Annual Audit Letter (year ended 31 March 2019)

 

 

Final Decision-Maker

Audit, Governance and Standards Committee

 

Lead Head of Service/Lead Director

Mark Green, Director of Finance and Business Improvement

 

Lead Officer and Report Author

Chris Hartgrove, Interim Head of Finance

Classification

Public

 

Wards affected

All

 

 

Executive Summary

The Annual Audit Letter (Appendix 1) sets out the key findings from the work undertaken by the external auditors (Grant Thornton) for the year ended 31 March 2019, and concludes the audit process for 2018/19.

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Audit, Governance and Standards Committee

18 November 2019

This report makes the following recommendations to the Committee:
1.	That the external auditor’s (Grant Thornton) Annual Audit Letter for the year ended 31st March 2019 (Appendix 1) be noted.


Annual Audit Letter (year ended 31 March 2019)

1.        CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

The recommendations will by themselves not materially affect achievement of corporate priorities. However, the Council is committed to delivering on its corporate priorities and securing value for money through effective governance.  This Annual Audit Letter is one measure of how effective the council has been in delivering against this commitment.

 

Director of Finance & Business Improvement

Cross Cutting Objectives

As noted above, the Council is committed to delivering on its corporate priorities (and securing value for money through effective governance). The Council’s corporate priorities include a range of cross-cutting objectives.

 

Director of Finance & Business Improvement

Risk Management

Detailed within Section 5.

Director of Finance & Business Improvement

Financial

The financial implications arising from the work of external audit are detailed within Appendix 1.

Director of Finance & Business Improvement

Staffing

No implications identified.

Director of Finance & Business Improvement

Legal

The terms of reference for the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee require the Committee to consider the external auditor’s Annual Audit Letter.

 

Director of Finance & Business Improvement


 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Privacy and Data Protection

No implications identified.

Director of Finance & Business Improvement

 

Equalities

No implications identified.

Director of Finance & Business Improvement

Public Health

No implications identified.

Director of Finance & Business Improvement

Crime and Disorder

No implications identified.

Director of Finance & Business Improvement

Procurement

No implications identified.

Director of Finance & Business Improvement

 

2.        INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1     The Annual Audit Letter sets out the key findings from the work external audit work undertaken for the year end 31st March 2019 by Grant Thornton. Representatives from Grant Thornton will be in attendance at the meeting to present the document and respond to any questions which Committee members may have.

 

2.2     It is recommended that this document is considered by the Committee in accordance with the terms of reference detailed within the Council’s Constitution.

 

2.3     Key findings to note in the Annual Audit Letter at Appendix 1 include:

 

·      The external auditor gave an unqualified opinion on the Council's 2018/19 Statement of Accounts on 16th August 2019; and

 

·      The external auditor is satisfied that in all significant respects the Council put in place proper arrangements to secure economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources for the year ending 31st March 2019.


3.       AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1   The report is for noting only.


 


4.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

4.1 The report is for noting only.


5.      RISK

 

5.1     The report is presented for information only and has no risk management implications.


 

6.      CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

6.1     No formal consultation has been undertaken in relation to this report.

 

6.2     The Committee previously considered the Grant Thornton’s Audit Findings Report for the year ending 31st March 2019 as part of the formal adoption of the annual financial statements for the 2018/19 financial year (30th July 2019).


7.      NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

7.1     The Annual Audit Letter concludes the audit process for 2018/19. There are no further steps.


8.        REPORT APPENDICES

8.1   The following document is published with this report and forms part of the report:

 

·                Appendix 1 – “Annual Audit Letter (year ended 31st March 2019)”

TO FOLLOW


9.       BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

9.1   None.