Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the draft un-audited Statement of Accounts which had been prepared in accordance with the CIPFA Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom 2015/16 and which had been signed off by the Director of Finance and Business Improvement as the Officer responsible prior to being submitted for external audit.  It was noted that:

·  The final audited Statement of Accounts would be submitted to the Committee for approval in September 2016.

·  The Statements were preceded by a Narrative Report summarising the Council’s performance over the financial year 2015/16 and highlighting the most significant elements of the financial statements.

·  As part of the external audit process and to comply with International Auditing Standards, the External Auditor was required to make enquiries to establish how the Committee gained assurance over management processes and arrangements in place to prevent and detect fraud and to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.  The enquiries had been addressed in the first instance to the Chairman of the Committee and the Committee was asked to endorse his proposed responses.  Similar questions had been asked of management and a response had been provided.

In response to questions by Members, the Head of Finance and Resources said that in his opinion, the key issues facing the Council related to homelessness, projects aimed at reducing the cost to the Council of providing temporary accommodation, performance in relation to the commercialisation agenda, the deficit on the Collection Fund and the consultation just released on 100% retention of business rates to go with changes in responsibilities.

The Committee indicated that it was satisfied with the Chairman’s proposed responses to the External Auditor’s enquiries subject to it being made clear when referring to the Whistleblowing Policy that it is subject to further review.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the draft un-audited Statement of Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2016, attached as Appendix I to the report of the Director of Finance and Business Improvement, be noted.

2.  That subject to it being made clear when referring to the Whistleblowing Policy that it is subject to further review, the Chairman’s proposed responses to the External Auditor’s enquiries, attached as Appendix II to the report of the Director of Finance and Business Improvement, be endorsed.