Agenda and minutes

It was noted that Councillor E Williamson was appointed Chair of the Committee at the meeting of full Council on 15 May 2019.

It was noted that Councillor M Hannah was appointed Vice Chair of the Committee at the meeting of full Council on 15 May 2019.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2019.

The minutes of the meeting on 11 March 2019 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To provide the Committee with details of items to consider in the production of an effective Annual Governance Statement and the contribution that the Committee can make to this process.

The Committee were updated on the progress made on the production of an effective Annual Governance Statement.

To inform the Committee of action taken to develop and comply with statutory obligations regarding corporate governance and to seek approval of the Annual Governance Statement for inclusion in the Council’s published Statement of Accounts for 2018/19.

The Committee were informed of action taken to develop and comply with statutory obligations regarding corporate governance and to seek approval of the Annual Governance Statement for inclusion in the Council’s published Statement of Accounts for 2018/19.

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 require authorities to conduct a review, at least once in each financial year, of the effectiveness of its system of internal control and to include an Annual Governance Statement report on the review with its statement of accounts. 

RESOLVED that:

1.      The draft Annual Governance Statement as shown in appendix 3 be approved in principle for inclusion in the Council’s Statement of Accounts.

2.      Responsibility be delegated to the Chief Executive and the Chair of this Committee to make any further amendments deemed necessary.

To seek approval to amend the Council’s accounting policies to be applied in the production of the 2018/2019 financial statements.

The Committee considered the amendments to the Council’s accounting policies to be applied in the production of the 2018/2019 financial statements.

                 RESOLVED that the updated accounting policy on Financial Instruments to be applied in the production of the Statement of Accounts for 2018/2019 be approved.

To provide the Committee with details of the requirement for Liberty Leisure to be subject to an external audit for 2018/19 and recommend a way forward.

The Committee were provided with details of the requirement for Liberty Leisure to be subject to an external audit for 2018/19. The accounts of Liberty Leisure must be subject to an audit due to the company being a subsidiary of an entity that does require an audit.

Liberty Leisure are able to obtain a specific audit exemption for under section 479 of the Companies Act 2006 by obtaining a guarantee from the Council.

RESOLVED that Liberty Leisure be exempted from requiring an external audit for 2018/19 in accordance with Part 16, Section 479 of the Companies Act 2006.

To inform the Committee of the recent work completed by Internal Audit.

The Committee were informed of the recent work completed by Internal Audit. The Council’s Internal Audit function had undertaken a review of progress made by management in implementing agreed actions within six months of the completion of the respective audits. 

To consider items for inclusion in the Work Programme for future meetings.

The Committee considered the work programme.

RESOLVED that the Work Programme be approved.