The Council’s External Auditors, Ernst & Young had substantially completed their audit of the Council’s Statement of Accounts for 2017/18.

The report presented the findings and the final Financial Statements including the Annual Governance Statement.

External Audit proposed to issue an unqualified audit opinion for the Statement of Accounts 2017/18 and an unqualified value for money conclusion.

E&Y presented their findings and explained to members the Adjusted and unadjusted differences made to the audited statement of accounts.

2017/18 was the first year the Council had worked to the earlier statutory deadline of 31st May, which was signed by the Interim Chief Finance Officer, to publish an unaudited Statement of Accounts. The revised deadline for the publication of the accounts following External Audit to issue their opinion was 31st July 2018, which was expected to be met following this Committee.

Members of Committee had been informed that due to the tight timescales following the Audit, it was not possible to publish this report alongside the Agenda on 17th July 2018.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Russell and SECONDED by Cllr Hones to move the recommendations in the report. 

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED that:

1.    The Audit Results Report 2017/18 in Appendix A is considered, and findings of External Auditors are noted.

2.    The amended Letter of Representation attached in Appendix B is approved and signed by the Chairman of the Committee (appended to the minutes).

3.    The Annual Governance Statement included in Appendix C is approved and signed by the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council.

4.    The Statement of Accounts for 2017/18 attached in Appendix C is approved and signed by the Chairman of the Committee and the Interim Chief Finance Officer.

Reasons for Recommendation

To enable the Council to meet the requirements of the Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2015 in respect of approval of the financial statements and the annual governance statement.

An amended version of Appendix B was tabled at committee and appended to these minutes.