Issue - meetings

To note the final auditors findings and approve the Council’s final Statement of Accounts 2021-22 and Letter of Representation.

The Committee received the report from the Corporate Director of Finance & Resources providing an update on progress in finalising the Council’s Statement of Accounts for 2021-22.

Following consideration of the update provided at the preceding meeting of the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee the Committee noted that the external audit on the final Statement of Accounts being undertaken by Grant Thornton was nearing completion.  Whilst some further minor adjustments had been required to the Statement of Accounts as a result of an additional “hot review” undertaken by the external auditors none of these had significantly impacted on the anticipated outcome of the audit or medium term financial position of the Council with the result still expected to be an unqualified audit opinion being issued.

Given the further delay and pending the anticipated completion of the final audit findings, the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee had agreed to recommend to the Audit & Standards Committee that they seek to reconfirm the original delegation provided for the Chair of Audit & Standards Committee to sign off the finalised Statement of Accounts.

On the basis of the recommendation made at the preceding Audit & Standards Advisory Committee it was therefore RESOLVED that the Audit and Standards Committee reconfirm the original delegation authorising the Chair of the Audit and Standards Committee to sign the final Letter of Representation and Statement of Accounts, subject to a written assurance being provided that all outstanding matters and adjustments contained in the Audit Findings report had been made.  If there were any material adjustments required as a result of the final Audit Findings report being issued, these would be reported back to the next committee and also sent to the Chair of the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee and the Independent Advisor to the Committee”.

The meeting closed at 7.45pm

COUNCILLOR JUMBO CHAN

Chair

To note the final auditors findings and approve the Council’s final Statement of Accounts 2021-22 and Letter of Representation.