The Group Manager – Chief Accountant presented a report, the purpose of which was to present to the Governance and Audit Committee the audited Statement of Accounts for 2021-22, which is now due to be certified by our external auditors, Audit Wales, and the associated Letter of Representation of the Council.

Audit Wales also updated the Committee on their main findings from the audit, summarised the audit work carried out in respect of the 2021-22 financial year, and presented their Audit of Accounts Report, which requires the appointed auditor to report these key findings to those charged with governance.

The amended audited Statement of Accounts 2021-22 was attached at Appendix A to the report. The detail of all the amendments were contained within the Auditor’s Audit of Accounts Report at Appendix B.

He explained that the audited Statement of Accounts 2021-22 was required to be signed by the Chief Financial Officer and the Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee as presenting a ‘true and fair view’ of the financial position of the Council as at 31 March 2022.

Audit Wales have substantially completed their audit work and the Statement of Accounts are due to be signed by the Auditor General for Wales on 27 January 2023, subject to Governance and Audit Committee approval of the accounts.

The Group Manager – Chief Accountant further added that the Council Fund at 31 March 2022, as presented to the Governance and Audit Committee in July 2022, has not changed.

In line with the International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 260, the external auditor is required to communicate relevant matters relating to the audit of the financial statements to those ‘charged with governance’. These matters were incorporated into the Audit of Accounts Report at Appendix B. This Appendix also contains the full list of adjustments made to the accounts as a result of the audit, as described in paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3 of the report.

A final Letter of Representation from the Council is required by the Appointed Auditor to complete the process and enable the accounts to be approved. This is included at Appendix C and is required to be signed by the Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee and Section 151 Officer.

A Lay member queried dates on the Audit report and a correction to the date was acknowledged. As a result of this, the Group Manager - Chief Accountant confirmed that the dates would be corrected from 2019 to 2021.

RESOLVED :  That the Committee:

·         Approved the audited statement of accounts 2021-22

·         Noted the appointed Auditor’s Audit of Accounts Report

·         Noted and agreed the final letter of representation to Audit Wales to be signed by the Chairperson of the Committee and Section 151 Officer.