Issue - meetings

To receive a report seeking approval of the changes considered at the preceding Audit & Standards Advisory Committee, to the financial and procedural rules governing the Mayor’s Charity Appeal identified as part of the annual review process.

The Committee received a report from the Corporate Director of Finance & Resources seeking approval to the changes considered at the preceding meeting of the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee to the financial and procedural rules governing the Mayor’s Charity Appeal arising as part of the annual review process.

On the basis of the annual review undertaken at the preceding meeting of the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee, it was RESOLVED:

(1)       To note the outcome of the annual review of the financial and procedural rules governing the Mayor’s Charity Appeal (as detailed within Appendix 4 of the report).

(2)       To approve the following proposed changes and additions to the financial and procedural rules governing the Mayor’s Charity Appeal arising from the review, as recommended by the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee and set out in section 10.4 of the report:

(a)       That the Mayor, or immediate Members of their family, must not be a Trustee or Chair (or an equivalent position) at a charity the Mayor is fundraising for.

(b)       If a donor decides to donate to the Mayor’s charity directly, proof of donation must be shared with the Mayor’s Office. This could be a screenshot of a donation made, a receipt from the charity, or some other equivalent proof of donation – subject to confirmation of final wording being delegated to the Corporate Director Finance & Resources in order to incorporate clarification (as recommended by Audit & Standards Advisory Committee) covering when a donor would like their donation to be counted towards the Mayors total fundraising for the year and formal proof of donation required.

To receive an update on the progress in finalising the External Auditor Annual Report and Council’s Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 24 following consideration of the item at the preceding Audit & Standards Advisory Committee and in advance of the final Statement of Accounts 2023-24 being approved.

(Agenda republished to include the attached report on Friday 21 February 2025)

The Committee received a report from the Corporate Director of Finance & Resources providing an update on progress in finalising the Council’s and Pension Fund Statement of Accounts for 2023-24.

Following consideration of the update provided at the preceding meeting of the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee, the Committee noted that whilst the external audit on the final Statement of Accounts being undertaken by Grant Thornton was subject to final completion no issues had been identified at this stage as likely to impact on the anticipated outcome of the audit, with the result still expected to be an unqualified audit opinion being issued.

Pending the anticipated completion of the final audit findings, the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee had agreed to recommend to the Audit & Standards Committee that the Statement of Accounts be approved subject to no other material changes being identified as required by the auditors and that approval of the draft letters of representation be delegated to the Corporate Director Finance & Resources.

On the basis of the recommendations made at the preceding Audit & Standards Advisory Committee, it was therefore RESOLVED that the Audit and Standards Committee:

(1)       Note the draft audit opinions, as set out in Appendices B & D of the report.

(2)    Approve the final Statement of Accounts for 2023-24, subject to no material changes being required by the auditors.

(3)    Agree that approval of the draft letters of representation to Grant Thornton for the Council and Pension Fund be delegated to the Corporate Director of Finance & Resources, as set out in Appendices A & C of the report.

(4)    Authorise the Chair of the Audit & Standards Committee to sign the final 2023-24 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 any material adjustments were required as a result of the final Audit Findings Report being issued, these would be reported back to the Committee and also sent to the Chair of the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee.  The Committee was advised that confirmation would also be provided for all members once final sign off of the Statement of Accounts had been completed.

(5)    Approve the audit fees for 2023-24 be approved, as detailed in section 3.2.7 of the report.

With no further recommendations to approve, the Chair formally thanked Sophia Brown and the Grant Thornton Team, as well as Minesh Patel, Ravinder Jassar and the Council’s Finance team for their work in progressing completion of the audit and Statement of Accounts.

To receive an update on the progress in finalising the External Auditor Annual Report and Council’s Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 24 following consideration of the item at the preceding Audit & Standards Advisory Committee and in advance of approval of the final Statement of Accounts 2023-24.

To receive and review the London Borough of Brent and London Borough of Brent Pension Fund Audit Findings Report for 2022/23 following its consideration at the preceding Audit & Standards Advisory Committee.

*The agenda was re-published on 10 October 2023 to include the updated Audit  

  Findings Report and Annual Auditors Report.

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 2022-23 and the Annual Auditor’s Report

Following the detailed consideration of the reports at the preceding meeting of the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee the Committee RESOLVED as endorsed by the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee to:

(1)    Approve the final statement of accounts 2022-23, subject to no further material changes.

(2)    Authorise the Chair of the Audit & Standards Committee to sign the final statement of accounts 2022/23, subject to receiving written assurances that there were no further material changes being required by the auditors.

(3)    Note the findings of the updated Audit Findings Report, including the additional recommendations.

(4)    Note the findings of the Value for Money report and commend it to Full Council.

(5)    Note that they are content with the increased level of audit fees as agreed with the PSAA.