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 2017/18.  The Chief Financial Officer’s report explained that this was the second year of Audit Scotland undertaking the external audit of the Council’s Annual Accounts.  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 2017/18 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 eight 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 the day before and no issues had been raised.  Mr Robertson answered Members’ questions on Brexit and the Pensions Fund.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the following audited accounts:-

(a)     the Scottish Borders Council’s audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2018;

(b)     the Scottish Borders Council Common Good Funds’ (Charity SC031538) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2018;

(c)     the SBC Welfare Trust (Charity SC044765) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2018;

(d)     the SBC Education Trust (Charity SC044762) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2018;

(e)     the SBC Community Enhancement Trust (Charity SC044764) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2018;

(f)      the Ormiston Trust for Institute Fund (Charity SC019162) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2018;

(g)     the Scottish Borders Council Charity Funds’ (Charity SC043896) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2018;

(h)     the Bridge Homes LLP audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2018;

(i)      the SB Supports audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2018;

(j)      the SB Cares audited Annual Accounts for the year to the 31 March 2018; and

(k)     the Scottish Borders Council’s Pension Fund audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2018.