Issue - meetings

(a)       That the final version of the Statement of Accounts 2015/16 be recommended to County Council;

(b)       That the Wales Audit Office reports on the Audit of the Financial Statements for Flintshire County Council and Clwyd Pension Fund be received; and

(c)       That the Letters of Representation for Flintshire County Council and the Clwyd Pension Fund be recommended to County Council.

The Corporate Finance Manager presented the final version of the Statement of Accounts for 2015/16 with the Wales Audit Office (WAO) reports in connection with the audit of the financial statements and Letters of Representation for Flintshire County Council and the Clwyd Pension Fund.

Changes agreed with the WAO during the course of the audit had been incorporated into the accounts and actions taken by officers.  A response to the queries raised on the draft accounts at the July meeting had been forwarded to all Members, along with an offer to discuss any further queries directly with officers.  The WAO had commended the Council’s positive and proactive response to the issues raised on the 2014/15 audit and noted no reoccurrence of issues raised in previous years.  The Corporate Finance Manager thanked WAO colleagues for their work on the audit and summarised three new issues highlighted in the report.

Mr. John Herniman of WAO welcomed the Council’s approach in setting up the Accounts Governance Group to adopt a corporate oversight for the production of the accounts.  He said that significant progress had been made, with a clean audit opinion given on the accounts.  On the three new issues, the mathematical errors identified on the housing stock valuation would have no operational impact and no further action was required.  It was also noted that work would need to progress on recognising provision for potential liability on former waste disposal sites and to pursue up-to-date membership information for the Clwyd Pension Fund.

The Chief Executive thanked WAO colleagues, including Amanda Hughes who was not present.  He spoke about the continuation of the Accounts Governance Group which he had formed to support the Finance team, with involvement from WAO and progress reporting to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee.

In response to questions from Councillor Ian Dunbar on the new issues, the Chief Executive said that provisional funding had been set aside for potential liabilities on former landfill sites and would be subject to further consideration by Cabinet and Overview & Scrutiny.  The housing re-valuation matter reinforced the need for a standard national model to be developed by the Welsh Government.  The Finance Manager explained the need to revalue council housing stock at least every five years and that this accounting entry showed the existing use value to the Council at the balance sheet date being 31 March 2016.  She explained the Council’s responsibilities in carrying out investigations on former waste disposal sites, with work starting on five former sites and another two nearing completion.

Councillor Arnold Woolley asked whether WG guidance on consistency of regional adjustment factors to value council stock could be pursued through the Welsh Local Government Association.  The Corporate Finance Manager said that this was an issue across all Welsh councils and that representations were being made through regional groups.

Following a query by Councillor Haydn Bateman, the Finance Manager agreed to follow-up a request for clarification on what was included within the figures for ‘specialist services’ on the Housing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24