Issue - meetings

(i)       to approve the Council’s audits annual accounts 2016/17 for signature by the Head of Finance, Chief Executive and Council Leader;

(ii)      to approve the audited annual accounts 2016/17 for those registered charities where the Council is the sole trustee, and nominate a trustee to sign the accounts;

(iii)      to note the thanks from the Head of Finance to all staff involved with the preparation of the annual accounts and to KPMG for the help and support since their appointment as External Auditors.

The Committee had before it a report by the Head of Finance which presented (1) the Council’s audited annual accounts for 2016/17 and (2) the audited annual accounts for 2016/17 for those registered charities where the Council is the sole trustee and is subject to statutory requirements for separate accounts and audit opinions.

The report appended the Council’s audited annual accounts and those for the Charitable Trusts.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee -

(a)      approve the Council’s audits annual accounts 2016/17 for signature by the Head of Finance, Chief Executive and Council Leader; and

(b)      approve the audited annual accounts 2016/17 for those registered charities where the Council is the sole trustee, and nominate a trustee to sign the accounts.

Members asked various questions in relation to the audited accounts specifically around the Bond and how the downgrading of the UK Sovereign rating affected the Council, wherein the Head of Finance advised that at the present time the ratings did not affect the Council’s Bond.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note the thanks from the Head of Finance to all staff involved with the preparation of the annual accounts and to KPMG for the help and support since their appointment as External Auditors; and

(ii)      to otherwise approve the recommendations contained in the report.