Issue - meetings

This report sets out Grant Thornton’s plan for the external audit of the Council’s 2019/20 accounts. Grant Thornton have also provided the Housing Benefit Grant Certification Letter for the year ended 31 March 2019. Both of these items have to be received by this Committee in accordance with audit regulations.

Following consideration, it was resolved that the Committee:

(1)      Received the External Audit Plan (Appendix 1);

(2)      Received the Grant Certification Letter (Appendix 2)

The Committee received a report setting out the External Auditor’s plan for the external audit of the Council’s 2019/20 accounts. The  External Auditor had also provided the Housing Benefit Grant Certification Letter for the year ended 31 March 2019.

The Committee received a verbal introduction to the External Audit Plan and Grant Certification Letter from Sarah Ironmonger on behalf of Grant Thornton (the External Auditor).

The following matters were considered:

a)            Increase in Audit fee. The Committee noted that Grant Thornton’s revised planned fee for 2019/20 was £44,175, a 26% increase to the original planned fee. The External Auditor informed the Committee that this was the proposed fee, which had not yet been accepted by Council Officers. The proposed fee had been referred to Public Sector Audit Appointments Limited for decision.

b)            Audit fieldwork. The External Auditor informed the Committee that due to the current Covid-19 situation, all audit work was being undertaken remotely, and that technology enabled this to be successfully undertaken.

c)            Materiality for senior officer remuneration. The External Auditor informed the Committee that a slightly lower level of materiality had been applied for senior council officer remuneration, as it was the Auditors’ assessment this was an item of interest to the public, which might otherwise not be considered in detail.

d)            Journal testing. The Committee noted that the Auditor’s findings on Journal testing would be included in the External Audit Findings report to be presented to the Committee later in the year.

e)            Recoverability of debt. The External Auditor informed the Committee that the impact of the current Covid-19 situation was uncertain. The Auditor would review officers’ assessment of recoverability of debts in light of indicators from the current financial year, and challenge as appropriate.

Following consideration, it was resolved that the Committee:

(1)      Received the External Audit Plan (Appendix 1 to the report);

(2)      Received the Grant Certification Letter (Appendix 2 to the report)