Issue - meetings

This report presents the BCP Council statement of accounts 2019/20 for consideration and approval.

The statement of accounts has been prepared in

accordance with the CIPFA Local Authority Accounting Code

of Practice, and presents a true and fair view of the

authority’s financial performance for 2019/20 and financial

position as at 31 March 2020.

This report highlights any significant issues within the statement of accounts, and provides an opportunity for robust Member scrutiny prior to their formal approval.

The Chief Financial Officer and Director of Finance and the Assistant Chief Financial Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'E' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee received for consideration and approval the BCP Council Statement of Accounts for 2019/20. The accounts represented the first ever set of full accounts for BCP Council and, by way of background, the process of bringing together the accounts was explained and set out. The narrative report summarised the financial position. Members had also had the opportunity to look in much more detail at the Statement at a workshop session held a few weeks prior to the meeting.

As explained earlier in the meeting, the external auditors Grant Thornton had only been able, due to factors outside the Council, to issue an interim audit opinion and a formal notice of a delayed opinion would accordingly be published on the Council’s website.

It was reported that the statement of accounts has been prepared in accordance with the CIPFA Local Authority Accounting Code of Practice, and presented a true and fair view of the Council’s financial performance for 2019/20 and financial position as at 31 March 2020.

A small number of formatting issues were noted for incorporation into future Statements. It was also noted that, going forward from the first year, comparative, year on year, information would be included.

The Committee as a whole congratulated the Finance Team on the quality of their work and on the quality of presentation and their robust approach within a very difficult environment.

RESOLVED that the Audit and Governance Committee

(a) approve the BCP Council statement of accounts for 2019/20;

(b) agree that the Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee signs the statement of responsibilities included in the statement of accounts and the letter of representation on behalf of the Committee once the audit is complete.

Voting: Unanimous