Agenda item

Consider the following:-

There had been circulated copies of a report by Audit Scotland, the Council’s Auditors, together with a report by the Chief Financial Officer and a copy of the Annual Accounts 2016/17.  The Chief Financial Officer’s report explained that the Council’s External Auditors were now Audit Scotland.  They also covered the Council’s related charities but KPMG continued to provide the external audit of SB Cares, SB Supports and Bridge Homes.  KPMG had concluded their audit and had raised no issues.  Audit Scotland had now completed the audit of the Council’s 2016/17 Annual Accounts and had provided an unqualified independent audit opinion.  The Annual Audit Report summarised Audit Scotland’s conclusions, including:

·                An unqualified audit opinion

·                They concurred with management’s accounting treatment and judgements;

·                They concluded positively in respect of financial management, financial sustainability, governance and transparency and value for money.

Audit Scotland had identified four recommendations requiring action and these had been accepted by management and would be enacted within the agreed timescales.  As required under the Local Authority Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2014, the audited Annual Accounts for Scottish Borders Council, Scottish Borders Council’s Pension Fund, SBC Common Good Funds, the SBC Charitable Trusts, Bridge Homes LLP, SB Support and SB Cares - copies of which had also been circulated - had been presented to the Audit & Scrutiny Committee prior to signature.  Councillor Bell, as Chairman of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee, commented on that Committee’s review of the accounts and the unqualified opinion which had been received in respect of all accounts.  He noted that Mr Samson from Audit Scotland was in the public benches that day.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the following audited accounts:-

(a)     the Scottish Borders Council’s audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2017;

(b)     the Scottish Borders Council Common Good Funds’ (Charity SC031538) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2017;

(c)     the SBC Welfare Trust (Charity SC044765) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2017;

(d)     the SBC Education Trust (Charity SC044762) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2017;

(e)     the SBC Community Enhancement Trust (Charity SC044764) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2017;

(f)      the Thomas Howden Wildlife Trust (Charity SC015647) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2017;

(g)     the Ormiston Trust for Institute Fund (Charity SC019162) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2017;

(h)     the Scottish Borders Council Charity Funds’ (Charity SC043896) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2017;

(i)      the Bridge Homes LLP audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2017;

(j)      the SB Supports audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2017;

(k)     the SB Cares audited Annual Accounts for the year to the 31 March 2017; and

(l)      the Scottish Borders Council’s Pension Fund audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2017.