Issue - meetings

(a)       That the final version of the Statement of Accounts 2015/16 be approved; and

(b)       That the Letter of Representation – Flintshire County Council, and the Letter of Representation – Clwyd Pension Fund, be approved.

The Chief Executive invited the Chairman of Audit Committee, Councillor Newhouse, to provide any feedback from the Audit Committee that had met that morning. 

Councillor Newhouse said he formally recommended the Statement of Accounts to County Council.  A draft of the Accounts had been considered at Audit Committee two months previous and the final version came with a very positive report from the Wales Audit Office (WAO). 

The Corporate Finance Manager explained that none of the issues raised the previous year had re-occurred which was testament to staff across the Council.  He also thanked WAO for the way in which the audit had been conducted.

The WAO report highlighted 3 new issues, each of which had been addressed with full details being provided in the report:-

• Valuation method used to revalue Council Houses;
• Investigations into the Council’s potential liabilities at former waste disposal sites; and
• Accuracy of pension records within the Clwyd Pension Fund.

            John Herniman from WAO was welcomed to the meeting.  He reiterated the comments of the Corporate Finance Manager and commended the Finance team for the Accounts that had been presented.  If approved, he was able to offer an unqualified opinion.

            In response to a comment from John Herniman, the Chief Executive provided assurance that the Accounts Governance Group would continue to meet.  He reiterated the comments by the Corporate Finance Manager on the three reported issues adding that the Clwyd Pension Fund Committee would be receiving the report on its accounts the next day.

            Councillor Peers asked if any financial contribution was expected on the cost of the abandoned premises in Sandycroft.  He also asked for details of the Flintshire County Council Group as referred to in appendix 2 to the accounts.  On exit packages, he sought assurance that if an employee left the Authority with a redundancy payment they would not be re-employed within a given time frame.  The Chief Executive explained that the expenditure on the site in Sandycroft was in year; the total spend would be greater as work was still ongoing with a project closure date of the end of the calendar year to be followed by site disposal.  The Council would meet the slight majority of the cost supported by a grant of £700,000 from Welsh Government.  The voluntary redundancy package included a clause that if an employee was made redundant they could not return to the Authority for a specified time period.

            On Group Accounts, the Corporate Finance Manager explained that they related to the NEW Homes accounts which the Council was required to report on.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the final version of the Statement of Accounts 2015/16 be approved; and

(b)       That the Letter of Representation – Flintshire County Council, and the Letter of Representation – Clwyd Pension Fund, be approved.