities. The news of these accounting errors and the suspected fraud, which is at least £2.9m, is bad news for local taxpayers who will have to foot the bill one way or another."

"It's clear that the council hasn't learnt lessons over other recent financial management shortcomings, such as the trading standards affair which cost local taxpayers millions just a short time ago. How many more financial blunders do we need before Labour start to manage Sheffield's finances properly?"

Follow link to see the full story on the Stars website: -

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news?articleid=2927352