Issue - meetings

The report of the Director of Finance and Transformation presented the External Auditors’ report on the outcome of the Audit of the Statement of Accounts 2015/16.  Members were reminded that, under the Council’s constitutional arrangements, the outcome of the audit of the Accounts had to be considered and approved by the Audit Committee before the Accounts were signed off by the Engagement Lead.  The officers provided an update on a number of procedural matters which had not been finalised prior to publication of the agenda and the external auditors confirmed that they intended to issue an unqualified audit opinion on the financial statements and value for money conclusions contained in their report.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the Audit Findings Report on the outcome of the audit of the Statement of Accounts for 2015/16, as set out at Annex 1 to the report, together with the associated action plan set out at paragraph 1.3.1 of the report, be approved; 

(2)          the Chairman of the Audit Committee and the Director of Finance and Transformation be granted delegated authority to countersign the Letter of Representation, as set out at Annex 2 to the report and subject to the inclusion of the amendments outlined at the meeting, when the External Auditors are ready to issue their opinion; and 

(3)          the Chairman be authorised to sign the Accounts in the appropriate place.