Council's finances had 'significant weaknesses'

Recommendations included that staffing issues in the finance team be addressed

"Significant weaknesses" were found by auditors looking through a council's finances.

Auditors from Grant Thornton said Cumberland Council's books showed significant overspending and gaps in financial monitoring.

Concerns raised included that the authority had not made the savings it had planned and relied on exceptional support from government, which allowed it to borrow money or sell assets to pay for day-to-day services.

The council said it faced "unprecedented savings" and had inherited issues from former authorities.

Members of the council's audit committee heard that council staff had been under pressure due to the extra work required to publish the outstanding legacy accounts of the former Copeland Council, with a subsequent drop in staff morale.

The weaknesses found included in financial sustainability, governance and in improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

The auditors made several recommendations, including that the council addressed staffing issues in the finance team.

Andrew Seekings, the council's chief executive, said there were areas to concentrate on and monitoring measures had been put in place, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

"I am disappointed that the statutory recommendations have come through given the unprecedented situation we found ourselves in," he said.

"It will hinder, not help our position."

However, he said the authority would accept the recommendations and move on.