Agenda item

External Audit Progress Report

 

The Council’s External Auditor (Grant Thornton) will present a verbal update on the current position with regard to External Audit work undertaken on behalf of the Authority to date in the 2019/20 audit cycle.

Minutes:

Mr G Mills representing the External Auditor (Grant Thornton) presented an update of the current position with regard to External Audit work undertaken on behalf of the Authority to date in the current audit cycle.

 

He stated that the work on the 2018/19 audit was virtually complete and the reports on the Teacher’s Pension Scheme and Housing Benefit claims had been signed off in line with the appropriate deadlines.  Grant Thornton was now moving onto work for the 2019/20 audit.  Work was progressing and discussions were ongoing with the Service Director Finance and his staff with a view to presenting a report on the Audit Plan to the next meeting of the Committee.

 

In the ensuing discussion particular reference was made to the following:

 

·         In response to questioning about recent press articles, Mr Mills stated that there would be no impact on either the timeliness or the quality of the service provided for local authorities

·         Mr Mills was pleased that Members had found the 2019 training session held at Grant Thornton HQ in Leeds extremely useful.  It was unlikely that this would be repeated in 2020 as a new Code of Audit Practice was anticipated and it would, therefore, be appropriate that any future training session be organised following the publication of that Code

·         There was a brief discussion of likely changes to the audit arrangements for public authorities from 2021 following the publication of the Redmond report.  Particular reference was made to Value for Money audits and the way in which future audits could be made more meaningful and more focused towards local authority arrangements.  A further update would be provided as and when more information became available.

 

RESOLVED  that the report be received.

 

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