Issue - meetings

(a)       That the final Statement of Accounts for 2012/13 be approved and that the uncorrected misstatement in relation to the Clwyd Pension Fund not be amended; 

(b)       That the Letter of Representation – Flintshire County Council be approved; and

(c)       That the Letter of Representation – Clwyd Pension Fund be approved

The Head of Finance introduced the Statement of Accounts 2012/13, together with the Wales Audit Office (WAO) reports in connection with the audit of the 2012/13 financial statements for Flintshire County Council and the Clwyd Pension Fund. 

The Head of Finance advised that the statutory deadline for the approval of the Statement of Accounts was 30 September 2013 and commented on the opportunities which had been provided since July for Members to raise comments or questions beforehand.  She reported that as part of the final accounts process the WAO had presented the ISA 260 reports ‘Audit of the Financial Statements – Flintshire County Council’ and ‘Audit of the Financial Statements – Clwyd Pension Fund’ to a meeting of the Audit Committee which was held prior  to the meeting of the County Council.  She also explained that during the audit process a number of changes to the draft Statement of Accounts had been agreed with the WAO and these were incorporated into the final document  appended to the report.  The Letters of Representation – FlintshireCounty Council and Clwyd Pension Fund were also attached to the report for consideration. 

Councillor A. Woolley explained that he had been interim Chair at the meeting of the Audit Committee held on the morning of the meeting of County Council.  The Statement of Accounts which incorporated the agreed changes with the WAO had been thoroughly considered by the Committee.  The WAO had been present and fully explained their findings in respect of the accounts for FlintshireCounty Council and the Clwyd Pension Fund.  He gave an outline of the main points of discussion relating to the accounts and moved the recommendations of the report.  The proposal was seconded by Councillor I.B. Roberts.

The Head of Finance introduced and welcomed Mr John Herniman and Ms Amanda Hughes of the Wales Audit Office to the meeting. 

Mr. Herniman advised that an unqualified opinion on the financial statements would be issued when the Letter of Representation from the Authority had been received by the WAO.   Referring to the Statement of Accounts he explained that there were some minor typographical errors which would be corrected in the final version.  He reported that there had been no misstatements identified in the financial statements for FlintshireCounty Council which remained uncorrected.  There were misstatements that had been corrected by management which were detailed with explanations in appendix 3 of the Audit report.

Mr. Herniman referred to other significant issues arising from the audit and said there was concern about some of the qualitative aspects of the Authority’s accounting practices and financial reporting.  He referred to matters concerning non-current assets, the functionality of Technology Forge, general issues relating to the quality of accounts,  and liability for pension contributions on equal pay liabilities.  Mr. Herniman also referred to the liquidation of AD Waste which was finalised in September 2013 and explained that the accounts had been amended to reflect the final position following liquidation.

In conclusion, Mr Herniman summarised that there were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39