Issue - meetings

Statement of Accounts and Audit Opinion

To follow

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair explained that the Audit Opinion had been received late and considered deferring the item. However, the Deputy Chief Executive advised that further delays would present a risk in terms of signing off the accounts for the 2022/23 financial year. The Deputy Chief Executive stated that the papers had been considered by themselves and the Chief Accountant in detail before coming to the Committee.

On the advice of the Deputy Chief Executive, the Chair agreed to consider the item, but stated that it was regrettable that the Committee had not had sufficient time to consider the report.

Pete Barber, Director, and Roz Apperley, Audit Manager, from Grant Thornton introduced the report.

The purpose of the item was to update the Committee on the findings of the external audit of the 2022/23 financial year as the audit was concluded. External audit expected to sign the accounts following this meeting, after the Committee had had the opportunity to review the findings of their audit work.

Pete Barber apologised for the delays, explaining that there was concern within the sector about timeliness and that Grant Thornton had been keen to submit their final report, which would allow the Committee to off the accounts for the 2022/23 financial year.

Councillor Len Wilkins joined the meeting during this item. (around 4:05pm)

Members discussed the report, raising the following points, which were addressed by the Officers in attendance and the representatives from Grant Thornton;

The external auditors had stated that there were no areas of concern but had made recommendations nonetheless. It was explained by the representatives from Grant Thornton that these were not serious recommendations which should cause concern, but areas that the Council may wish to consider for improvement.
Members thanked Grant Thornton for the report and commended the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Accountant on the outcome, which was in their view a good position to be in at a difficult time.

Councillor Jeremy Theyer joined the meeting during this item (around 4:25pm)

RESOLVED: That the Audit and Governance Committee:

NOTED the Audit Findings Report (Annex A) and extract from the revised 2022/23 Statement of Accounts (Annex B)
AGREED to APPROVE the Statement of Accounts 2022/23.
AGREED to recommend that the Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee and Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer sign the Letter of Representation at Annex C

Voting record

For 6, Against 0, Abstentions 0, Absent/Did not vote 1

Issue - meetings

Statement of Accounts and Audit Opinion

Meeting: 25/04/2024 - Audit and Governance Committee (Item 268)

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