PART 2LOCAL DEMOCRACY AND BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR WALES
Financial matters
15Funding
1
The Welsh Ministers may pay grants to the Commission of such amounts as they may determine.
2
A grant is made subject to any conditions specified by the Welsh Ministers (including conditions about repayment).
16Accounting officer
1
The Welsh Ministers must designate a person to act as the Commission’s accounting officer.
2
The accounting officer has, in relation to the Commission’s accounts and finances, the responsibilities specified in a direction by the Welsh Ministers.
3
The responsibilities that may be specified include—
a
responsibilities in relation to the signing of accounts;
b
responsibilities for the propriety and regularity of the Commission’s finances;
c
responsibilities for the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which the Commission uses its resources;
d
responsibilities owed to the Welsh Ministers, the National Assembly for Wales or the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly;
e
responsibilities owed to the House of Commons or the Committee of Public Accounts of that House.
17Audit committee
1
The Commission must establish a committee (an “audit committee”) to—
a
review and scrutinise the Commission’s financial affairs,
b
review and assess the Commission’s risk management, internal control and corporate governance arrangements,
c
review and assess the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which resources have been used in discharging the Commission’s functions, and
d
make reports and recommendations to the Commission in relation to reviews conducted under paragraphs (a), (b) or (c).
2
The audit committee must send copies of its reports and recommendations to the Welsh Ministers.
3
It is for the audit committee to determine how to exercise its functions under this section.
18Audit committee: membership
1
The audit committee is to consist of—
a
at least two members of the Commission, and
b
at least one lay member.
2
The Commission’s chairing member may not be a member of the audit committee.
3
The Commission may pay such remuneration, allowances and expenses to a lay member as it may determine.
4
The Commission must consult the Welsh Ministers before determining the remuneration or allowances payable to a lay member.
5
In this section “lay member” means any person other than—
a
a member or an employee of the Commission, or
b
an expert appointed under section 10(1) or assistant commissioner appointed under section 11(1).
19Accounts and external audit
1
The Commission must for each financial year—
a
keep proper accounts and proper records in relation to them, and
b
prepare a statement of accounts.
2
Each statement of accounts must comply with any directions given by the Welsh Ministers as to—
a
the information to be contained in it,
b
the manner in which the information is to be presented,
c
the methods and principles according to which the statement is to be prepared.
3
No later than 31 August after the end of each financial year the Commission must submit its statement of accounts to—
a
the Welsh Ministers, and
b
the Auditor General for Wales.
4
The Auditor General for Wales must—
a
examine, certify and report on the statement of accounts, and
b
no later than 4 months after the statement was submitted, lay before the National Assembly for Wales a copy of the certified statement and report.
5
In this section, “financial year” means the period of 12 months ending on 31 March.
20Annual reports
1
No later than 30 November after the end of each financial year the Commission must submit a report to the Welsh Ministers on the discharge of its functions during that year.
2
The Welsh Ministers must publish the report and lay a copy before the National Assembly for Wales.
3
In this section, “financial year” has the same meaning as in section 19.