Issue - meetings

Report by Dafydd Edwards, Statutory Finance Officer – Host Authority.

To note and accept the Joint-committee’s Revenue Income and Expenditure Account for 2019/20.

To approve the Joint-committee’s Official Annual Return for 2019/20 (subject to External Audit), which had been duly completed and certified by the Joint-committee's Statutory Finance Officer in line with the statutory deadline of 15 June 2020.

The report was submitted by Dafydd Edwards - Host Authority Head of Finance Department.

       DECISION

To note and accept the Joint-committee’s Revenue Income and Expenditure Account for 2019/20.

To approve the Joint-committee’s Official Annual Return for 2019/20 (subject to External Audit), which had been duly completed and certified by the Joint-committee's Statutory Finance Officer in line with the statutory deadline of 15 June 2020.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

The Joint-committee must be aware of its financial position for 2019/20 and comply with the statutory requirements with regard to completing the Annual Return.

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted noting that it outlined the final accounts and that approval was needed for the Joint Committee's official annual return. It was added that the accounts and report would be the subject of an audit by Deloitte and if any changes were needed, an amended version would be submitted to the next Joint Committee.

Attention was drawn to the underspend, noting that the reasons for the underspend included a reduction in the Accountable Body's support services. It was added that the European Social Fund money had not been received until May 2020 which meant that it did not appear in the 2019/20 accounts. Therefore, it was added that it would be claimed retrospectively during 2020/21 and back-dated to 1 July 2018. It was explained that there was an underspend of £161,316 that had been transferred to an allocated reserve fund to give a balance of £497,529 which would be available to fund future one-off costs.

During the discussion the following matters were raised:-

The officers were thanked for their work.

·         It was noted that a confirmation letter for the European Social Fund money had been received which would allow the Programme Office Team to start preparing for the next phase.