A REPORT looking into the way Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) manages its finances returned the verdict of 'generally adequate'.

The financial position assessment produced by the Wales Audit Office looked into the way local authorities across Wales were budgeting and delivering on required savings. The report evaluated MCC's track record and future prospects for savings delivery.

The Cabinet of MCC were told at their meeting last Wednesday (4th March) there were some shortcomings that may impact the council's ability to deliver its financial plan. The report found that while the council has a good track record of operating within budget is has been unable to show whether or not previous savings targets were met because of weaknesses in budget monitoring arrangements.

Councillor Phil Murphy, cabinet member with responsibility for finance, was unhappy with the way the report addressed the track record of the council. He said: "The report seems to hark back to what was rather than what is. Things we altered a long time ago are being brought up. We're trying to motivate people and to be criticised for something we're not doing anymore is disheartening."

Author of the report Steve Wyndham, said: "We looked at track records of councils because it gives an insight into how things have been managed and how they're looking going forward.

"Monmouthshire is on track, there's nothing fundamentally wrong but there are areas that need addressing."

All authorities were classed under four tiers of adequate; the highest being adequate, followed by generally adequate, adequate with shortcomings, then inadequate.