I have uploaded to the site a copy of the Annual Return for the year to 31 March 2021. This document has been audited by our Internal Auditors, and bears their signature. It does not bear the signatures of myself and the Chair of Minera Community Council, Cllr John Edwards, as the copy which carries those signatures is currently in the custody of Audit Wales.

Audit Wales is our External Auditor, and has a legal obligation to complete the external audit work and return to Minera Community Council the original Annual Return, bearing the audit opinion and the signature of the Auditor General for Wales. This should be done in time for me, as Responsible Financial Officer of Minera Community Council, to publish on this website the final, fully signed, opinionated and complete Annual Return for public inspection no later than 30 September 2021.

Audit Wales has failed to complete this work in time, and I have accordingly been directed to publish the attached notice. When I finally receive the completed and fully audited Annual Return for the year to 31 March 2021 I will publish it on this website.

For the avoidance of doubt, Minera Community Council approved the Annual Return within the required legal timetable, and our Internal Audit was also completed in good time to enable me to provide all of the requested documents for external audit ahead of the published deadline. That the audit process for the year ended 31 March 2021 has not been completed on time is therefore entirely down to the contribution of Audit Wales to the task.

David Hinchliffe, MCC Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer