76 Approval and signing of accounts.U.K.
(1)The annual accounts of a friendly society or a registered branch shall be approved by the committee of management.
(2)The accounts so approved shall be signed by the secretary of the society or branch; and the signature shall be on the balance sheet.
(3)Every copy of the balance sheet which is laid before the society or branch in general meeting, or is otherwise circulated, published or issued, shall state the name of the secretary of the society or branch.
(4)The copy of the balance sheet of a friendly society or a registered branch which is sent F1... under section 78 below shall be signed by the secretary of the society or branch.
(5)If annual accounts of a society or branch are approved which do not comply with the requirements of this Act, every member of the committee of management who is party to their approval and who knows that they do not comply or is reckless as to whether they comply is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
For this purpose every member of the committee at the time the accounts are approved shall be taken to be a party to their approval unless he shows that he took all reasonable steps to prevent their being approved.
(6)If a copy of the balance sheet of a society or branch—
(a)is laid before the society or branch, or otherwise circulated, published or issued, without the balance sheet having been signed as required by this section or without the required statement of the signatory’s name being included; or
(b)is sent F1... without being signed as required by this section,
the society or branch and every officer of it who is in default is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 76 omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of The Financial Services Act 2012 (Mutual Societies) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/496), art. 1(1), Sch. 9 para. 30 (with Sch. 12)
Commencement Information