Agenda and minutes

None.

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature

and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary or personal interests

in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

To hear any deputations received from members of the public in

accordance with Standing Order 67.

None.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 June 2022 as a correct record.

RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on Tuesday 7 June 2022.

To note the auditors findings and delegate signing the Statement of Accounts.

The Committee received a report from the Corporate Director of Finance & Resources detailing progress in approving 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 the delay in completion of the audit process as a result of a national issue identified in relation to the accounting requirements for the calculation of asset values of highways infrastructure.  Whilst Brent’s 2021-22 Statement of Accounts had been finalised and the audit work was substantially complete, with the anticipated result being an unqualified audit opinion, it would not be possible to confirm this until any change in relation to the accounting requirements around the treatment of Highway Infrastructure assets had been resolved.

As a result, the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee in considering the Statement of Accounts had agreed to recommend to the Audit & Standards Committee that they consider authorising the Chair of the Committee to sign off the required 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 and that if there were any material adjustments required following the resolution of the infrastructure assets issue, these should be brought back to the a future committee for sign off and also sent to the Chair of the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee and the Independent Advisor to the Committee.

On the basis of the discussion and recommendation made at the preceding Audit & Standards Advisory Committee it was therefore RESOLVED to agree in relation to the final sign off of the accounts and Letter of Representation that the Audit and Standards Committee agree to authorise the Chair of the Committee to sign the required letter of Representation and Statement of Accounts, which were expected to be unqualified, 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 following the resolution of the infrastructure assets issue, these would be brought back to the next Committee for sign off and also sent to the Chair of the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee and the Independent Advisor to the Committee