Hertfordshire County Council has been criticised by the Government’s spending watchdog after failing to have its accounts signed off.

It is one of ten local authorities listed by the Audit Commission for failing to publish satisfactory accounts for the last financial year.

In a letter to the Government published today, the commission said HCC was one of only six local authorities to have its accounts qualified – meaning auditors have doubts about the figures published in its accounts.

The letter said the failings of HCC and other local authorities were “unacceptable.”

Ron Tindall, resources spokesman for the opposition Liberal Democrat group, criticised the council’s ruling Conservative administration.

He said: “This is a disgrace. The Audit Commission has rightly written to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to out these councils.

“The tax payer has a right to know its money is being wisely and correctly spent and accounted for.

“Here in Hertfordshire this is not the case. Residents of Hertfordshire deserve better than this failure.”

The council said it was fully aware of the issues raised and was working to address them. It stressed, however, that the qualification related only to land and buildings on the council’s balance sheet.

A spokesman added: “In all other respects the accounts were acceptable. The uncertainty over this one figure has no impact on the council tax or service delivery to the public. It was always recognised that fully resolving this issue would take some time, but we are confident it will have been sorted by the start of the next financial year.”

Overall, a recent Audit Commission said the council was "performing well” in its use of resources.