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AUDIT, GOVERNANCE AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE |
Monday 23rd November 2015 |
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Is the final decision on the recommendations in this report to be made at this meeting? |
No |
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External Auditor’s Annual Audit Letter |
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Final Decision-Maker |
Audit and Governance Committee |
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Lead Head of Service |
Head of Finance and Resources |
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Lead Officer |
Paul Riley |
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Report Author |
Report prepared by Janette Gill |
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Is this a key decision report |
No |
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Classification |
Public |
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Wards affected |
N/A |
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This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee: |
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1. It is recommended that the Committee note and comment on the External Auditor’s Annual Audit Letter included at Appendix A to this report and consider whether any recommendations should be made to Policy and Resources Committee. Issues for Consideration: 2. To consider the External Auditor’s Annual Audit Letter for the year ended 31st March 2015
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This report relates to the following corporate priorities: |
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· The council is committed to delivery of Value for Money services and securing a successful economy for Maidstone Borough Council · This Annual Audit Letter outlines its measures in securing that commitment |
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Timetable |
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Meeting |
Date 23 November 2015 |
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Audit & Governance Committee |
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Maidstone Borough Council |
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External Auditor’s Annual Audit Letter |
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1. PURPOSE OF REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1 The purpose of the report is to communicate the key findings, contained within the Annual Audit Letter, arising from the work of the External Auditor’s Grant Thornton.
1.2 The Annual Audit Letter is intended to communicate key messages to the Council, External Stakeholders and Members of the public.
2. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
2.1 The Annual Audit Letter will report a summary of the findings from the Annual Audit of the Statement of Accounts 2014/15 and will focus on three areas of work such as Financial Statements Audit (including the Audit Opinion), Value for Money (VfM) conclusion and Certification of the Housing Benefit grant claim.
3. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
The Annual Audit Letter summarises the findings from the work undertaken by the External Auditors for the financial year ending 31st March 2015. Representatives from Grant Thornton UK LLP will be in attendance at this meeting to present the report.
It is recommended that this report is considered by the Audit and Governance Committee in accordance with the terms of reference detailed within Part 2 of the Council’s Constitution.
Alternative Action and why not Recommended
3.1 The Committee, and the Council, could choose not to acknowledge the comments made by the External Auditor, but this is an independent view of how the Authority is operating. It offers Stakeholders to form a view of how the Council is performing efficiently and effectively on a range of areas including the delivery of Value for Money Services.
4. IMPLICATIONS
The implications arising from this report are in the following table:
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Implications |
Sign-off |
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Impact on Corporate Priorities |
Delivery of Value for Money Services |
Head of Finance & Resources |
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Risk Management |
Forms a key part of the Corporate Governance arrangements which are assessed as part of the Annual Audit |
Chief Accountant |
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Financial |
The financial implications arising from the work of External Audit are detailed within Appendix A |
Section 151 Officer & Finance Team |
5. REPORT APPENDICES
The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:
· Appendix A: The External Auditor’s Annual Audit Letter 2014/15
6. BACKGROUND PAPERS
There are no background papers for this report.