West Sussex County Council: Financial report and accounts

Statement of accounts

Following the end of each financial year the County Council publishes an annual Statement of Accounts. The County Council's accounts are one of the means by which it demonstrates its stewardship of public money. The accounts include an income and expenditure account showing how the County Council has spent its sources of income to be used in the provision of services to the West Sussex public, statements of movement in the general fund and total recognised gains and losses, and a balance sheet which lists all the assets and liabilities of the Council at 31 March.

Annual audit letter

The Audit Commission's Annual Governance Report includes a report on the audit of the accounts. The District Auditor's view is that the accounts for 2008/09 present fairly the County Council's financial position for the year, with the exception of the values of ten care homes shown on the balance sheet. In this instance she disagreed with the professional valuation commissioned by the County Council in September 2009. The Finance Director considers the values as presented in the accounts to be prudent and justifiable and therefore the audit opinion is qualified by reason of disagreement. This does not affect the reliance which can be placed on other aspects of the statements.

Sustainability report

In 2007 the Prince of Wales launched an Accounting for Sustainability project to encourage sustainable practices in reporting in businesses and other organisations. The project aimed to provide reporting guidelines to help organisations more effectively measure the wider environmental and social costs of their actions.  West Sussex County Council was a partner in the project. The County Council's Sustainability Report for the year, considered by the Audit Commission to be a model of good practice nationally, is published alongside the financial statements.

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