Agenda and minutes

Venue: Port Talbot Civic Centre, Committee Rooms 1/2

Contact: Cabinet 

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of the previous Audit Committee held on 28 June, 2017 pdf icon PDF 78 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED:      that the minutes of the meeting held on 28 June, 2017, be noted.

2.

Matters Arising

Minutes:

The lay member requested that the minutes be amended to reflect that a discussion was held regarding the current situation in relation to the position of Director of Social Services Health and Housing which is being carried out on an interim basis.

 

Officers provided an update and also provided details of the current position in relation to recent HMRC regulations (known as IR35) which deal with payments made for services provided by intermediaries.

 

3.

Wales Audit Office - Audit of Financial Statements Report pdf icon PDF 142 KB

Minutes:

Members received an update from the Wales Audit Officers on the Audit of Financial Statements Report 2016/17, for Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. 

 

It was highlighted that the Council acted as a pilot for the early closure of Local Government accounts, Wales Audit Officers confirmed they had received draft financial statements for year ended 31 March 2017 on 31 May 2017, a week earlier than 2015/16 and the agreed deadline of 7 June, 2017, four weeks before the statutory deadline of 30 June, 2017.

 

It was noted that as detailed in the circulated report during the Audit, one misstatement was identified in the financial statements. After discussions Officer’s concluded that this did not have a material impact and made the decision not to adjust.

 

Members thanked all Officers involved for the hard work that had gone into meeting these deadlines and thanked Wales Audit Officers for their continued support.

 

Wales Audit Officers stated that they will carry on engagement with the team and will share with others the achievements of Neath Port Talbot.

 

RESOLVED:      that the report be noted.

4.

Statement of Accounts 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members were asked to consider and approve the Statement of Accounts 2016/17, following the completion of external audit.

 

It was noted that the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Practice.

 

Members stated that a training session on the final accounts process would provide them with a better understanding. This will be provided next year prior to the 2017/18 draft final accounts being brought to Audit Committee.

 

RESOLVED:        that the 2016/17 Statement of Accounts are approved.

 

5.

The Role of Audit Committee - Presentation

Minutes:

Members received a presentation from Officers regarding the Role of Audit Committee.

 

6.

Access to Meetings

Minutes:

RESOLVED:        that pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded for the following items of business which involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 12, 13 and 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.

7.

Private Item

Minutes:

There were no Declarations of Interest from Members regarding this item.

 

A lengthy discussion took place regarding the contents of the private report. It was ultimately agreed that The Chairperson would write to the Chief Executive requesting an update on the current position as well as details of any reviews that have taken place in the intervening period.

 

 

RESOLVED:      that the report be noted, and the Chairperson will                      update members at the next Committee.