FURTHER delays in the publication of Thurrock Council's accounts have been announced.

The cash-strapped authority which has fought a number legal battles to try and keep its financial secrets was due to have published its accounts for 2021/22 on 1 August but failed to do so.

The council says: "We have not been able to complete the draft Statement of Accounts due to the ongoing audit for the preceding year requiring increased assurance work coupled with resource limitations of the audit team which has caused a delay in the audit, approval and publication of the 2020/21 Statement of Accounts.

"A further notice will be published in due course setting out the public inspection period once the draft 2021/22 statement of accounts have been finalised."

The previous year's accounts were also subject to contention and have yet to be signed off by auditors. A statement on those figures from the council says: "The work is in progress and the audit will be completed as soon as practicable."

Details of previous accounts and audits can be found via this link.

The council is currenbtly facing more legal action over its tightmouthed attiude to revealing its financial affairs. Earlier this month Thurrock Nub News reported on the latest action brought to try and force it to give details of its controversial borrowing to invest strategy which appears to have cost the authority around £200 million.