Agenda item

5.1       With reference to paragraph 7.1 of the Minute of 22 October 2020, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Director Finance and Corporate Governance presenting copies of the Council’s audited Annual Accounts for 2020/21.  The audit appointment of Audit Scotland for Scottish Borders Council accounts included the requirement to provide an auditor’s report for the Council as well as related charities.   KPMG continued to provide the external audit of the Council subsidiary Bridge Homes LLP.  Audit Scotland had now completed the audit of the Council’s Annual Accounts for 2020/21 and were expected to issue an unqualified audit opinion in all cases.  In addition, Audit Scotland concurred with Management’s accounting treatment and judgements; and had reached positive conclusions in respect of financial sustainability, financial management, governance, transparency and value for money.   Audit Scotland had identified six new and one follow-up to prior year recommendations for improvement requiring action and these had been accepted by Management and would be enacted within the agreed timescales.   

 5.2        As required under the Local Authority Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2014, the audited Annual Accounts for Scottish Borders Council, SBC Common Good Funds, the SBC Charitable Trusts, and Lowood Tweedbank Ltd were being presented to the Audit and Scrutiny Committee prior to signature.  The report also referred to KPMG’s external audit of Bridge Homes LLP which had raised no issues, with no matters to report.  However, that audit was not yet complete and therefore was not before the Committee for final consideration that day.  Mr Robertson advised that although the audit of Bridge Homes LLP by KPMG had not been signed off, no issues were expected to arise.  In response to a question regarding Scottish Water (SW) balances, Mr Robertson explained that SBC collected water fees as an agent of Scottish Water (SW).  However, because SBC did not collect 100% of the water charges that it levied, discussions were required with SW to ensure that those debts which had subsequently proven to be uncollectable were written off by SW.

DECISION

(a)        AGREED to recommend the following accounts for officer signature and Council approval:

i.              the Scottish Borders Council’s audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2021;

ii.            the Scottish Borders Council Common Good Funds’ (Charity SC031538) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2021;

iii.           the SBC Welfare Trust (Charity SC044765) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2021;

iv.           the SBC Education Trust (Charity SC044762) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2021;

v.            the SBC Community Enhancement Trust (Charity SC044764) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2021;

vi.           the SBC Ormiston Trust for Institute Fund (Charity SC019162) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2021;

vii.          the Scottish Borders Council Charitable Trusts (Charity SC043896) audited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2021; and

viii.        the Lowood Tweedbank Ltd Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2021.

(b)          NOTED the Bridge Homes LLP Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2021, prior to the receipt of the final audit certificate.