Agenda item

The Committee is asked to approve the Statementof Accountsfor theyear ended 31st March2022, including Gloucestershire Pension Fund Accounts 2021/22,  and sign the letters of representation.   

Paul Blacker, Director of Finance presented a progress report on the Statement of Accounts for 2021/22, it provided detail on the key findings set out in the audit findings reports for the Council and the Gloucestershire Pension Fund.  The Director explained the agreed timescale to allow the Committee to formally approve the 2021/22 audited accounts.

It was noted considerable work had been undertaken throughout the 2021/22 audit process. Committee members were assured that no material errors had been identified to date, and that an unqualified opinion was anticipated for both the Council and the Pension Fund.

Officers had worked with Grant Thornton to incorporate the additional reporting requirements for Infrastructure Assets, following changes in accounting standards and/or the legal framework. 

It was noted that a detailed training session had been undertaken by Members in November 2022, in relation to the Statement of Accounts. 

A member of the committee referred to the outstanding objection and felt the objector had valid concerns given the time period involved for applications.  It was explained that the issues had been raised by the CROW Committee with the appropriate Cabinet Member and Environment Scrutiny Committee were also aware of the resourcing issues and the backlog of definitive map applications.  The Chair suggested the issues should be referred to the Environment Scrutiny Committee, give this Committee's concerns in relation to the governance aspect and a response would be sought in due course. 

The Executive Director of Corporates Resources sympathised with the concerns raised and explained that some additional resources would be allocated within the budget for the coming financial year.  It was noted that the objection was not an issue from an accounts perspective. 

The Monitoring Officer advised the Committee that legislation in relation to definitive map applications had changed which in turn had created an increase in demand.  A prioritisation programme was currently in place and officers hoped the legislation clause would be repealed.  In addition, there were rights of appeal via Central Government but these weren't currently being pursued by applicants. 

The Executive Director of Corporate Resources wished to thank the Finance Team for all their efforts in producing the accounts and Grant Thornton for their efforts in compiling the audit.

During the discussion, members referred to the charts on page 115 of the report, in relation to Gender and those individuals who identified as transgender. The Monitoring Officer explained data was collected differently across the different organisations, so that information was not currently available.  Officer hoped to align data quality, so that comparisons could be provided in the future. 

Resolved

That the Committee unanimously approvedthe:

·           Statementof Accountsfor theyear ended 31st March2022, including Gloucestershire Pension Fund Accounts 2021/22, as detailed in Annex A.

·           Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Chair of the Committee to sign the attached letter of representation, in Annex B, on behalf of the Council.

·           Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Chair of the Committee to sign the attached letter of representation, in Annex C, on behalf Gloucestershire Pension Fund.