The council could miss submitting its audited pension accounts by the official deadline due to outsourcing problems.

At a meeting of Barnet Council’s audit committee on Tuesday (July 17), external auditors told councillors there may be a delay in signing off the pension fund accounts due to issues with Capita’s employee benefits centre in Darlington.

They explained that some of the “movements” in the council’s pension fund “did not look right” and they had requested a new set of accounts from Capita.

Auditors also had to wait for transaction lists to be provided.

The auditors confirmed they had now received the data and were analysing it – but the delay means they may miss the statutory deadline for the submission of audited accounts of July 31.

Leigh Lloyd-Thomas, engagement lead for external auditors BDO, said: “The pension fund accounts could miss the statutory deadline if we can’t get this work done on time.”

Councillor Alison Moore, Labour member for East Finchley, said: “Will that incur a fine and additional costs for your audit?

Mr Lloyd-Thomas replied: “There is no statutory fine. There is a requirement to publish by the end of July. You can still publish without an audit opinion.”

It is not the first time that Capita has faced criticism for its handling of pensions.

In January, a report uncovered “serious failures” in the company’s management of pensions, including two that were deemed “high-risk”.

The council will decide on whether to in-source a range of Capita-run services at a special meeting of the policy and resources committee tonight (Thursday, July 19).

It will be held at Hendon Town Hall at 7pm.