To introduce the Annual Return and to request Members’ approval of its contents.

1.1 As mentioned in the Report on the Statement of Accounts, this is a summary of the more relevant parts of that Statement, in the format required by the Audit Commission.

1.2 Members should note that the balance carried forward of £273,181 includes £74,551 earmarked towards the future costs of replacing FPV Aegis and, as such, is not available to support revenue spending.

2.1 Members are asked to approve the statements made in this section of the Return.

2.2 The effectiveness of the audit process was considered and approved by a meeting of the Chairman’s Working Party on 13^th November 2007, and ratified by the Joint Committee meeting on 7^th December 2007.

3.1 When all other Sections have been completed (on or before 11^th July), the Return will be sent, together with supporting documentation, to the Audit Commission’s nominee for their report.

3.2 They aim to complete their Audit by 22^nd August 2008.

4.1 This has been completed by Moore & Smalley, who have been appointed as our ‘Internal Auditors’, following a visit to our Lancaster office on 15^th May 2008.