Finance & Audit Sub-Committee

Thursday 14 June 2001 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Calvert, Jackson, McCabe and Mitchell.

Chair:  Councillor Jackson presided. 

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Director of Legal & Support Services, Interim Director of Finance, Head of Accountancy Services, Managing Solicitor (Committees/Contracts) and  Chief Internal Auditor.

Also present:  Mr G Jack, Partner, Messrs PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

Apologies:  Councillors O’Rourke and Robertson (Y).

567

External Auditors - Annual Report to Members 1999/2000

567

There was submitted a report dated 11 June 2001 by the Chief Executive introducing the Annual Report to Members in respect of the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000, prepared by the Council’s appointed External Auditors, Messrs PriceWaterhouseCoopers, a copy of which had previously been circulated to Members.  Following discussion, Mr Jack, Messrs PriceWaterhouseCoopers, answered questions on points raised by Members relating to the Annual Report.

The Head of Accountancy Services advised that the Draft Accounts for 2000/2001 are on schedule to be submitted by the Council by the statutory time limit of 30 June 2001.

Decided:

(1)  that the Sub-Committee note the matters raised in respect of the Audit of the 1999/2000 Accounts, the comments by the External Auditor and the progress reported since January 2001;

(2)  that the completion of the 2000/2001 accounts on a timeous and accurate basis be treated as a high priority and that the current position be noted; and

(3)  that the Sub-Committee continue to monitor the overall position.