Environmental Protection Act 1990

Reports, accounts etc.

19The council shall—

(a)furnish the Secretary of State with such returns, accounts and other information with respect to their property and activities or proposed activities as he may from time to time require;

(b)afford to the Secretary of State facilities for the verification of information so furnished; and

(c)for the purpose of such verification, permit any person authorised in that behalf by the Secretary of State to inspect and make copies of the council’s accounts, books, documents or papers and give that person such explanation of anything he is entitled to inspect as he may reasonably require.

20(1)The council shall—

(a)as soon as possible after the 31st March following the date appointed under section 131(3) of this Act make to the Secretary of State a report on the exercise and performance of their functions down to that date, and

(b)make a similar report to him as to each period of twelve months thereafter as soon as possible after its end;

and a copy of each such report shall be laid before each House of Parliament by the Secretary of State.

(2)Without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (1) above, the report of the Countryside Council for Wales for any year shall include a statement of the action taken by the Council to promote the enjoyment of the countryside by members of the public who are disabled.

21(1)The council shall keep proper accounts and other records, and shall prepare for each financial year a statement of account in such form as the Secretary of State with the approval of the Treasury may direct and submit those statements of account to the Secretary of State at such time as he may with the approval of the Treasury direct.

(2)The Secretary of State shall, on or before 30th November in any year, transmit to the Comptroller and Auditor General the statements of account of the council for the financial year last ended.

(3)The Comptroller and Auditor General shall examine and certify the statements of account transmitted to him under this paragraph, and lay copies of them together with his report thereon before each House of Parliament.

(4)In this paragraph “financial year” means the period beginning with the day appointed under section 131(3) of this Act and ending with the 31st March following that date and each period of twelve months thereafter.