AUDIT, GOVERNANCE & STANDARDS COMMITTEE			11 April 2024

Statement of Accounts 2022/23

Final Decision-Maker	Audit, Governance & Standards Committee
Lead Head of Service	Mark Green, Director of Finance, Resources & Business Improvement
Lead Officer and Report Author	Adrian Lovegrove, Head of Finance Paul Holland, Senior Finance Manager (Client)
Classification	Public
Wards affected	All

Executive Summary
This report presents the Narrative Statement, audited Statement of Accounts for 2022/23, along with the Audit Findings Report from Grant Thornton, the Council�s external auditors, and Letter of Representation.
Purpose of Report The report enables the Committee to formally approve the Statement of Accounts, and to note the Audit Findings Report and Letter of Representation.

This report makes the following recommendations to this Audit, Governance & Standards Committee:
1. That the audited Narrative Statement and Statement of Accounts for 2022/23 are approved. 2. That the external auditor�s Audit Findings Report is noted. 3. That the external auditor�s Letter of Representation is noted.

Timetable
*Meeting*		*Date*
Audit, Governance & Standards Committee		11 April 2024

Statement of Accounts 2022/23

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 overall achievement of its aims in demonstrating accountability and value for money.	Director of Finance, Resources & Business Improvement
Cross Cutting Objectives	There is no specific implication, however sound financial management does support the delivery of the Council�s cross cutting objectives.	Director of Finance, Resources & Business Improvement
Risk Management	�This is detailed within section 5.	Director of Finance, Resources & Business Improvement
Financial	The Statement of Accounts provides an overview of income and expenditure for the financial year to 31 March 2023, and details the council�s assets, liabilities and reserves at this date.	Director of Finance, Resources & Business Improvement
Staffing	No implications identified.	Director of Finance, Resources & Business Improvement
Legal	Under section 151 of the Local Government Act (LGA 1972), the Section 151 Officer has statutory duties in relation to the financial administration and stewardship of the authority, including advising on the corporate financial position and providing financial information. The Council is required to produce a statement of account in accordance with the Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2015. �It is a function of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee to review and approve the annual statement of accounts and to consider if appropriate accounting policies have been followed and whether there are concerns arising from the financial statements or from the audit that need to be brought to the attention of the Corporate Services Policy Advisory Committee or Council. The Statement is required to be signed off by the Director of Finance, Resources & Business Improvement by 31st May 2023 and following the external audit to be approved and published by 30th September 2023.	Team Leader Corporate Governance
Privacy and Data Protection	No implications identified.	Director of Finance, Resources & Business Improvement
Equalities	The report is for noting and contains no recommendations that would propose a change in service, therefore no equalities impact assessment will be required.	Equalities & Communities Officer
Public Health	No implications identified.	Director of Finance, Resources & Business Improvement
Crime and Disorder	No implications identified.
Procurement	No implications identified.	Director of Finance, Resources & Business Improvement
Biodiversity and Climate Change	The implications of this report on biodiversity and climate change have been considered and are; � There are no implications on biodiversity and climate change.	Biodiversity and Climate Change Officer

2.�� INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

2.1 The Council is required to have its audited Statement of Accounts approved by the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee by 30^th September 2023 in accordance with the Accounts & Audit Regulations.

2.2 Members will be aware that the deadline was not achieved for a number of reasons that have been outlined in previous reports to the Committee. However, all the outstanding issues have now been successfully resolved and the auditors have indicated that they will be issuing an unmodified audit opinion.

2.3 This report includes the updated Narrative report, Statement of Accounts, the External Auditor�s Audit Findings Report (from the External Auditors) and the Letter of Representation.

2.4 A representative from Grant Thornton will attend the meeting to present their Audit Findings Report and to take any questions that Members may have.

3. AVAILABLE OPTIONS

3.1 The Committee is asked to approve the Statement of Accounts 2022/23 and note the contents of the Audit Findings Report and Letter of Representation.

4. PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS��

4.1 That the Statement of Accounts 2022/23 is approved so they can be signed by the Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement. They will then be published on the Council�s website along with the Annual Governance Statement to ensure we meet our legal obligations.

5. RISK

5.1 Any further delays would impact on the audit of the 2023/24 Statement of Accounts which cannot commence until these Accounts are approved and published.

6. CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

6.1 Members of the public have legal rights to inspect, ask questions about and challenge items in the Council�s accounts. Details of this will published on the Council�s website when the accounts are published, and the public will have a specified period submit enquiries.

7. NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

7.1 The audited Statement of Accounts will be published on the Council�s website.