Agenda item

Report of the Group Director of Operations

The Group Director of Operations submitted a report (previously circulated) to inform Members of the procurement routes for the appointment of the Council’s External Auditors for the period 2023/24 to 2027/28, and to request approval for the  opting in of the national scheme.

The submitted report stated that the Council had previously opted into the ‘appointing person’ national auditor appointment arrangements established by Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) for the period covering the accounts for 2018/19 to 2022/23, and that the PSAA was now undertaking procurement for the next accounting period covering the audits for 2023/24 to 2027/28.

The submitted report outlined several reasons why the sector-wide procurement conducted by PSAA would produce better outcomes and would be less burdensome for the Council than a procurement undertaken locally, highlighted the deadlines to opt into the scheme, and reported on the recommendation made by the Audit Committee at its meeting on 26 January 2022.

RESOLVED - That Darlington accepts the PSAA invitation to opt into the national scheme for the appointment of external auditors for the 5 years from 1 April 2023.

REASON - To ensure the Council has an appointed external auditor from 2023/24 onwards procured through the most efficient route.