Audit, Governance & Standards Committee

16 January 2023

 

External Auditor’s Progress Report & Sector Update

 

Final Decision-Maker

Audit, Governance & Standards Committee

Lead Head of Service

Mark Green, Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement

Lead Officer and Report Author

Paul Holland, Senior Finance Manager (Client)

Classification

Public

Wards affected

All

 

Executive Summary

 

This report from the Council’s External Auditor, Grant Thornton provides an update on the progress of auditing the 2021/22 Statement of Accounts. At the time of writing this report the progress report had not been finalised and it will be circulated separately prior to the meeting.

 

Representatives from Grant Thornton will be in attendance at the meeting to present their report and respond to questions.

 

Purpose of Report

 

Noting

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee:

1.   That the external auditor’s audit progress report, attached at Appendix 1 (to follow), be noted.

 

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Audit, Governance & Standards Committee

16 January 2023



External Auditor’s Progress Report & Sector Update

 

1.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

We do not expect the recommendations will by themselves materially affect achievement of corporate priorities.  However, they will support the Council’s ability to discharge its responsibilities in relation to the 2021/22 financial statements audit and value for money conclusion.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Cross Cutting Objectives

The recommendations set out above will not have any material impact on the cross-cutting objectives.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Risk Management

This report is presented for information only and has no decisions which give rise to risk management implications.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Financial

The Statement of Accounts provides an

overview of income and expenditure for

the financial year to 31 March 2022, and

details the council’s assets, liabilities and

reserves at this date. The work of the

external auditor provides independent

assurance over this information.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Staffing

No implications identified.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Legal

The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 sets out the framework for audit of local authorities.

Interim Team Leader (Contentious and Corporate Governance)

Privacy and Data Protection

None identified.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Equalities

The recommendations do not propose a change in service therefore will not require an equalities impact assessment.

Equalities & Communities Officer

 

Public Health

 

 

No implications identified.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Crime and Disorder

No implications identified.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Procurement

No implications identified.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Biodiversity and Climate Change

There are no implications on biodiversity and climate change.

 

Biodiversity and Climate Change Officer

 

2.      INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1     The Council is required to have its audited Statement of Accounts approved by the Audit, Governance & Standards Committee, and for 2021/22 that deadline was 30th November 2022. However, Members will be aware from previous meetings that the final part of the external audit process for 2021/22 was not scheduled to commence until January 2023 due to resourcing issues on the part of the external auditor and the need to conclude the audit of the 2020/21 Statement of Accounts.                                                                                                    

2.2     The external auditor’s report (to follow) provides an update on progress to date as well as a sector update. Representatives from Grant Thornton will be present at the meeting to present the report and answer any questions.

 

 

3.   AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1     As the committee charged with responsibility for overseeing the financial reporting process, the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee is asked to consider and note this report.  The committee could choose not to consider this report; however, this option is not recommended since the report is intended to assist the committee in discharging its responsibilities in relation to external audit and governance.

 

 

 

 

4.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

4.1     The committee is asked to note this report.  The report provides an update on the external audit process for 2021/22 and it is considered appropriate for the committee to receive this information at this time.

 

 

 

5.       RISK

5.1     This report is presented for information only and has no decisions which give rise to risk management implications.

 

 

6.       CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

6.1     No consultation has been taken in relation to this report.

 

 

7.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

7.1      Next steps are outlined within Appendix 1.

 

 

 

8.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

·         Appendix 1: External Auditor’s Progress Report & Sector Update (to follow)

 

 

9.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

None