Issue - meetings

This report sets out proposals for appointing the external auditor to the Council for the five-year period from 2023/24.

Members are asked to note that the proposals were endorsed for referral on to Council by the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee on 31 January 2022.

Council RESOLVED to accept Public Sector Audit Appointments’ invitation to opt into the sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government and police bodies for five financial years from 1 April 2023.

At this stage in proceedings, the Deputy Mayor took over as Chair of the meeting whilst the Mayor took a short break.

The Deputy Mayor invited Councillor McLennan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources, to introduce a report from the Director of Finance detailing proposals for appointment of the Council’s External Auditor for the accounts for a five year period from 2023-24.

In introducing the report, Councillor McLennan highlighted the main options available to the Council in terms of the arrangements for seeking to appoint its external auditor as detailed within section 3.1 of the report, with it noted that the Council had currently opted into the ‘appointing person’ national auditor appointment arrangements established by Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA).  Having assessed the options available and undertaken discussions with other local authorities, the preferred option identified had been to continue with the sector wide procurement and national collective scheme being administered and conducted by PSAA, which it was felt would continue to provide better outcomes than any more complex procurement arrangements undertaken locally both in terms of mitigating risk and cost.  Members were advised that the recommended approach outlined in the report had also been endorsed for referral on to Council by the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee on 31 January 2022.

As no members indicated they wished to speak and Councillor McLennan had confirmed she did not need to exercise her right of reply the Deputy Mayor then put the recommendation in the report to the vote and it was declared CARRIED.

Council therefore RESOLVED to accept Public Sector Audit Appointments’ invitation to opt into the sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government and police bodies for five financial years from 1 April 2023.

Following the completion of this item the Mayor resumed as Chair of the meeting.