Comments on: Inspecting the Accounts of your Council and also getting information about the Common Good http://commongoodwatch.wordpress.com/2009/07/11/inspecting-the-accounts-of-your-council-and-also-getting-information-about-the-common-good/ Watching our Common Good Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:04:43 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Lindsay Neil http://commongoodwatch.wordpress.com/2009/07/11/inspecting-the-accounts-of-your-council-and-also-getting-information-about-the-common-good/#comment-30 Lindsay Neil Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:04:43 +0000 http://commongoodwatch.wordpress.com/2009/07/11/inspecting-the-accounts-of-your-council-and-also-getting-information-about-the-common-good/#comment-30 James, Kirstin Scott who was at Lanark with the small Selkirk contingent, raised an objection, the outcome of which is below. The auditor is taking it forward, so apart from meeting with her, we are getting what we want. Your advice was used as a template, so thanks. Our omission to send to the named people was our own fault, but we have next year to get it right if they don't improve. Lindsay Kirstin I met with the Council's External Auditor on 27 august 2009 to discuss your objection. I am enclosing a copy of the notice published by the Council regarding the inspection arrangements and the action to be taken by an "interested person" to object to the Council's Accounts. You will note the requirement on the "interested person" to send their objection to the Controller of Audit by 17 August 2009 and copy that to me. As you did not lodge your objection with the Controller of Audit, it does not conform to the statutory requirements and is consequently not valid. The External Auditor has confirmed however that she will treat your e-mail as a complaint which will be investigated and I have indicated from the Council's point of view a willingness to seek a resolution to the issues that you have raised. Accordingly, the Council will now research the issues you have raised and respond to you within 28 days - that response will be copied to the External Auditor. The effect of this course of action is that your complaint will be investigated and responded to to the satisfaction of the External Auditor but it will not constitute a formal objection under Section 101 of the Act and will not impact on the timetable for the certification of the Accounts. I am bound to say that given the assistance and cooperation given by my staff during the inspection period, I am disappointed you felt it necessary to attempt to lodge a formal objection to the Accounts. That assistance and cooperation would have extended to attempting to resolve the matters raised in your complaint without recourse to the formal objection route. I would also add that had you at any time during your extensive discussions with Paddy Fagan indicated that you wished to lodge an objection, you would have been given clear advice and information on how to validly do that. Sandy Brown Chief Financial Officer Scottish Borders Council Council Headquarters Newtown St. Boswells Melrose TD6 0SA DD 01835 825012 F 01835 825011 E sbrown@scotborders.gov.uk www.scotborders.gov.uk James,
Kirstin Scott who was at Lanark with the small Selkirk contingent, raised an objection, the outcome of which is below.
The auditor is taking it forward, so apart from meeting with her, we are getting what we want. Your advice was used as a template, so thanks. Our omission to send to the named people was our own fault, but we have next year to get it right if they don’t improve.
Lindsay

Kirstin

I met with the Council’s External Auditor on 27 august 2009 to discuss your objection.

I am enclosing a copy of the notice published by the Council regarding the inspection arrangements and the action to be taken by an “interested person” to object to the Council’s Accounts. You will note the requirement on the “interested person” to send their objection to the Controller of Audit by 17 August 2009 and copy that to me. As you did not lodge your objection with the Controller of Audit, it does not conform to the statutory requirements and is consequently not valid.

The External Auditor has confirmed however that she will treat your e-mail as a complaint which will be investigated and I have indicated from the Council’s point of view a willingness to seek a resolution to the issues that you have raised. Accordingly, the Council will now research the issues you have raised and respond to you within 28 days – that response will be copied to the External Auditor.

The effect of this course of action is that your complaint will be investigated and responded to to the satisfaction of the External Auditor but it will not constitute a formal objection under Section 101 of the Act and will not impact on the timetable for the certification of the Accounts.

I am bound to say that given the assistance and cooperation given by my staff during the inspection period, I am disappointed you felt it necessary to attempt to lodge a formal objection to the Accounts. That assistance and cooperation would have extended to attempting to resolve the matters raised in your complaint without recourse to the formal objection route. I would also add that had you at any time during your extensive discussions with Paddy Fagan indicated that you wished to lodge an objection, you would have been given clear advice and information on how to validly do that.

Sandy Brown

Chief Financial Officer

Scottish Borders Council

Council Headquarters

Newtown St. Boswells

Melrose

TD6 0SA

DD 01835 825012

F 01835 825011

E sbrown@scotborders.gov.uk

http://www.scotborders.gov.uk

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