Decision details

Approval for the Chair of Civic Affairs to sign the Statement of Accounts and Letter of Management Representation on behalf of the Committee following presentation of the audited accounts and the report of the external auditors.

The committee received a report from the Principal Accountant (Technical & Financial Accounting) regarding the external audit conclusions and approval of the statement of accounts.

The Committee were informed an invoice had been received from the County Council for contributions towards the City Deal (now known as the Greater Cambridge Partnership) for the period to 31 March 2017 after the draft accounts had been completed and subsequently agreed an amendment to the amount following a review of the calculation basis. The agreed contribution of £594k had been reflected in the 2016/17 Statement of Accounts.

Suresh Patel, representing the External Auditor Ernst and Young summarised the conclusions of the Audit that an unqualified opinion would be given. It was a clean audit opinion which reflected well on the Council with no significant matters to report.

In response to a question from Councillor O’ Connell, Mr Patel concluded that the Council’s ‘risk appetite’ was underpinned by a sound decision making process and deemed appropriate.

Resolved (unanimously) to:

i.             Receive the audit findings presented by Ernst & Young

ii.            Approve the Statement of Accounts for year ending 31 March 2017

iii.           Authorise the Chair to sign on behalf of the Council the Letter of Representation and Statement of Accounts year ending 31 March 2017.