No apologies had been received for the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting dated 13^th June 2016 were approved as a true record. 

In response to a question relating to Minute 41 Members were advised that Mr Drane would attend the next meeting of the Committee on 19 September.   The current meeting had been convened to consider the Statement of Accounts and Audit Results Report only.

The report presented the Committee with the draft findings of the External Auditors in respect of the audit of the Council’s Statement of Accounts for 2015/16.

Ms Hansen, representing the Council's External Auditors, Ernst and Young, highlighted significant parts of the Audit Results Report and advised that the report was a positive one and there were relatively few issues to address.  She advised that a challenging target had been set and thanked the Council's finance team for their assistance.  The audit was now substantially completed.

One significant audit risk had been identified, ie  the risk of capitalisation, and this had been tested and no issues found.

Cllr Mrs Pound  congratulated everyone involved for their work on the audit and MOVED and Cllr Bridge SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

1.     That the draft Audit Results Report 2015/16 at Appendix A be agreed.

2.     That the draft Letter of Representation in Appendix A (Appendix G) of the Audit Results Report 2015/16 be agreed.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

A system of sound financial control and governance arrangements underpins all of the services and priorities of the Council.

The report before Members presented the Council’s 2015/16 Statement of Accounts. These had been updated for changes to date which had arisen from the audit by the external auditors.

Mr Leslie, Finance Director, advised that the Council's accounts had been presented to the Committee two months early.  He congratulated officers and the new audit team on their achievement.

The statement of accounts had been circulated with the agenda and was substantially audited.

Cllr Mrs Pound  MOVED and Cllr Hirst SECONDED the recommendations in the report, a vote was taken on a show of hands and it was

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

1.  That the Statement of Accounts for 2015/16 at Appendix A be approved.

2.  That delegated authority be given to the Finance Director  in consultation with the Chair of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee to agree any further changes to the Statement of Accounts 2015/16.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

A system of sound financial control and governance arrangements underpins all of the Council's services and priorities.

There was no urgent business.

The Chair and Members thanked Mr Leslie for his work for the Council and wished him well since this was his last Committee meeting before he and his family emigrated to Australia.

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The meeting ended at 19.27 hrs