Agenda item

Report of the Group Director of Operations

The Group Director of Operations submitted a report (previously circulated), together with a report (previously circulated) of the Council’s external auditors on the audit for the year ended 31 March 2022.

In accordance with the Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2021, all Local Authorities were required to produce the draft annual Statement of Accounts by 31 July 2022 and an audited set published by 30 November 2022.

As previously reported to this Committee, although the external auditors were not in a position to deliver the audit by the statutory deadline due to national issue of a technical nature involving infrastructures assets which had now been substantially resolved, they had subsequently completed the audit.

Members appreciated the changeover in staffing at the Council’s finance team and external audit team, which added to the delay in the commencement of the 2021-22 Audit.

Members questioned the storing of evidence and if there were any plans to change paper accounts to digital. The Committee queried the Grant Register Procedure; how information was previously stored and how it should be stored at current.

RESOLVED –  (a) That the Auditor’s Audit Results Report on the Council’s 2021-22 financial statements be noted.

(b) Members noted the Letter of Representation in Appendix D of the Audit Results Report

(c) That the Audit Committee agrees not to amend the unadjusted audit differences as they are not material.

(d) Members noted the attached IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) compliant Statement of Accounts at Annex 2 for the 2021-22 financial year.

(e) That, following the auditing of the 2021-22 Statement of Accounts by the Council’s Section 151 Officer (The Group Director of Operations), the Chair and Vice-Chair of this Committee be given delegated power to sign off the Statement of Accounts for the 2021-22 financial year on behalf of the Committee and report back thereon to the next ordinary meeting.