There were no apologies for absence.

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any disclosable interests under the Code of Conduct and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

Councillors K Payne and L Stephenson declared other registrable interests in Item 6 – Statement of Accounts 2021/22, having been Members of the Cabinet for the time period covered by the accounts, it was noted Councillor Payne was also the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Finance at this time.

To receive any petitions, deputations and questions received from Members of the Public in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rules 93 and 94.

The total time allowed for this item shall be 30 minutes. Petitions, declarations and questions shall be dealt with in the order in which they are received. Questions may also be submitted at short notice by giving a written copy to the Committee Administrator 15 minutes before the start of the meeting.

The total time allowed for questions at short notice is 15 minutes of the total time of 30 minutes. Any petitions, deputations and questions that have been submitted with prior formal notice will take precedence over questions submitted at short notice. Any questions that are not considered within the time limit shall receive a written response after the meeting and be the subject of a report to the next meeting.

No petitions, deputations or questions had been received.

To consider any questions received from Members of the Council in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 95.

No questions had been received from Members.

To consider any Notices of Motion from Members submitted under Procedure Rule 97.

No notices of motion had been received.

To receive Report No.163/2023 from the Strategic Director for Resources. (Report to Follow)

Report No. 163/2023 was introduced by Kirsty Nutton, Strategic Director for Resources. The report presented the Annual Governance Statement and Draft Audit Findings Report from Grant Thornton LLP for 2021/22, and sought delegated approval for the audited Statement of Accounts 2021/22. It was explained that following previous updates to the Committee, a change made in 2022-23 to recording of certain Section 106 funds held by the Council had been requested by the auditors to also be retrospectively made to the 2021-22 accounts. It was explained this amendment had meant the final accounts had not been ready in time for the publication of the report and therefore it delegated approval for the Chair to sign the final Statement of Accounts.

Following questions from Members it was confirmed that the transfer of Section 106 monies from reserves to creditors was intended to reflect the intention of the Council to spend that money, particularly for agreements where there was a specific project or timescale for spending of the funds.

It was also explained that several minor amendments had been suggested to the Statement by Councillor R Powell outside of the meeting which would be appended to / included in the minutes.

With regard to the External Auditor’s draft report at Appendix 3 it was confirmed that the Auditors expected to issue an unqualified opinion with four recommendations agreed by management. Following questions, it was confirmed less than 100 journals were issued a year and the majority of entries were issued by Finance relating to small technical adjustments in accounts, with significant changes expected to be addressed by budget-holders.

It was moved by Councillor L Stephenson and seconded that the recommendations of Report No. 163/2023 be approved with the inclusion of the amendments suggested by Councillor Powell. Upon being put to the vote, with seven votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That the Committee:

a)    DELEGATED approval the Statement of Accounts for 2021/22 in Appendix 1 to the Chair of the Audit and risk committee in line with section 3, subject to the inclusion of minor amendments suggested by Councillor Powell before the meeting. 

b)    APPROVED the Annual Governance Statement for 2021/22 in Appendix 2

NOTED the Draft Audit Findings Report in Appendix 3.

To receive items of urgent business which have previously been notified to the person presiding.

There were no items of urgent business for consideration.

Tuesday, 5 December 2023.

Tuesday, 5 December 2023.