Agenda and minutes

No apologies were received.

Members of the Committee are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct.  If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, then the individual Member should not participate in a discussion on the matter and must withdraw from the Council Chamber and not seek to influence a decision on the matter.

No Members declared an interest.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Accounts Committee held on 11 July 2005 (enclosed)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting of the Accounts Committee held on 11 July 2005 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider and approve the Annual Accounts of the Council for 2004/05

(The accounts will be sent to members in advance of the meeting)  

The Committee, at its last meeting in 11 July, had endorsed the Council’s unaudited Statement of Accounts for 2004/05, which had subsequently been passed to the District Auditor for external audit.

On the advice of the District Auditor, a few presentational or technical amendments had been made to the Consolidated Revenue Account and the Consolidated Balance Sheet, none of which had had the effect of adjusting either the revenue outturn or working balances of the Authority.

The Audit Commission had insisted to a change in the Statement of Recommended Practice to writing of redemption premia and this will have an affect on resources with regard to the Capital accounts. Members raised some questions in relation to this instruction that was answered by the Director of Finance to their satisfaction

A further item has been added to the action plans contained within the Statement of Internal Control, the item relates to better integrating of the financial and business planning processes.

The Committee raised questions relating to the distribution of estimated fund surpluses which was shared between the Council and the major precepting authorities, the collection fund bad debt provision and the deficit on the Local Government Pension Scheme which can be made good by rising incrementally 13.2% to 15.8% of the employers pension contribution over the next 3 years.

The Committee was, therefore, recommended to approve the amended Statement of Accounts for 2004/05 to enable the District Auditor to issue the formal Audit Certificate.

RESOLVED – That the amended Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2005, as now presented, be approved under the provisions of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003.