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.  Two minor alterations to the Accounts since publication of the draft accounts in June were tabled for the Committee’s attention (inclusion of a note regarding the EU Referendum result and reference to the External Audit of Cambridgeshire’s Local Government Pension Scheme).

Neil Harris representing the External Auditor Ernst and Young summarised the conclusions of the Audit and that an unqualified opinion will be given and an unqualified conclusion on value for money arrangements. It was a clean audit opinion which reflected well on the Council.

He apologised to the Committee for the inconvenience of postponing the meeting from 14 September by reason of the Audit being incomplete, however steps would be taken to ensure no repetition.

Resolved (unanimously) to:

i.             Receive the audit findings presented by Ernst & Young

ii.            Approve the Statement of Accounts for year ending 31 March 2016

iii.           Authorise the Chair to sign on behalf of the Council the Letter of Representation and Statement of Accounts year ending 31 March 2016.