THE council had spent slightly less than anticipated by the end of November this year and has a surplus in hand to deal with winter emergencies like road gritting or flood alleviation.

That was the report on the local authority's current financial health given to councillors by Fingal County Council's Head of Finance, Pat Keane.

Spending

The council has a current budget surplus of just over € 5 million but said spending would continue in December while income is likely to slow down.

He told a full meeting of the council that the local authority expects to have a 'modest surplus' at the end of 2009 and said that its financial situation was 'reasonably ok'. Meanwhile, an audit of the council's 2008 accounts has given a largely positive view of the local authority's financial dealings in that year.

The auditor did express concern however at land-banks acquired by the council at the time which were bought at values that have since fallen and whether the lands represented good value for money for the council.

But Mr Keane said the lands in question were bought strategically and there would be no shortterm 'fire-sale' of the lands which will be held on to the council and remained valuable assets.

County Manager, David O'Connor agreed, saying that the ' paper loss' on the lands was temporary and that the county had invested in these tracts of land 'for the long haul'

Mr Keane said that a review of the valuations of all council assets which was initially planned for 2009, would be carried out in 2010.

- John MANNING