Audit, Governance & Standards Committee

16 January 2023

 

External Auditor’s Annual Report 2020/21

 

Final Decision-Maker

Audit, Governance & Standards Committee

Lead Head of Service

Mark Green, Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement

Lead Officer and Report Author

Paul Holland, Senior Finance Manager (Client)

Classification

Public

Wards affected

All

 

Executive Summary

 

This report from the Council’s External Auditor, Grant Thornton concludes the annual audit process for 2020/21.

 

Representatives from Grant Thornton will be in attendance at the meeting to present their report and respond to questions.

 

Purpose of Report

 

Noting

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee:

1.   That the external auditor’s Annual Report, attached at Appendix 1, be noted.

 

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Audit, Governance & Standards Committee

16 January 2023



External Auditor’s Annual Report 2020/21

 

1.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

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 2020/21 financial statements audit and value for money conclusion.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Cross Cutting Objectives

The recommendations set out above will not have any material impact on the cross-cutting objectives.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Risk Management

This report is presented for information only and has no decisions which give rise to risk management implications.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Financial

The Annual Report provides assurance that the Council has made proper arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Staffing

No implications identified.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Legal

The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 sets out the framework for audit of local authorities.

Senior Legal Adviser – Corporate Governance

Privacy and Data Protection

None identified.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Equalities

The recommendations do not propose a change in service therefore will not require an equalities impact assessment.

Equalities & Communities Officer

 

Public Health

 

 

No implications identified.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Crime and Disorder

No implications identified.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Procurement

No implications identified.

Director of

Finance and

Business

Improvement

 

Biodiversity and Climate Change

There are no implications on biodiversity and climate change.

 

Biodiversity and Climate Change Officer

 

2.      INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1     The external auditor produces an annual report to conclude the audit process for the year. The purpose of the report is to ensure that the Council has secured proper arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources.                                                                   

2.2     No significant issues were identified, although a number of improvement recommendations have been made, and an unmodified opinion was issued for the 2020/21 Statement of Accounts.

 

 

3.   AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1     As the committee charged with responsibility for overseeing the financial reporting process, the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee is asked to 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     The committee is asked to note this report.  The report concludes the annual audit process for 2020/21 and it is considered appropriate for the committee to receive this information at this time.

 

 

 

 

 

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 taken in relation to this report.

 

 

7.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

7.1      Next steps are outlined within Appendix 1.

 

 

 

8.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

·         Appendix 1: Auditor’s Annual Report 2020/21

 

 

9.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

None