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Audit, Governance & Standards Committee |
16 March 2020 |
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External Audit – Progress Report & Sector Update |
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Final Decision-Maker |
Audit, Governance and Standards Committee |
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Lead Head of Service |
Mark Green, Director of Finance and Business Improvement |
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Lead Officer and Report Author |
Ellie Dunnet, Head of Finance |
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Classification |
Public |
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Wards affected |
None |
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Executive Summary |
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Committee members are invited to consider the report of the external auditor which provides an update on progress with the 2019/20 audit and offers a summary of emerging national issues and developments of relevance to the local government sector.
Representatives from Grant Thornton will be in attendance at the meeting to present their report and respond to questions.
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Purpose of Report
The committee are asked to note this report.
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This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee: |
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1. That the progress report attached at Appendix 1 be noted. |
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Timetable |
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Meeting |
Date |
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Audit, Governance and Standards Committee |
16 March 2020 |
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External Audit – Progress Report & Sector Update |
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1. CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS
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Issue |
Implications |
Sign-off |
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Impact on Corporate Priorities |
We do not expect the recommendations will by themselves materially affect achievement of corporate priorities. However, they will support the Council’s ability to discharge its responsibilities in relation to the 2019/20 financial statements audit and value for money conclusion.
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Ellie Dunnet, Head of Finance |
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Cross Cutting Objectives |
The recommendations set out above will not have any material impact on the cross cutting objectives. |
Ellie Dunnet, Head of Finance |
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Risk Management |
This report is presented for information only and has no decisions which give rise to risk management implications. |
Ellie Dunnet, Head of Finance |
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Financial |
There are no direct financial implications arising from the report, although the opinion on the financial statements and value for money conclusion are one mechanism through which the council demonstrates financial accountability.
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Ellie Dunnet, Head of Finance |
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Staffing |
No implications identified. |
Ellie Dunnet, Head of Finance |
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Legal |
The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 sets out the framework for auditing local authority’s Accounts. It is a function of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee to comment on the scope and depth of external audit work. Consideration of this report accords with that function. |
Keith Trowell, Team Leader (Corporate Governance), MKLS |
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Privacy and Data Protection |
None identified.
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Ellie Dunnet, Head of Finance |
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Equalities |
The recommendations do not propose a change in service therefore will not require an equalities impact assessment. |
Ellie Dunnet, Head of Finance |
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Public Health
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No implications identified. |
Ellie Dunnet, Head of Finance |
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Crime and Disorder |
No implications identified. |
Ellie Dunnet, Head of Finance |
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Procurement |
No implications identified |
Ellie Dunnet, Head of Finance |
2. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
2.1 External audit services are provided by Grant Thornton following their appointment by Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd (PSAA) for the period from 2018/19 to 2022/23.
2.2 The report attached at Appendix 1 provides an update on progress with the 2019/20 audit and informs committee members of a number of relevant emerging issues and developments.
3. AVAILABLE OPTIONS
3.1 It is recommended that the committee consider and note this report. The committee could choose not to consider this report, however this option is not recommended since the report is intended to assist the committee in discharging its responsibilities in relation to external audit and governance.
4. PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 It is recommended that the committee notes the report. Given the respective responsibilities of both the external auditor and this committee, an progress report of this nature is judged to be appropriate for consideration by committee members.
5. RISK
5.1 This report is presented for information only and has no decisions which give rise to risk management implications.
6. CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK
6.1 No consultation has been undertaken in relation to this matter.
7. NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION
7.1 Next steps are outlined within Appendix 1.
8. REPORT APPENDICES
The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:
· Appendix 1: Audit Progress Report and Sector Update, March 2020
9. BACKGROUND PAPERS
None