CHILTERNS CREMATORIUM JOINT COMMITTEE

 

 

 

MEETING 18th SEPTEMBER 2008

 

 

 

OPEN REPORT OF THE TREASURER TO

 

THE JOINT COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

Background Papers (if any) are specified at the end of each item

 

 

 

1     2007/08 STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

 

     (Contact Officer: Alison Howes  01494 732260)

 

 

 

1

The Chilterns Crematorium Joint Committee Statement of Accounts for the financial year 2007/08 has now been finalised, subject to external audit by Grant Thornton and is appended to the 53rd Annual Report.  The accounts are still draft at this stage and there may be some minor amendments arising from the audit. They are being presented for approval by the Joint Committee, the final version, following the audit will be available for publication on, or soon after, 30 September.

 

 

 

2

The main point to note arising from the accounts is that a net surplus for the year of £517,802 is reported which has been allocated to constituent authorities in accordance with agreed accounting policy. This is after a revenue contribution to finance capital expenditure incurred during the year of £59,968.

 

 

 

3

The overall cumulative position on constituent authorities’ shares is a surplus of £1,143,099 and as previously agreed this is being held to fund future capital projects e.g. filtration system.

 

 

 

4

The accounts continued to be prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 17 Accounting for Retirement Benefits. Although these accounting entries do not impact on the overall financial performance of the Crematorium they do recognise the pension fund liability in the balance sheet and thus reduce the reported net worth of the Crematorium.

 

 

 

5

Total fee income has exceeded £1million for the third year running. As advised last year this now subjects the Crematorium Accounts to a full audit and a requirement to be compliant with Statements of Recommended Accounting Practice (SORPs).

 

 

 

6

Under section 3 of the Audit Commission Act 1998 external auditors are appointed by the Audit Commission for certain local government bodies, including joint committees of two or more local authorities. The appointment of external auditors Grant Thornton will end following the current audit of the 2007/08 Statement of Accounts. From 2008/09 through to 2012/13 the Audit Commission’s own Southern Region has been appointed as external auditors to the Joint Committee, these auditors have also been appointed over the same period for Chiltern District Council.

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDED

 

That the Statement of Accounts for 2007/2008 be formally approved and adopted.

 

 

 

 

 

                 Background papers:  None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2     ANNUAL REPORT

 

Contact Officer: Alan Goodrum 01494 732001 and Charles Howlett 01494 724263

 

 

 

2.1

In accordance with Standing Order 7 the Fifty Third Annual Report of the Joint Committee is circulated to all members. Copies will be despatched to the three constituent authorities for distribution.

 

 

 

RECOMMENDED

 

 

 

That the Fifty Third Annual Report of the Chilterns Crematorium Joint Committee be formally approved and adopted.

 

 

 

 

 

     Background papers:  None