CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) : latest information and advice

Statement of accounts

2019/2020 Draft Statement of Accounts – Statutory Notice

The 2019/2020 Draft Statement of Accounts for Caerphilly County Borough Council are being prepared in accordance with the relevant CIPFA Accounting Codes of Practice, Accounting Standards and Statutory provisions. However, these Accounts have not been completed and certified by the Responsible Finance Officer by 15 June 2020 and therefore the following notice is required in compliance with section 10(4) of the Accounts and Audit (Wales) Regulations 2014: -

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Authority has diverted resources to support key frontline services and as a result the 2019/20 Draft Statement of Accounts has not yet been completed. Consequently, the Responsible Finance Officer has not signed and certified the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2020.
The Authority intends to complete preparation of the Draft Statement of Accounts when the immediate pressures of the COVID-19 outbreak have subsided and in any case by 31 August 2020. At this point the Responsible Finance Officer will consider the requirement to sign and certify the Accounts in compliance with the relevant regulations.
Further to completion, the Draft Accounts will be subject to public inspection and external audit as required by the Accounts & Audit (Wales) Regulations and the Public Audit Wales Act. The Authority intends to publish its final audited Accounts by 15 September 2020 in accordance with statutory requirements. To facilitate this the Accounts will be presented to the Audit Committee on 4 September 2020 then Full Council on 10 September 2020.

Gwent Archives Joint Committee

Certification and approval of annual accounts for 2019-20

Regulation 15(1) of the Accounts and Audit (Wales) Regulations 2014 (as amended) requires that the Responsible Financial Officer of the Gwent Archives Joint Committee sign and date the accounts (the Annual Return) and certify that it presents fairly the financial position of the Gwent Archives Joint Committee at the end of the year and the Gwent Archives Joint Committee’s income and expenditure for the year. The Regulations required that this be completed by 15 June 2020.

The Responsible Financial Officer has signed and certified the Annual Return for the year ended 31 March 2020 on 10 June 2020 (http://www.gwentarchives.gov.uk/about-us.aspx).

Regulation 15(2) of the Accounts and Audit (Wales) Regulations 2014 (as amended) requires that following the certification by the Responsible Financial Officer referred to above, the Joint Committee must approve the Annual Return. The Regulations require that this be completed by 15 June 2020.

However, the Joint Committee has been unable to meet to approve the Annual Return due to the COVID-19 outbreak. As soon as the Joint Committee is able to meet it will consider the Annual Return and associated reports.