Issue - meetings

That the Wales Audit Office reports be noted.

Mr. Richard Harris presented the Wales Audit Office (WAO) Audit Plan 2018 which set out the arrangements and responsibilities for proposed audit work for the Council and the Clwyd Pension Fund.

In summarising the key points of the Council’s Plan, he referred to positive engagement between Council officers and the WAO on the accounts process, including preparations to meet earlier statutory deadlines.  The key financial audit risks identified at the planning stage of the audit were mainly generic with only a few specific risks for the Council.  Performance audit work incorporated a balance between national work across Wales and local performance work.  A slight reduction in the estimated fee for the accounts audit work reflected the level of improvements which had been made to the process.  A reduction in the fee for grant certification work was due to streamlined arrangements introduced by Welsh Government which would result in a significant reduction in grant claims to be certified in the traditional way.

The Chief Executive welcomed positive feedback on the financial audit of the accounts for 2016/17 and in particular, recognition of the role of the Accounts Governance Group.  He said that changes to the accounting treatment of the North Wales Residual Waste Treatment Project once it became operational in 2019 may result in additional work for an interim period.  Whilst the audit opinion on the robustness of systems had been acknowledged, the sustainability of the budget position was a different matter.  Possible changes to the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 would require mutual agreement on making best use of any released WAO resources.

On the Plan for the Clwyd Pension Fund, Mr. Harries said that a number of the financial audit risks were not specific to Flintshire, including regulatory changes which meant that Clwyd Pension Fund accounts would no longer be included as part of the Council’s Statement of Accounts.

The Chief Executive explained that discussions were underway to agree on the role of the Clwyd Pension Fund Committee in approving its accounts.  Whilst the Audit Committee could still have oversight, it would retain responsibility to approve the core accounts.

RESOLVED:

That the Wales Audit Office reports be noted.